The evening times., 1900-03-24
SATURDAY. MARCH "a, 1900.
A Hay-rnuncefote Aftermath.

II appears that The Danish Cabinet has
been compelled to resign in more or less
disgrace. owing to popular indignation IN
Denmark over the proposition TO sell that
country's West Indian possessions to the
United States Why the Danes want to
keep islands which pay them no rev.
enue whatever but on the contrary, have
put them more than four million dollars
out OF pocket during the present genera
ton. is difficult to understand; but the
TACT is the same. and an acquisition
which is regarded as of the last impor
lance to this country. is nearly certain to
be lost.
Il is true that under our preliminary
agreement with the Danish Government
the latter will be bound to complete the
sale if Congress shall appropriate the pur-
chase money-four million dollars-during
the present session. That il viii do so is
exceedingly doubtful. The principal trou-
BILE is that one Of the islands. ST. CroiX is
famous for its rum. II it were TO become
part OF the United States there would be
weeping and wailing in the town Of Med
ford Mass. where an American article
inferior 10 Mexican mescal. is distilled for
the African and New England prohibition
trade. and which perhaps could only be
produced at a profit under the protection
of Dmgieyism.
These Danish West Indian Islands al
necessary 10 our scheme OF national defence
in the Antilles. ana necessary to the scien-
tifc protection OF the Nicaragua Canal and
American commerce resorting to it. But.
il they grow or make anything that might
come in competition with the trade of a
single one OF our protected monoEolies. OF
course all such public considerations would
have 10 give way.
The worst feature of the situation is
that according to reports from Europe, in
case we fail to take over the islands before
the end OF the present session, they viii
pass to Germany under a long lease. an
option for which is said to be eXtant and
which once made will of course be tanta-
mount to the conveyance of a title in fee
Il will be remembered that the draft of
the Hay Pauncefote Treaty. which. as
signed by the Secretary of State and Lord
Pauncefote. surrenders the Monroe Doc
Urine. was submitted to the principal Eu-
ropean cabinets and automatically dis
cussed with them by the Anglo American
joint foreign office, before any member of
the Senate Committee on Foreign Rela-
tions was allowed to know anything con
cerning the condition of negotiations or
the character of the agreement proposed.
II may be assumed that the approval OF
the European governments. which. in most
cases, had been secured before the treaty
was sent to the Senate. was based upon
their satisfaction with the Monroe Doc
trine REIMBURSEMENT.
Probably the idea of a German lease in
perpetuity in place of an outright sale. is
a concession to public opinion, both in
Denmark and the United States. but it all
comes to the same thing. The Monroe
Doctrine. if our splendid diplomacy has
not put such a thing out Of existence. is
as much violated by the armed presence
of Germany in the Antilles as a lessor. as
1t would be by the purchase
OF the islands by the Kaiser
in an open and board manner. If
he may lease and occupy in the West
Indies. he may do the same in Brazil.
Why not?