The Washington times., 1901-11-12
DELAY IN NEGOTIATIONS.
Change of Ministry blocks Sale of
Danish West Indies


The nc gotiations for the purchase by the
United States of the Danish West Indies
are likely to be the subject of considera-
hle additional diplomatic correspondence
before the terms can be concluded for the
transfer OF the sovereign authority over
those Islands
The incoming of a new Ministry at Co
penhagen has caused fresh difficulties 10
arise and ncw obstacles to be raised by
4 portion Of the Danish populace opposed
to any sale OF territory unless special
rights and privileges may be secured for
the residents Of the islands Immediately
upon the signing of the treaty. These va
rlous suggestions from the other Govern
ment do not meet with the approval OF
the State Department. and rather than
agree to any Of them the officials having
the matter in charge would deem 1t ad-
visable to drop tho negotiations entirely.
Previous to the recent political change
in Denmark, the Conservative Ministry in
power had considered the matter fully and
was in accord with this Government Prac-
tically nothing remained to bring the ne
gotiauons to a conclusion. when the Con
servatiye MiniFtry was succeeded by a
Liberal Ministry. 1t was then necessary
to go over the case again. This work has
been expedited, but there are questions
remaining on which the representatives
cf the United States and Denmark cannot
reach an agreement 1t is now certain
that the treaty of transfer will not be
signed in time to enable President Roose-
velt to present it to the Senate for rati-
icaton when that body assemblies next
month.
The main difficulty in the way Of reach
ing a complete understanding seems to
be the desire of the Danish Government
to make the transfer conditional on the
immediate recognition of the people of
the islands as American citizens with all
the rights and privileges thereof.
The state Department is unwilling to
consider this proposition, on the ground
that 1t would be inadvlsable TO pledge
Congress to it
The Danish Government also wishes to
secure favorable concessions IN trade re-
lations with this country. and deems the
present time the best opportunity for
forcing these demands to a conclusion.
The position taken by the State De-
paftment IS summed uD by saying that
the only arrangement which can possibly
be made is q direct purchase without any
conditions of political or commercial
nature. The most satisfactory sort Of an
agreement would be d mere statement OF
the amount to be paid and a receipt for
the money. But while the officials OF this
country have been holding out for this
sort Of a sale or a dropping of the negO-
tiations altogether, the change OF Minis
try in Denmark occurred, and all the
plans for the purchase are again in an
uncertain form.
An important matter which has been
kept in mind by State Department Off
cials is the disposition Of the Serate re-
garding the confirmation of whatever
agreement may be entered into by the
bureau. There is no doubt that there
would be strong opposition to the ratifi-
cation of any treaty which would present
possible opportunities for cOuDlicatfons
to ensue regarding the future rights or in
Islands. on the other hand if the Islands
can be acquired without conditions of d
political nature, the APPROVAL of the Sen
ate is believed to be assured.
1t is reported that the negotiations are
now proceeding on the basis of an offer
Of the United States to pay a larger
amount for the islands than was previ-
ously agreed upon If Denmark will waive
it's propositions concerning citizenship and
freer trade relations. While the price
agreed on has never been authOritatively
made public il is understood that it was
IN the neighbOrhood Of s, 10000
LONDON, Nov. 12.-The Morning
Posts correspondent at Copenhagen
claims to have the highest authority in
denying the report OF the sale of the Dan
ish West indies to the United States He
says the question recently has not moved
nearer a settlement
The Copenhagen correspondent of the
Daily Mail" also denies the truth of the
reported sale of the islands. He adds that
public opinion has veered and the Danes
are now less anxious to sell.