The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-01-02

NEW YORK. Jan. Interest has been
aroused by the announcement contained
in the cable message from Copenhagen,
Denmark, that negotiations for the sale
Of the Dutch West Indies TO the United
States may soon be completed. Captain
Christmas. of the Danish royal navy, hav-
ing obtained the support OF several cabinet
| officers in the undertaking.
Carl Fischer Hansen. Danish lawyer,
who lives in West Forty-seventh Street.
this city. and is a friend of Captain
Christmas is taking part in the arrange
ments. He said in an interview
As is generally known, the first nego-
tiations tor the sale Of the Islands TO the
United States began i'm 1861. They were
not consummated. and nothing more wss
done in that direction until the last year
OF President Cleveland's Administration. l
saw the President and Senator Lodge upon
the subject at that time at the dilection
Of Interested persons in Denmark, but the
Venezuelan trouble interviewed
About a year and a half after President
Mckinley assumed Office 7 called upon him
and Secretary Sherman. II was believed
that the United States would at that time
have paid SSC00. GOO for the islands, and
this WIS the pri -c fixed. The war with
Spain interviewed and again consideration
| of the subject ceG a.
| AT the conclusion of the war the United
| States had CARED Porto Rico There Wes'
| therefore less need chan before lot lhls
! country 10 acquire the Danish west Ihulea-
| Denmark. however. had no desire TO retain
| the islands. as the annual expense OF the
colony to the home government amounts 10
about SlI5.GO while there Is no core
! sn,ndiug revenue. owing TO the TACT that
/ there is no longer as much importation q
I sugar from St CroiN as existed before bees
! sugar was manufactured In Europe
/ Cant. W Won Christmas Dirdinck-Hoim-
/ field .lhis is Captain Christmas fun namel
was ordered TO visit the islands TO ascer-
| tain the views OF the Danish residents up
on the subject Of sale for they have no
right io vote upon the question. Tie made
/ three visits during the year just passed and
/ found complete willingness that the ISL
ands should pass under the American haE.
Then Captain Christmas went to wash
| iugton for the purpose OF explaining 10
| President Mckinley the course taken by
! the Danish Government and informing him
! that the islands could be acquired Tor
81. coo. OC0 explaining that Denmark could
not for various reasons. take the initiative
Z i'm offering the islands 90 this country OIL
I CiaIly az this time.
! Captain Christmas was requested o.
! Secretary Hay to return to Copenhagen and
obtain from his government more definite
| instruct ions He was asked 10 stop IN
oudou and call upon Secretary White, OF
the United States Legation who would bt
directed 70 accompany him 10 Copenhagen
for tine purpose OF couferring with officials
! of the Danish Government. Owing 10 Ill
! ness i'm Mr.. Whites family. however. thC
Secretary was unable TO go.
| Captain Christmas proceeded alone Il
| Copenhagen and reported 10 his govern
mcnt the result OF his visit Last week bC
was ordered to return to Washington. and
expects 10 sail from Hamburg Tor New
York within a day or two
/ Mr. Hansen denied q report that Admiral
Dewey was acting as an Intermediary il
the proposed purchase.