The Bottineau courant. (Bottineau, Bottineau County, N.D.) 1895-1929, 1902-04-03
GR0N ON STAND
INVESTIGATION OF CHARGES IN
d CONNECTION WITH SALE OF.
DANISH WEST INDIES.
no STARTLING DISCLOSURES

u0 STARTLING DISCLOSURES
Representative of the "No Sale" Party
3 in Denmark Tells His Story and Is
Closely Questioned by Chairman
DalzeII congressman Alexander
Makes Complete Disclaimer of Any
Knowledge Regarding Alleged Deal.
Washington, April 2.-The investiga-
lion OF the charges made in connection
with the Danish West Indies purchase
was begun before the special commit
ps appointed by Speaker Henderson.
Resides the members OF the commit
zee there was present Niels Gron, who
brought the charges to the attention
of Representative Richardson, and
luite a number OF interested specta-
tors.
Mr.. Gron was the first witness sworn
by Chairman Dalzell. The witness
spoke in good English, with a slight
Danish accent. He said that in Feb
ruary last parties in Copenhagen who
opposed the transfer of the Danish
West Indies to the United States con-
terred with, him and brought to bis at
sention the Christmas 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.. Cron said he WAS 1T present the
representative in this country OF these
parties.
Mr.. Gron save way temporarily to
Representative Alexander of Buffalo,
who wished to make complete dis
claimer Of any knowledge Of Christ
mas Or the Danish transaction.
Mr. Alexander said he had never
seen Christmas. had never spoken to
anyone in or out OF congress as to the
Danish treaty and had never heard it
discussed at any time or place by any
one until after the recent presentation
IF the matter to the house -.
Gron Continues His Statement.
. +CONlIuUluS HIS SLdISulGuI MA. GISu
explained how the Danish parties Op-
posing a sale of the islands had per
suaded him to come to Washington
and place the Christmas report before
congress and the public, when the
facts would become known. He told
{ Of having secured a letter of introduc-
tion to Representative Grosvenor of
Ohio, of arranging to meet the latter
in Washington, his purpose being, he
said, to carry out assurances given at
Copenhagen that he would place the
matter before Influential men anG thus
bring it 10 ;ho attention o. congress
and the house.
Mr.. Gron told n detail OF bringing
the papers before Representative GrOs-
venor, who at first seemed quite in
dignant, Mr. GrOn said, and spoke of
laying the matter before the proper
parties in order that suitable action
might be taken. The witness said that
later General Grosvanor concluded
that it would be proper to lay the mat
tel. before the secretary Of state. This
was done andsMr. Gron said he learned
that the state department held that it
could takc 70 action and that the au-
thcrities here had in no way commit
Gron said that after Grosvenor had
decided MOTTO proceed with the matter
he (Gron) had prepared G statement
for the Associated Press and had ask
ed Mr.. Crane, a newspaper man, to
send some one from the Associated
Press to him for the statement and
also to General Grosvenor for assur-
ances as To GroR's standing. He learn
ed later through MIR. Crane that Gen
gesal GroSvenor said he knew nothing
about it. He said he was informed the
day after he submitted the statement
that the Associated Press could not
use it. Afterward, he said, he sub
mitted his statement to certain news
4 papers and more or less OF it was
printed The witness then detailed
how he had placed the matter before
REPRESENTATIVES,, Richardson and Tn