The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-04-07

West Indies negotiation His statement
was orief He expressed establishment
at having seen his name in the Christ
mas 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 say just whom
he had seen. But as to this Danish is
land question, he never had had a dis
cussion with any one on the subject.
c. w. Knox of Glenelg, Nd, whose
name was mentioned in the Christmas
report. told Of meeting Christmas. whom
he considered a cultivated man, who
had become entangled with sharpers.
The witness said he consented TO assist
Christmas and a contract was submit
ted to committee by the terms of
Which Knox was to assist in any proper
manner in bringing about the transfer,
Knox to receive $4,000 in case of sale
and $3.50 per month. As to a $5 trans
action which had been referred TO, Knox
said he gave Christmas his check for
$5, which was endorsed by Hansen and
he produced the check This was the
only financial fact in the entire affair.
The witness said ne never bribed any
one and nothing of the kind was ever
contemplated. He never received any
money from Christmas In response to
questions from members of the commit
tee Mr.. Knox specifically denied that
he had introduced Christmas to W. J.
Bryan, or that he had claimed to Christ
mas that he was an intimate friend of
Senator Hanna
Senator Bacon of Georgia told of two
casual conversations with Christmas AS
to the latter's statement that Mr.. Bacon
took great interest in the purchase of
the Danish Indies islands. the senator
declared it absurdly untrue as he did
not believe in the acquisition of the is
lands and considered it unfortunate that
the United States was in a position
where it seemed necessary to take them.
ing letter from Secretary Hay on the
subject:
To John Dalzell, Chairman Select Com
mittee, Etc.
Il have received your letter of the 31st
OF March and in reply beg leave to say:
In the early part of December, 1S99
Capt. Christmas called upon me at this
department and informed me that
through private personal sources in Co
penhagen he had become aware that
there was a disposition among some of
the leading membe of the Danish gov
ernment to regard favorably an over
ture from the government of the United
! States looking to the acquisition of the
Danish islands. He said he had been a
naval officer and spoke at some length
in regard to the desirability of the ISL
and of St John as a naval station for
the United States.
AT my suggestion he conveyed what
further technical Information he had on
this subject to Admiral Bradford of the
navy department. Although he present
ed no credentials whatever and express
! " declared that he had no official char
acter, I thought his story was of suffi-
cient interest to be worth investigation
I told him 7 would send a confidential
and trusted agent Of this government
to Copenhagen to ascertain unof1cially
the true state of affairs and mentioned
to him the name of Henry White, first
secretary of embassy at London. Capt
! 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 mentioned I gave him a note
of Introduction to Mr.. White and they
met in Copenhagen, where Capt Christ
mas had arranged for an interview be
tween Mr.. White and a member of the
! Danish government Mr.. Christmas was
not present at this interview and his
connection with the latter ceased entire
" at that time. He afterward returned
to Washington and I saw hin once or
twice but told him that there was no
need for services of any private person
in any negotiation which might be ia
ken up between the two governments
in regard to the acquisition OF the ISL
ands I enclose a copy Of q letter which
I gave to the Danish minister in Wash