The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1902-04-02
GRON TELLS HIS TALE
DANISH TREATY INVESTIGATION
BEGUN.
NOBODY YET IN DANGER.
THE WITNESS WAS A PRoTEGE OF
MIR. HANNA.

Danish Treaty and Told His Story
to Gen. GrosvenOr-The Latter Was
Worried at First, but Was Assured
by Secretary Hay That There Was
Nothing in It-GrOn Was in the
Deal with Christmas, but Seems TO
Have Gotten Nothing Out of 1t.
Amer Mckinley Summoned as "A
Witness.
Washington, April 1.-The investiga-
ton of charges made in connection
with the Danish West Indies purchase
was begun to-day before the special
committee appointed by Speaker Hen
derson. Niels Gron, who brought the
charges to the attention of Represen-
tative Richardson, and quite number
of interested spectators were present.
MIR. Gron was the first witness. He
said that in February last parties in
Copenhagen, who opposed the transfer
of the Danish West Indies to the
United States. conferred with him
about the Christmas report. and sent
him here to give the facts to Congress
and the people.
Representative Alexander of New
York here interposed to disclaim all
knowledge of Christmas or the Danish
transaction.
Continuing, Mr.. Gron told of having
secured a note of introduction to Gen.
Grosvenor Of Ohio, of arranging to
meet the latter in Washingtn, his
purpose being to carry out assurances
given at Copenhagen that he would
place the matter before influential
men. MIR. Gron told in great detail
of bringing the papers be-
fore Gen. Grosvenor, who at
first seemed quite indignant, but
later concluded that 1t would
be proper to lay the matter before the
Secretary of State. This was done and
Mr. Gron said he learned that the
State Department held that it could
take no action that the authorities
here had in no way committed them
selves to Christmas.
Tried to Get Into Print.
Mr.. Gron said that after Gen. Gros-
venor had decided not to proceed with
the matter he (Gron) had prepared a
statement for the Associated Press and
had asked Mr.. Crane, a newspaper
man, to send some one from the Assoc
ciated Press to him for the statement,
and also to Gen. Grosvenor for as
surances as to Mr.. Grons standing
He learned later through Mr. Crane
that Gen. Grosvenor said he knew
nothing about It. He said he was in
formed the day after he submitted the
statement that the Associated Press
could not use it,
Afterward, he said. he submitted his
statement to several newspapers and
more or less of ii was printed.
He denied reports that the whole
matter was a quarrel between Christ
mas and himself over a commission
for the sale of the islands, and read
letter stating that an old alliance be-
tween certain Danish men and Amer
leans in the fall of 1897 was declared
of eighteen months ago. He mention
ed the names of H. H. Rogers, Charles
r. Flint and himself as the Americans
interested at that time in negotiating
the sale of the islands,
Asked specifically regarding a stare
ment in the Christmas report to the
effect that Rogers had agreed to ac-
complish the sale of the islands for
10 per cent. of the purchase money,
Mr.. Gron said that there was no such
agreement.
Mr.. Gron refused to give the names
Of the persons whom he said he now
represented in this country, but said
they were members of the Danish upper
house.
Mr.. Gron was closely questioned as
to whether proposition was made for
Christmas and Rogers and himself to
divide the commission.
He replied that there were various
propositions. He had never heard
Rogers say that he had twenty-six
votes in the Senate, and could defeat
the negotiations. and said he was
never present at interview between
Christmas and Rogers. He denied alb
solutely the statement that he (Gron)
had signed a contract with Christmas
by which he (Gron) and Rogers were
to have two-thirds of the commission
He had never made any contract Of
any character with Christmas, but the
latter had made over a power of at
torney to him which later he (Gron)
repudiated. Mr.. Rogers saw Capt.
Christmas. he said. but once. After
that Rogers refused to see Christmas
or answer his letters or kilograms.
Mr.. Hit asked him specifically II
he knew what press associations were
to in the Christmas reports.
Il do not know" replied Mr.. Gron.
MIR. GrosvenOr's Statement.
Representative Grosvenor made
a statement at the afternoon
session. He spoke of receiv-
ing the note Of Introduction and of
going over the papers with Mr.. Gron.
At the time Mr.. Grosvenor felt that
the matter should be looked into with
a view of ascertaining If there was any
irreguarity. He conferred with Chair
man Cannon of the Appropriations
Committee and asked If an appropria-
ton bill for the Danish purchase came
in that action on 1T be deferred until
he (Grosvenor) returned from West
ern trip and had an opportunity to go
over the papers. Mr.. Grosvenor later
saw Secretary Hay, who held that
there was nothing in the charges of
which cognizance should be taken.
Grou Was Hanna's PrOtege.
Resuing his testimony, Mr.. Gron
told of his connection with the Sean
dinavian department of the National
Republican Committee in 1896. to which
place he said Senator Hanna had ap-
pointed him. Later Senator Hanna
gave him letter of recommendation to
the two Massachusetts senators, Hoar
and Lodge, and the latter in turn rec
commended him to the President for ap-
pointment as minister to Siam
Mr.. Cfron said he was a Republican.
had canvassed for that party in 1892
and 1896, and in 1887 had been a candi-
date for the Danish mission. He pro-
duced a letter in favor Of his candi-
dacy by Senator Cullom of Illinois
and Endorsed by the late Senator Da-
-