The Van Buren press. [volume] (Van Buren, Ark.) 1859-1914, 1902-04-05
DANISH ISLANDS SALE. !
Investigation of the Charges Made
In Capt. Christmas Report
Begun at Washington.
NIELS GROIN WAS THE FIRST WITNESS,
lie Appears aA the Agent of the NE
Sale" Party in Denmark, and De-
tails His Efforts to Get the Christ
mas Report Before the Americas
People.

Washington, April 2.-'he inyesti'
CATION Of charges made in connection
with the Danish West Indies pur.
chase was begun, Tuesday, before tn,
special committee appointed by
Speaker Henderson. Beside the mem
bers Of the committee, there was
present Niels Gron, who brought tho
charges to the attention of Repre-
sentative Richardson, and quite .
number of interested spectators.
Mr.. Gron was the first witness
sworn by Chairman Dalzell The wit
ness spoke in good English, with
slight Danish accent. He said that,
in February last, parties in Copen-
hagen who opposed the transfer Of
the Danish West Indies to the United
States conferred with him, and
brought to his attention the Christ.
mas report.
Chairman Dalzell asked who these
parties were. The witness said they
were members Of the Danish upper
house, but he did not think it proper
to give their names. Mr.. Gron said
he was at present the representative
in tins country OF these parties.
Mr.. Gron gave way temporarily tc
Representative Alexander, of Buffalo,
who desired to make complete dis
claimcr of any knowledge Of Christ
mas or the Danish transaction. Mr..
Alexander said he had never seen
Christmas, had never sponek to any
one in or out Of congress as to the
Danish treaty and never heard It dis
cussed at any time or place by any
one, until after the recent presenta-
ton Of the matter TO the house.
Continuing his statement, Mr.. Gron
explained how the Danish parties OPP
posing sale OF the islands
had persuaded him to come
to Washington and place the Christ
mas report before congress and the
public, so that the facts would be
known. He told Of having secured
note Of introduction of Gen Gros-
venor, of Ohio, with view Of meet
ing the latter in Washington, his pur-
pose being, he said, to carry out as
surances given at Copenhagen that
he would place the matter before In
huential men, and thus bring it to the
attention Of congress and the public.
Mr.. Gron told in great detail OF
bringing the papers before Gen eros.
yenor, who at first seemed quite in
dignant, Mr.. Gron said, and spoke
Of laying the matter before the prop
err parties in order that suitable ac-
ton might be taken. The witness
said that, later, Gen. Grosvenor con
cluded that it would be proper TO lay
the matter before the secretary OF
state. This was done, and Mr. Gron
snd he learned that the state de-
partment held that II could take no
action, and that the authorities here
had in no way committed themselves
to Christmas.
Gron said that after Grosyenor had
decided not TO proceed with the mat
ter, he (Gron) had prepared q state
mcnt for the press, and has asked
Mr., Crane, n newspaper man, to send
someone 90 him for the statement
and also TO Gen. Grosyenor for assur.
nnccs rs to Grone's standing. lie
learned, later, through Mr.. Crane
that Gen, Grosvenor said he knew
nothing about IL. He said he was In.
formed the day after he submitted
the statement that the press associa'
ton could not use il, Afterward, he
said, he submitted his statement to
several newspapers, and more or less
Of It was printed, The witness then
detailed how he had placed the mat.
Ter before Representatives Richardson
and Underwood, who had gone over
the papers,
"Whnt was your purpose in bring.
ing II before mcmbers2' asked Mr.
DnllclL
"To get II into the house, and be-
fore the American people" answered
tho witness,
In response TO inquiries, the wit
ness took up various branches OF the
ease lie said he represented those
constituting the mo sale party In
Denmark
lie referred TO the reports that he
(Gron) had himself been trying to
obtain n commission for the sale Of
the islands, and that the whole mat
ter was quarrel between Christmas
and himself over the commission
This, Mr., Gron denied, and IN sup
port reHd letter stating that an old
alliance between certain Danish men
and Americans, In the fall ot 1897,
wns declared OF is months after, lie
mentioned the names Of II, H. Rogers,
Charles r. Flint and himself M the
Americans interested At that time In
negotiating the sale Of the islands,
Asked specifically regarding u
statement In the Christmas report to
the effect that Rogers had agreed TO
accomplish the sale of the islands for
ten per cent Of the purchase money,
sir. Gron declared there was no such
agreement. He described how the
negotiations conducted by the com
mittecs In Denmark and In America
had progressed almost 20 success
ful conclusion just before the Spanish
war. when they were declared on In
Denmark
Mr. dron said he undertook 90 re.
open the negotiations after the war.
The committees In Copenhagen and
America had not been dlssolve'