The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1900-05-01
DANISH WEST INDIES.
Alleged that Germany Is Negotiating With
View to Acquiring,
SECRETARY ROOT WAS INFORMED OF THIS
Before He Made His Recent Speech
Concerning the Enforcement
OF the Monroe Doctrine.

New York, April so.--The Times pub
fishes an elaborate article declaring that
Secretary of War Roots address at the
Grant dinner last Friday night, in which
he limited at the possibility of war to
maintain the Monroe doctrine. was chilled
forth by an intrigue concerning the Danish
West Indies islands. 1t appears that H.
NJ Rogers of the Standard Oil company
made a verbal agreement with Denmark
that IL he should negotiate sale Of the
islands, he should receive a commission
of 10 per cent of the purchase price. Cap
tain w. Won Christmas Dircsinck- Hohen-
field has also been acting as agent for the
Danish government. All accounts agree
that Denmark is very anxious to get rid
of her West Indian possessions. Mr..
Rogers and Captain Christmas having
quarreled and the former having declared
that II was in his power TO defeat any ne.
Rotiations that did not recognize his rights
as agent Captain Christmas advised Sec
Rotary Hay OF a plan 10 exchange the
islands with Germany for territory In
Europe He states that unless congress
fore June a scheme will be carried out t.
exchange the islands with Germany for
the whole or part OF North Schleswig-
Holstein, taken from Denmark by Ger
many in 1867 and which country It has
always been the fondest hope OF the Danes
10 recover.
The sudden appearance In this country
OF Secretary White OF the American EN-
bassy In London has also 70 do with this
matter OF the sale OF the Danish West
India islands. according 10 the Times. Mr..
White was the agent Of the United States
IN Denmark during the negotiations and
10 him the Danish government named the
price wanted for the islands, between
$4,000, goo and 100000.
Mr. White. It is said, failed to tell IN
state department that the United Stae
would have to buy the Islands during thl
nession of congress or abandon all hop
forever OF getting possession OF them. an
that he did not impress upon the stat
department the fact that failing tho nego
tiations with the United States. German
was sure TO get possession Of the islandi
either through cessiou or lease. II Is {
make these matters more clear TO the stat
department while congress ls stlll in SEES
sion that Mr. White was summoned here
II was not until the early part of 1870
that negotiations concerning the DAMS
west India Islands were takeu up. Az the
time Captain Christmas was sojournin
in Germany as retired captain Of II
Danish navy He had Just returned frol
o trip TO the Danish West India island
where he had been making maps Of II
harbors and Notifications there He WI
approached nv syndicate OF German
who asked him To use his influence
Copenhagen 10 obtain from the DAMS
government a contract with Germany
which the latter could purchase the islam
OF St John
Captain Christmas was moi slow In a.
sorting that this would he next to impoI
slble, for the reason that the United STATE
would neither allow Denmark TO sell II
Islands to foreign power. nor would
allcy Germany 10 purchase Them hecaul
OF the Monroe doctrine.
In DIS report to the lrNish government
Cautain Christmas attaches the propos
ton Of the syndicate to his papers TIL
shows that the head Of the syndicate WI
Admiral Won 2rzow OF the ROYAL Germs
navy and that he and others Of the syl
dicate had In anticipation Of the eedi'
or sale of the island TO Germany, bong
w options on all the land adjacent TO Il
harbors and so in the event or acquis
ton Of the island BY Germany, he and u
members Of the syndicate stood In the p
sition OF virtual owners of the land al
could dictate terms TO the purchasii
power.
When the impossiblity OF this scher
was pointed out to Admiral nirzow
asked Captain Christmas 10 obtain 9th
concessions for the syndicate. among the
10 form German colony on the islai
under the Danish flag aud permission
use the harbor as coaling station
German warships.
Captain Christmas. while apparen,
falling In with their schemes. laid I