Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1902-04-07
|DEPEN WAS INNOCENT.
New York Senator Had Nothing
to do With Christmas. the
Notorious Dane.
Secretary Hay Explains Christ
mas Connections With the
Treaty Negotiations.
Unofficial Interview at the Cap.
itol the Extent Of His
Service.

service.
washington, April 7.-Senator Depew
appeared today before the special house
committee investigating the charges III
connection with the Danish West In
dies negotiations. He expressed aston
ishment at having seen his name In the
Christmas report. He did not know
Christmas, never had seen him, so far
as he was aware, and never had discus
sion with any one on the Danish West
Indies question.
c. w. Knox, whose name was men
toned in the Christmas report, told OF
considered cultivated, and who had be-
come entangled with sharpers. Knox
specifically denied that he had intro
duced Christmas to w. j. Bryan, or that
he had claimed to Christmas that he
was an intimate friend of Senator Han
ma.
Senator Bacon, Of Georgia, told of
two casual conversations with Christ
mas. AS to the iatter's statement that
Bacon took great interest in the pur-
chase Of the islands, the senator de-
clared it absolutely untrue, as he did
not believe in the acquisition of the is
lands.
Chairman Dalzell presented the fol-
lowing letter from Secretary Hay on
the subject:
ITO Hon. John Dalzell, chairman of
your letter of the 31st of March. and in
reply beg leave to say: In the early par:
of December 1899, Christmas called up
on me and informed me that, thru pri-
vate and personal sources. in Copen-
hagen, he had become aware there was
a disposition among some of the lead
ing members of the Danish government
to regard favorably an overture from
the government Of the United States
looking to the acquisition of the DAN
ish islands He said he had been
naval officer and spoke at length in re-
gard to the desirability Of the island Of
st. John as naval station for the
United States. AT my suggestion he
conveyed what further technical infor-
nation he had on this subject to Ad-
miral Bradford of the navy department..
Tho he presented no credentials what
ever and expressly declared he had no
official character, thought his story OF
sufficient interest to be worth investi-
cation and told him l would send a con-
al -
ernment to Copenhagen to ascertain,
unofhcially, the true state of affairs,
and mentioned to him the name of
Henry White. first secretary of the en-
bassy at Lcndon. Christmas said he
would like to be in Copenhagen when
White arrived and bring him into COM
munication with members of the gov
enrment whom he had mentioned.
gave him note Of Introduction to
White, and they met in Copenhagen,
where Christmas had arranged for an
interview between White and mem
Der of the Danish government Christ
fas was not present at this interview,
and his connection with the latter
ceased entirely at that time. He after
wards returned to Washington and
there was no need for the services of
any private person in any negotiations
which might bring up between the two
governments in regard to the acquisi-
ton of the island. enclose a copy OF
the letter which I gave to the Danish
minister in Washington tt the time of
the signing of the recent treaty, and
also copy Of the letter which have
received from the Danish minister. be-.
ing dated the 31st of March, 1902. Ever
sincerely yours,
JOHN HAY"
In the letter to Brun, Hay refers to
the signing of convention of the ces
sion and adds that the government of
the United States is In no manner un-
der obligation to the good Offices of pri-
Vate parties In reaching the agreement
now happily brought about between
the United States and Denmark, and
can not admit for its own part or sup
port in any way any such claim against
Denmark for commission, compensa-
ton or remuneration of whatever ma
ture which might be made by private
parties for alleged services in connec-
ton with the cession of the islands to
the United States.
The letter from Brun states: "Christ-
mas had no authority whatever to en-
ter into negotiations in the name of the
Danish government, nor to make any
promises in the name of the govern
ment In connection herewith" Brun
also says he gave Christmas no author
ity of introductions, but refused his re-
quest in this connection.
OPPOSED BY KING CHRISTIAN.