New-York tribune., 1902-10-23
WASHINGTON NOT WORRIED.
OFFICIALS BELIEVE THIS COUNTRY
WILL EVENTUALLY GET THE
DANISH ISLANDS.
GRY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE. ]

Washington. oct. 22-The failure of the treaty
Of cesson of the Danish West Indies to-day for
the second time in six months in the Parliament
at Copenhagen is received with equanimity by
all interested branches of the government here.
The result was not unexpected. as warning came
TO the State Department last week that small
majority against the ministry had been returned
at the recent election, where one of the chief
features of the campaign had been the creation
of popular sentiment against the sale of the
islands. Any disappointment which may exist
Is further tempered by the knowledge that Den
mark continues as badly as ever in need of the
$5.O0O.OOO gold which would be paid within
ninety days after ratification of the treaty and
that il is only question of short time when
the little kingdom will find the steady drain on
its resources. due 10 the inadequate revenues of
the islands. insupportable The navy, with its
new base at Culebra. fifty miles from St. Thom
as, no longer regards the islands as the one
strategic key to the Caribbean essential 10 the
United States" although officers Of the service
are keenly alive TO the menace which would en-
sue if the islands were under the sovereignty
Of a strong European power.
ASSERTING THE MONROE DOCTRINE
Within the last month this phase of the Dan-
ish West Indian question has been brouqbt
strongly to the attention of government of7ciaIs
by a prominent Dane who spent some time i'm
Washington. and who not only predicted that
influences which at work throupbo,t no,
mark would succeed in postponing tho ratifca
ton of the treaty. but that the time was short
before the Danish peninsula would follow,
Schleswig- -Holstein into the protecting arms Of
its powerful next door neighbor. CARRYING the
West Indian possessions, as we'll as Iceland and
Greenland. with IT, regardless of the Monroe
Doctrine. Even this long look into tbe future
has not been al all disturbing To the officers Of
the administration, who are most vatcbf,I Of
the interests Of the United States for they had
calculated shrewdy on meeting anv conDIfca-
tons of this character which might arise here
after when the agreement with the King of
Denmark was made At the time the treaty
ish Government and signed bv its DIaDiDoter
tiary In January, was finally ratified nv +he
United States Senate on February II r,u notice
was given to all nations that this government
was ready 10 take the islands off Dennark's
hands. and would never permit tbar1 70 GO 70
any other flag Then the United States dis
tinctly made clear its position of NO Ionrsr de-
clining to buy the Improbable POSSESSIONS and
Doctrine, TO allow Denmark 10 saJI .har, - --r,o
other power That stand was again en1pbasi1ad
when the Danlsh parliament refused last spring
TO ratify the treaty. The United States While
in no hurry about getting possession OF The isI-
ands. has rendered to Denmark witbout oI'ibLIa
the price asked for them The Offer gti1i holds
good, and whenever Denmark gets ready IN sell
the United States alone has the right To buv
TALK OF EXTENDING THE TREATY
1t is probable. officials here think in ,ta0, of
the closeness of the vote in the Landsthing that
the Danish Government will decide IN make an
other attempt 10 secure approval OF the treatv