The Forrest City times., 1902-04-04
DANISH ISLANDS SALE.
Investigation OF the Charges Made
In Capt. Christmas Report
Begun at Washington.
NlElS GROIN WAS THE FIRST WITNESS.
lie Appears ns the Agent of the NO
sale" Party In Denmark. and De-
tails His Efforts to Get the Christ
ma. Report Before the American
People.

Washington, April 2.'.'he investi-
CATION of charges made in connection
with the Danish West Indies pur-
chase was begun. Tuesday. before the
special committee appointed by
Speaker Henderson. Beside the men,
bers of the committee. there was
present Niels Gron, who brought The
charges To the attention of Repre-
sentative Richardson. and quite
number of interested spectators.
Mr.. Gron vas 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 10 the United
States conferred with him. and
brought to his attention the Christ
mas report.
Chairman Da!zell 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 this country Of these parties.
Mr. Gron gave way temporarily to
Representative Alexander, of Buffalo,
who desired TO make a complete dis
claimer of any knowledge of Christ
mas or the Danish transactions 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
eussed 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
a note OF Introduction of Gen. eros
yenor, 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
tluential men, and thus bring il to the
attention Of congress and the public
Mr.. Gron told In great detail Of
bringing the papers before Gen. Gros-
venor, who at first seemed quite in
dignant, Mr.. Gron said and spoke
OF laying the matter before the prop
er 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 Law
the matter before the secretary of
state. This was done, and Mr. Gron
said he learned that the state de
partment held that it could take no
action, and that the authorities here
had in no way committed themselves
10 Christmas.
Gron said that after Grosvenor had
decided not to proceed with the mat
ter, he (Gron) had prepared state
ment for the press. and has asked
Mr.. Crane, q newspaper man. to send
someone to him for the statement.
and also to Gen. Grosvenor fo~ assur-
ances as to Grone's standing. He
learned. later, through MIR. Crane
that Gen. Grosvenor said he knew
formed the day after he submitted
: the statement that the press associa-
ton could not use IT, Afterward. he
said he submitted his statement to
; several newspapers, and more or less
OF il was printed. The witness then
detailed how he had placed the mat
ter before Representatives Richardson
and Underwood, who had gone over
the papers.
What was your purpose in bring
ing it before members" asked Mr..
Dalzen.
ITO get it into the house, and be.
fore the American people" answered
the witness.
In response to inquiries. the wit
ness took up various branches Of the
case. He said he represented those
constituting the no sale" party in
Denmark.
lie referred to the reports that he
! (Gron) had himself been trying to
obtain commission for the sale of
the islands, and that the whole mat
ter was quarrel between Christmas
and himself over the commission.
ms MI Gron denied, and in sup.
port read letter stating that an old
alliance between certain Danish mer
and Americans, in the fall Of 1897.
was declared off Is months after. He
mentioned the names of II. II. Rogers
Charles L. Flint and himself as the
Americans interested at that time in
negotiating the sale of the islands.
Asked specifically regarding
statement in the Christmas report tc
the effect that Rogers had agreed to
accomplish the sale of the islands for
ten per cent. of the purchase money.
Mr. Gron declared there was no such
agreement lie described how the
negotiations conducted by the com
mlttees in Denmark and in America
had progressed almost to success.
tnl conclusion just before the Spanish