Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1902-04-08
Tells HIS STORY
Sends Letter to Committee to Investi-
gate Sale of Danish West Indies
Islands.
Tells of Dealings with Christmas, and
Latter's Statements to the
' Secretary. "
Was Given a Letter of Introduction by
the Secretary to American Embassy
in London.

W. CoSlSoIALS SAo1 So Ill SOI4SN
ton with the Danish West Indies nego-
His statement was brief. He
expressed establishment at having seen
name in the Christmas report. He
did not know Christmas and never had
seen him as far as he was aware.
although he met thousands of people
and could not just say who he had
seen. But as to this Danish island
question he had never had a discussion
with anyone on the subject.
c.. W. Knox Of Glenelg, Md, whose
name was mentioned in the Christmas
told of meeting Christmas.
whom he considered a cultivated man
who had become entangled with sharp.
ers. The witness said he had consent.
ed to assist Christmas and a contract
was submitted to the committee by
the terms of which Knox vas to assist
in any proper manner in bringing
about the transfer, Knox to receive
SIS, 600 in case of a sale and $3.50 per
month. AS to a S. transaction which
had been referred to Knox said he
gave Christmas his check for SIS which
was endorsed by~Hansen and he pro
duced the check. This was the only
financial transaction in the affair. The
witness said he never bribed, anyone
and nothing of the kind was ever con-
templated. He never received any
money from Christmas. In response
to questions from members of the COM
mittee Mr.. Knox specifically denied
that he had introduced Christmas to
W. J.. Bryan or hat he had claimed
to Christmas that he was an intimate
friend of Senator Hanna.
Senator Bacon of Georgia told of
two casual conversations with Christ
mas. AS to the latter's statement that
Mr.. Bacon took great interest in the
purchase of the. Danish islands, the
senator declared it was absolutely I'M
true as he did not believe in the &C.
QUESTION of the islands and considered
it unfortunate that the United States
was in a position where it seemed nee
essary to take them.
Letter From Secretary Hay. .s
Chairman Dalzell presented the fol.
lowing letter. from Secretary Hay on
the subject: ..
#"I have received your letter of March
81 and in reply beg leave to say:
IN the early part of December, 1899,
Captain Christmas called upon me at
this department and informed me that
throughs private and personal sources
in Copenhagen he had become aware
that there was a disposition among
some of the leading members of the
Danish government to regard favora-
bly, overtures from the government OF
the United States looking to the acqui-
sition of the Danish islands. He said
he had been a naval officer and spoke
at some length in regard to the de-
STABILITY of the Island of st. John as
a naval station of the United States.
At my suggestion he conveyed what
further technical information he had
on this subject to Admiral Bradford of
the naval department. Although he
presented no credentials whatever and
positively declared he had no official
character I thought his story was OF
sufficient importance to be worth in
vestigation. | told him l would send
a confidential and trusted agent of
his government to Copenhagen to as.
certain unoficially the true state of at.
fairs and mentioned to him the name
of Henry White, first secretary of en-
bassy at ,London. Captain Christmas
said he would like to be in Copenhagen
when Mr.. White arrived and bring him
into communication with the members
OF the government whom he had men
toned. gave him a note of introduc-
ton to Mr.. White and they went to
Copenhagen where Captain Christmas
arranged for an interview between Mr..
White and a member of the Danish
government. Mr.. Christmas was not
present at the interview and his con.
nection with the matter ceased entire.
ly at that time. He afterward return.
ed to Washington and I saw him once
or twice, but told him that there was
no need for services of any private
person in any negotiation which might
be taken up between the two govern,
ments in regard to the acquisition OF
the islands. 7 enclose a copy of a let
ter which I gave to the Danish minis.
ter in Washington at the. time of the
signing of the recent treaty and also
a copy of a letter which I have re.
ceived from the Danish minister. Mr..
No One Entitled to Commission.
In a letter to Minister Brun of Den.
mark, enclosed, Mr.. Hay refers to the
signing of the convention of cession
and adds:
The government of the Unite6
States is in no way under obligation
to the good Offices of private persons
in reaching the agreement now SO hap,
PLY brought about between the United
States and Denmark and cannot ad.
NIT for its own part any such claim on
fha%nart nf NINA for commission
cnmoensation " any remuneration