Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1902-02-08
UNCLE SANS
GREAT BARGAIN.
Danish West Indies Purchase Was
Simply a Snap.
IMPORTANT TO THE NAVY.
OF Much importance In Connection
win Isibniian Cpnal-so Declares
senate Report with Treaty.

Washington, Feb THE recent ia
yorablc report 10y the senate committee
on foreign relations on the treaty for
the cesslon Of the Danish West Indies
islands was accompanied by II written
statement made by that committee to
the senate This report holds that
during 1900 the islands exported to the
United States sugar, moasscs and dis
titled spirits amounting to sj6S,949 and
that during the same period the lmpor.
tations from the United states amount
ed to SG2452i
The annexation of the Islands was
sought by the United States years ago
and as far back as 1867 Denmark de-
clIned to sell the islands for S5,OO00Ol
but made proposition to part with
them for $l5oOO,OOO. seoy, Seward
offered s16OOOOO, which was declined,
He afterward agreed to pay that
amount for the islands OF st. Thomas
and ST.. John, but the trade fell through
because Of complications which arose.
Continuing, the report says; These
islands, together with Porto Rico are
Of great importance In a strategic way
whether the strategy be military or
commercial. st. Thomas Is natural
port of call for all European trade
bound to the West Indies, Central
America or Northern South America,
These islands, together with Porto
Rico, form the northeastern corner OF
the Caribbean sea. and are Of great Inn
portance In connection with the Amer
lean Isthmus, where a canal viii be con-
structed between the Atlantic and Pa
cliffs They are of first importance In
connection with our relations TO regions
Of the Orinooo and the Amazon and
with our control Of the Windward pas
sage.
"ln view of the isthmlan canal and
European settlements In South Amer
Tea, every additional acquisition by the
United States Is OF value Porto Rico
is densely populated. Its roads arc
poor IL has q long coast line without
ports for large vessels II Is conse-
quently very difficult Of defense, San
Juan is the only harbor with fortin-
cations and this Is only suitable for
vessels of light dTaught"
Explaining a provision In the treaty
for continuing pensions for retired local
functionaries, II Is stated that the total
amount required annually for this pur-
pose Will not exceed $1,000.
With refernce TO the telegraph COM
pany, II Is stated that this Is an Eng
lsh corporation and that the obligation
to It IL In the nature OF a subsidy OF
$4,000 per year for the next five years.
| With the exception of this subsidy, the
situation of the company in the islands
! is the same as that OF companies hold
| ing concessions In Porto Rico and cuba
| during the life of the grant.
Explanation Is made OF the relation
ship Of Denmark to the sugar compan-
les to the effect that Denmark origin
ally made loan Of l,414,l79 crowns at
a stipulated interest to this company
The interest not having bene paid after
twenty years, the Danish government
took possession Of the property and as
stunned all obligations growing out Of
this relationship II Is understood TO
be the purpose OF the Danish govern
ment 10 put ltsely In position TO wind
up the affairs of this company as soon
as possible An explicit assurance Is
given that mo responsibility or obIiga-
ton Of any kind rests on the govern
mgnt Of the United States or the insu-
lar treasury in connection with the st.
Croix Sugar company"