The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1902-03-30
GRON MUST TESTIFY
HOUSE COMMITTEE PROVIDES FOR
PUBLIC VENTILATION OF IS
LAND SALE SCANDAL
CHRISTMAS FREE IN TALK
He Acknowledges Authenticity of
Report Quoted, but Insists That
Nothing ScandalOus Fol-
lowed His Lobbying.

WASHINGTON, March 29.-The special
committee appointed by Speaker Hender-
son to investigate allegations in connec-
ton with the Danish West Indies pur
chase held an executive meeting today
and determined to begin the investigation
next Tuesday. The committee decided
that the hearings would be open to the
Public.
Chairman Dalzell was authorized to
make any arrangements necessary to Sc
cure the presence of witnesses. 1t was
understood, however, that several persons
would appear voluntarily without being
summoned The committee did not go
into the merits of the question today ex-
cept to go over the printed charges ana
discuss the steps best to take.
AS the charges showed that they had
been brought to Representative Richard
sons attention by Nels Gron, it was de-
cided necessary that the latter should APP
pear, and he will accordingly be heard on
Tuesday.
Representative Cousins, of Iowa, made
the motion that the hearing be public and
this prevailed.
COPENHAGEN, March 20. = Capt.
Christmas says he is not the least aston
ished by the American scandal over the
purchase of the Danish West Indies.
"The Danish no sale party" he says,
''hopes to break eff the sale by the help
of a scandal. For that purpose some
body stole my confidential report to the
government and engaged a certain per-
son, an American citizen, to go to Wash
ington to start the scandal by delivering
the report to Representative Richardson
and to the newspapers.
Capt Christmas gave out here on Feb.
10 a declaration, under pressure OF an
oath, that no member of the American
congress was either directly or indirectly
interested in the sale of the Danish ISL
ands He says he sent this declaration to
the foreign office with a demand that 1t
be forW arded to the Danish ambassador,
M Brun in Washington. 1t was also
published in all the Danish newspapers
without a denial
81 never had any arrangement about
provision with any American authority,
he said. 81 have no claim whatever on
America, but only on the Danish govern
ment for my work and expenses. Inc
present government has nothing to Go
with anv possible scandal as all the ar
rangements regarding me and my work
were made with Premier Hoerring three
wears ago, when I, by an order from the
American state department, had brought
Secretary Henry White into conmunica-
ton with the Danish foreign minister M.
Ravn.
1.-THE existing government has accepted
the present situation from their predeceS-
sors, NJ Ashested and Hoerring, and has
never been blamed with a word for any
thing I have done.
att seems to me that the no sale party
is not acting for the benefit OF their coun-
try in trying to disturb the entente cor
dale between America and Denmark, an
understanding which our premier, M.
Deuntzer, officially stated the other day
has been remarkably good"
Scandal Result of Quarrel.
In an interview with a representative
of the Associated Press today on the SUBJ
iect of Congressman Richardson's resolu-
ton for the appointment OF com1nIutee
to investigate charges made by capt.
Christmas in connection with the negot1a-
tons for the sale Of the Danish West
Indies, a high official said:
Neither Christmas or Gron was ever
given credentials as agents for the sale
of the Danish West Indies. They never
negotiated with Washington and have in
no way influenced the negotiation. These
were conducted through Laurits S. Sven
son, the United States minister here and
Constantin Brun, the Danish minister at
Washington The Danish government is
under no obligation to any private persons
in connection with the sale. Hence no
commission IS Que or VIII DC pau.
1.-THE alleged scandal is the result of a.
quarrel between Christmas and Gron.
GrOn Says Government Was Tricl1ed.
"Gron claimed he effected the sale and
that hence he wanted commission.
Christmas made a similar claim, accom-
panied by a confidential report to the
Danish government containing state
ments regarding bribery, as recently pub
| lished in Washington. Most of the report
was printed by the Danish press some
time ago.
'Gron, seeing it was hopeless to expect a
! commission, started for Washington with
! Christmas report in his pocket, Boosting
! to the anti-sale advocates here that ne
would be revenged by influencing con-
| gress to decline to- pass the appropria-
! ton for the purchase of the islands
Before the commencement of the nego-
| tiations, Christmas and Gron actually
! ter, as agents. The then premier Dr.
Hoerring, gave them some encouragement
and private parties favoring the sale
| furnished small amounts for their travel
| ing expenses. DR.. Hoerring was indis-
| Greet He discussed a commission but
| bribery was not suggested. He and the
| other parties speedily discovered that they
| had been imposed upon and broke off
| their connection with Christmas and Gron,
! considering them to be without influence
! Christmas has now been forced to declare
! that his report of bribery was false