The daily morning journal and courier., 1902-02-07
AMERICAN TREATY.
TEXTOF CONVENTION CEDING JVESI
 INDIA ISLANDS.


 The Removal of Troops and Military
 Stores Notifications of Convention
 Must be Exchanged Within si1
 Months.
 Washington, Feb. 6.-Following is the full text of the treaty between the United States and Denmark for the cession of the Danish West Indian Is lands, St Thomas, St John and Sainte Croix, which was recently negotiated between Secretary Hay on the part of the United States and Minister Brur for Denmark:
 Article His Majesty the King of Denmark agrees to cede to the Uni ted States, immediately upon the exchange of the notifications of this convention the islands of St. Thomas, St. John and Sainte Croix in the West Indies, with the adjacent islands and rocks, com prising in said cession all title and claims of title to the territories in and about said islands over which the crown of Denmark now exercises, asserts or claims Jurisdiction.
 The cession conveys to the United States the said islands and appurte- nances in full sovereignty, entire and unencumbered, except as stipulated in the present convention, with all the dominion, rights and powers which Denmark now possesses, exercises as serts and claims therein; it being how ever, understood and agreed that the consummation of such cession does not impart the transferrence to the United States of the financial claims now held Joy Denmark against the colonial treas uries of the islands, it being agreed that these claims are altogether extinguished in consequence of the cession And it is moreover understood and agreed that the United States will assume and con- tinue to discharge from the time of the cession the obligations heretofore in- cumbent upon the Danish government towards the St. Thomas Floating Dock company and the West Indian and Pan- anna Telegraph company.
 No responsibility of any kind what ever is incumbent on the Danish gov ernment nor on the United States gov- ernment as to the guarantee which. oomformably to the ordinance of June 16, 1876, the colonial treasury of Sainte Croix has assumed with regard to the payment of an interest of per cent. per annum to the holders of the shares of 'The Sainte Croix Fallessukkerko- gerier Company" Limited.
 Article 2-The aforesaid title conveys to the United States the absolute fee and ownership of all public govern ment or crown lands, public buildings, ports, harbors Qualifications, barracks and all other public property of every kind and description belong to the gov ernment of Denmark, together with every right and appurtenance there unto appertaining; it being, however agreed that the arms and military stores existing in the islands at the time of the cession and belonging to the government of Denmark shall re- main the property of that government and shall as soon as circumstances shall permit be removed by it, unless they, or parts thereof may before have been bought by the government of the United States on special agreement made with the government of Denmark, it being however, understood that flags and coors, uniforms and such arms or military objects as are marked as be- ing the property of the Danish govern ment shall not be included in such pur- chase. It is moreover agreed and under stood First-That the congregations belong ing to the Danish National church shall remain in possession of the churches which are now used by them, together with the parsonages appertaining there unto, and, Second1y-That the sums due to the | Danish treasury by individuals are re- | served and do not pass by this cession; and where the Danish government shall at the time of the cession hold property taken over by the Danish treasury for sums due by individuals such property shall not pass by this cession, but the Danish government shall sell or dispose of such property and remove it's pro- ceeds within two years from the date of the exchange of notifications of this convention, the United States govern ment being entitled to sell, by public auction, to the credit of the Danish government, what may not have been sold before the expiration of the said term of two years.
 .s The Dan'Sh government Teldiils lHe claims held by the same as creditor against the Sainte Croix Fallessukker- kogierer company, Limited, should that acquire the ownership of property belonging to this company in the island of Sainte Croix; the above provision regarding a sale within two years shall apply to such property; the two years, however, to begin from the date of the requirement. of ownership of said property, which shall be within three wears from the exchange of the ratification of the present treaty Any government archives, papers and documents relative to the islands ceded and the dominion of the same which ( may now be existing there shall pass , by this cession, but an authenticated CODY of such documents or papers as l may be acquired will be at all times ] given by the United States to the Dan ( ish government, or to sucr properly au- thorized Danish officers or subjects as may apply for them
 Article Spanish subjects residing in said island may remain therein or re- C move therefrom at will, retaining In 1