The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-01-24
SIGNED
Second Stage of the Treaty
for the Sale of Danish
Islands.

Washfngt on, Jan. 24.-The treaty Of cess
sion of the Danish West Indies Islands
from Denmark to the United States was
signed at the state department to-day by
Secretary Hay and Constanein Brun, the
Danish minister. The treaty will be sub
mitted to the senate for ratification imme-
diately.
Following the rule in such cases, the
state department officials decline to make
public any of the details Of the treaty.
The price to be paid is believed to be in
the neighborhood of $5,000,00O. 1t is
known also that Denmark has abandoned
the position she was inclined to occupy
toward the conservation of the political
rights of the inhabitants of the islands
and leaves the United States free hand
to deal with them, without pledge of
American citizenship or OF free trade
privileges. So it is assumed that the
status Of the Danish West Indian islands,
politically and commercially, should the
treaty be ratified, will be similar to that
of Porto Rico. Having gained these
! points in the negotiations the state de-
partment officials believe the treaty is
| certain to receive the approval of the
United States senate.
Ne,o York SaIss Special servtoe
Washington, Jan. 24.-Constantine Brun
! the Danish minister in Washington, yes
! terday received official notification from
/ Copenhagen that his government had
! agreed to the terms of the treaty recently
negotiated by Secretary Hay and Mr.
Brun for the transfer of the Danish West
| Indian islands to the United States. 1t is
expected that the treaty will be signed in
a few days. The treaty must first be ap-
proved by the senate, and then 1t viii
| be necessary to secure an appropriation
| of the purchase price from both the sen.
| ate and the house. A treaty does not be-
! come perfected agreement until the
| notifications have been exchanged, ant
| as this does not usually take place unit
several months after confirmation by the
| senate, Denmark will have ample oppor.
tunity to ascertain the sentiments Of hel
! Antillian subjects before the time arrive:
| for the final act that would sever her re-
| lations with her West Indian possessions
If the plebiscite should show that ma
| jority of the islanders were opposed tt
| the transfer, Denmark could end the mat
| ter by declining to exchange the ratifca
| tons.
By the treaty absolute sovereignty owe
| the islands of st. Thomas, st. John ant
St. Croix or st. Kims, is transferred tt
the United States in consideration Of tn,
payment Of a sum said to be about 81 1000,
900. Denmark made strong plea for
stipulation that there should be fire.
trade between the islands and the Unite'
States, but Secretary Hay declined to &C
cede to this, for the reason that only con
gress has the right to make tariff ar
rangements. Denmark also wanted thi
government to agree to take over the in
habitants of the islands as full-fledge
| American citizens, but this could not b.
conceded, as congress has absolute au
thority in that connection. The inhabi
tants will, therefore, come under the pro
lection of the United States with tn
same status as that possessed by tn
Porto Ricans, leaving to congress the de
termination Of the question of how tn
islands shall be governed and the polit1
| cal standing of their people,.