BoletiÌn mercantil de Puerto Rico. (San Juan, P.R.) 18??-1918, 1902-10-24
SAN JUAN, OCTOBER "a
The Danish Islands Treaty

The Danish Islands Treaty
The treaty for the sale of the Danish |
Islands in the West Indies to the Unit
ed States for the sum of $5,ooo,oo is
now under consideration in the Lands
thing. or upper house of the Danish
Parliament. The treaty has now been
reiec:ed twice by that body, but the
time for consideration is extended for
one wear. 1t may be inferred that this
extension of time was made at the ms
tance of the United States since the
Danish Premier, Mr.. Deuntzer, in
the debate last week, said that If
he did not get favorable vote now he
should ask for further prolongation,
" provided the United States desired it"
So it appears that we are in the un-
diplomatic position of asking a foreign
nation to give more time, not to us, but
to itself, to consider pending treaty.
This might be considered by Denmark
as hint from us that she did not know
her own mind, or that, if she did not
finally consent to the sale, we should
take the islands by force. Indeed, the
latter threat has been proclaimed in a
portion of the American press and by
word of mouth, although, of course,
there is no ground for such charge of
criminal aggression" on our part.
All of our proceedings in the matter
of the so called Christmas Treaty ;"
have been undiplomatic. The man
Christmas, who started the negotiation,
is an ex-lieutenant of the Danish navy
who had been court-inartialled and dis
missed from the service. He had be-
come a "chevalier d'industrie" at large.
He conceived the brilliant idea of sell
ling the Dainsh islands to the United
States, with the expectation, of course,
of getting commission out OF the sale
in some way. He came to Washington
in December, 1899. which this object in
view. Expansion was at that time
more rampant in the United States than
it is now. Christmas managed in some
way to get an interview with President
Mckinley, to whom he broached the
subject of the purchase Of the islands.
Mr.. Mckinley referred him to Secretary
Hay, and the latter gave him letter of
introduction to the American Embassy
in London.
This was the first undiplomatic step
taken, and the first one ever taken by
the present head of the Department Of
State. There was Minister of Den
mark in Washington and Minister of
the United States in Copenhagen. Both
of them were ignorant of the fact that
q momentous negotiation was going on
behind their backs, aud that it was con-
Quoted by common adventurer. Since
these facts became notorious, efforts
have been made to show that the ne
gotiation was merely initiated by Christ
mas, but was not carried on by him.
This is an error. Efforts were made to
shake him off, specially by the Danish
Government, but they were unavailing.
He clung 10 it like burr on fleece.
To him it was a golden fleece, and
nothing could make him relax his hold
Christmas accompanied Mr. Henry
White, our Secretary of Legation at Lon
don, TO Copenhage. The Danish Mi
mister of Foreign Affairs was astounded
when the nature OF the business was
laid before him by discharged officer Of
his own Government. He received Sec
Fetary White with the courtesy due to
his station, but refused to have any
dealings with Christmas. or even to
admit him to his room. Christmas had
the audacity to appeal to the Premier
and demand admittance to the Foreign
Oiiice as q party to the business n
hand, and by using Secretary Hays
letter he actually carried his point, and
not only joined in the negotiations, but
got himself recognized by the Danish
authorities as party to the future con-
duct OF the business.
How Christmas made use of this au-
thority was disclosed in the Richardson
investigation ordered by the House of
Representatives last spring. He per-
suaded the Danish Ministry, and Par
lament, and the Danish public that
money would be required to carry the
treaty through the Senate at Washing
ton. This was believed in most of the |
countries of Europe to be true. People
were accustomed to read of the corrup-
fion OF some of our city governments |
and State legislatures. They were fa-l
miliar with the names Of Croker, Quay,
and other political bosses, and were
prepared to believe the worst things
that could be said Of our public men.
Yet the Danish Government spurned
the thought Of bribing anybody to vote
Tor the treaty. IF Christmas had re-
ceived any money for the purpose Of +
putting it through the Senate ne would I
have pocketed it, of course. But he +
not penny.
1he Richardson investigation in the
House disclosed nothing except the
method BY which the treaty had been
ct OF foot but that was revelation in