Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1902-04-03
WILL REPORT SOON,
COMMITTEE TO ACT ON DANISH
WEST INDIES CHARGE.
DENIAL BY GOVERNMENT
Statement Will Show that United
States Had No Negotiations With
Outside Parties-HoIds That Fail
ure of Congress to Appropriate
Does Not lnvalidate Treaty.

Washington, March 2S.-Repre-
sentative Dalzell, chairman of the
special committee appointed to inves-
t!gate the charges in the Danish West
Indian transaction, says he will go
over the allegations today when they
appear in the Congressional Record
and arrangements will then be made
fol an early meeting of the commit
tee, probably tomorrow. Until then,
Mr.. Dalzell said there would be no
plans as to the conduct of the investi-
CATION.
1t is said the answer Of the state
department to the Richardson resolu-
ton will disclose the fact that, &C
cording to the record the United
States government has refused to
have to do with any persons as a
party to the treaty who are not di-
recJly connected with the Danish gov
eminent q The department has also
placed on record it's determination to
pay no commission to any person on
account OF the ceSSion of the islands
1t will be pointed out that our gov
eminent had no right to dictate to the
Danish government as to what it
should do in the matter of paying
commission.
1t has been assumed in some quar-
ters, the failure of congress to apprO-
pirate $5,OO0,000, which was to be the
price OF the ISLANDS, would in itself
cause the failure of the transfer of the
territory, but the construction of the
treaty at the state department is that
directly upon the exchange of ratif-
cations, the islands become the prop
Crty OF the United States without
waiting for the payment of money ant
that the failure of congress to maxi
the appropriation would simply leal Il
an outstanding debt OF honor agains {
US.
Following is the statement of Niels
ment:
when early III February last the
contents of Walter Christmas secret
report to the Danish government rel
atlve to the transfer of the Danish
West Indian islands to the United
States became public, party cOmpris-
ing large proportion Of Denmarks
best and most influential men, realiz-
ing that since Christmas had in the
furtherance of the pending treaty
served by direct authority. first, the
secretary of state of the United States
and afterwards the Danish prime min
lister, Mr. Porting, it would be impos-
sible to disassOciate his efforts from
the treaty or the methods set forth
in his report from the official negoti-
atoms; and realizing further that il
the present treaty was consummated
and permitted to take effect Denmark
would be Obliged to stand before the
world as having made use of, and the
United States as having accepted
such negotiations as said Christmas
sets forth and described in the reDOrt,
and since it was thought that that
would place the people of the two ma
tons in unfavorable and regrettable
light, | was requested by the party
referred to to journey with all speed
from Copenhagen to Washington and
lay before the representatives of the
people Of the United States the facts
touching certain parts Of the negotia-
lions in order that any further steps
taken by the United States towards
causing the taking effect of the treaty
in question might be done with the
full knowledge of the situation"