The Savannah morning news., 1902-04-08
THE ISLAND DEAL
,sruAs SEEMS TO HAVE BE-
0H GUN MOVEMENT.
81 STATES SECRETARY HAY.
,,,r WAS LEFT OUT EARLY IN THE
GAME.

If the LOuuOh
,,onber of Danish Government.
&C., This He Was Not Known in
-. negotiations and Had No ohi-
ReIation to Either Govern
ment.
washington, April 7.-Senator Depew
-. New York appeared to-day before
-. snecial House Committee investi-
ting charges in connection with the
9ortsh West Indies negotiations. He
-,,nressed astonishment at having seen
~. name in the Christmas report. He
s,d not know Christmas, and as to this
nonisb island question he had never
nod<a discussion with anyone on the
subject.
c w. Knox of Glenelge, Md, whose
name was mentioned in the Christmas
report. told of meeting Christmas, whom
he considered a cultivated man who
,,ad become entangled with sharpers.
The witness said he consented to assist
Christmas and a contract was sub
v,itted to the committee, by the terms
If which Knox was to assist in any
prODeT manner III 0PO0N SAAN
transfer. Knox to receive $4,000 in
case Of a. sale, and $3.50 per month. As
% 81 transaction, which had been re-
ferred to, Knox said he gave Christmas
his check for IS, which was endorsed
nv Hansen, and he produced the check.
This was the only financial fact in the
entire affair. The witness said he
never brlbet anyone and nothing of the
kind was ever contemplated; he never
received any money from Christmas.
In response to questions from men,
hers of the comittee, Mr.. Knox spe-
cifcally denied that he had introduced
Christmas to w. j. Bryan, or that he
Mad claimed to Christmas that he was
an intimate friend of Senator Hanna.
Senator Bacon of Georgia told of
two casual conversations with Christ
mas. AS to the latter's statement
that Mr.. Bacon took great interest in
the purchase of the Danish Islands,
the senator declared ii was absolutely
untrue. as he did not believe in the ac-
ouisition of the islands and considered
il unfortunate that the United States
was in a position where it seemed
necessary to take them.
Secretary Hays Statement.
Chairman Dalzell presented the fol-
lowing letter from Secretary Hay on
the subject:
In the early part of December, 1899,
Capt Christmas called upon me at this
department., and informed me that,
through private and personal sources
in Copenhagen, he had become aware
that there was a disposition among
some of the leading members of the
Danish government to regard favor
ably an overture from the government
of the United States looking to the ac-
QUESTION of the Danish islands. He
said that he had been a naval officer,
and spoke at some length in regard to
the desirability of the island of st.
John as naval station for the United
States. At my suggestion he conveyed
what further technical information he
had on this subject to Admiral Brad
ford of the Navy Department. AL
though he presented no credentials
whatever and expressly declared he
had no official character, / thought his
story was of sufficient interest to be
worth investigation. ! told him l
would send a confidential and trusted
agent of this government to Copenha-
gen to ascertain unoficially the true
state of affairs and mentioned to him
the name of Henry White, first secre-
tary of embassy at London. Capt
Christmas said he would like to be in
copenhagen Nn6U MI w mite dIIlhNSus
and bring him into communication
whom he had mentioned. 1 gave him
note Of introduction to Mr..
White and they met in Copenhagen,
where Capt. Christmas had arranged
for an interview between Mr. White
and member of the Danish govern
ment. Mr.. Christmas was not present
at this interview and his connection
with the matter ceased entirely at that
time. He afterward returned to Wash
ington, and saw him once or twice,
but told him that there was no need
OF the services of any private person
IN any negotiation which might be
taken up between the two governments
IN regard to the acquisition of the ISL
ands l enclose copy of a letter
which / gave to the Danish minister
IN Washington at the time of the sign
ing of the recent. treaty and also a copy
OF letter which I have received from
the Danish minister, Mr.. Brun, dated
March 81, 1902. John Hay"
Christmas Services Denied.
In letter to Minister Brun of Den
mark, enclosed, Mr.. Hay refers to the
signing of the convention of cession,
and adds
The government of the United
states is in no manner under obliga-
uon to the good offices of private par
ues in reaching the agreement now
happily brought about between the
United States and Denmark and can
not admit for its own part, or support
IN any way any such claim against
denmark for commission, compensa-
uon or remuneration of whatever ma
lure which might be made by private
parties for alleged services in connec-
Ton with the cession of the islands in
question to the United States"
letter from Minister Brun states
mat Capt. Christmas had no authori-
cation whatever to enter into negotia-
IONS in the name of the Danish gov
erhfnent, nor to make any promises in
tne name of the government in connec-
uon herewith"
. representative Richardson said he
thought Mr.. Hay should come before
.he committee and should produce any
tetlers he had in connection with
Christmas going to Copenhagen.
chairman Dalzell stated that Sec
Ietary Hay was ready to appear at
ssny time his presence was desired.
NO arrangement was made as to Mr..
nays appearing, but it was UNDER
s'ood he would be heard later.
They All Deny Christmas.
isaac N. Seligman, of the firm of j.
q W. Seligman, banker, at New York.
.oiu OF Christmas asking the firm to
axe charge of money transfers in
use OF cession of the islands The
I'm I'm wrote to t1e private banker at
aoPehhagen, mentioned by Christmas.
anu the answer from that institution
as not satisfactory, giving no con-
M