Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1916-09-15

United States Will agree TO Ma'"ss"
Certain Grants, Concessions and
Rights Bestowed by Danish Govern
ment-Riohts Of Citizens Are Also
Outlined In Detail.
The treaty which, If adopted, will
make the Danish West Indies the prop
erty Of the United States consists OF
twelve articles compared with seven IN
that Of 1902. In many respects they are
similar. The most important changes
are found in article 3, In which are
enumerated the grants and concessions
the United States will maintain In &C.
cordance with the terms Of the grants
when made by the Danish government.
Article ! describes the territory ced-
ed as the islands Of st. Thomas, St.
T, John and st. Croix. together with the
adjacent islands and rocks" and In
Guiding the government lands and
buildings.
In article Denmark guarantees that
the cession is free and unencumbered
by any reservations, privileges, fran
chises, grants or possessions held by
any governments, corporations. syndi-
Gates or individuals. except as herein
! mentioned"
This article also provides for the pro-
lection Of the property Of the Danish
national church.
Article contains many special
agreements. The arms and military
stores Of the Danish government are
to remain its property. to be removed
as soon as practicable.
The United States agrees to maintain
certain grants, concessions and licenses
given by the Danish government in &C.
cordance with their terms, including
the following:
Concession to bet vestindiske Kom.
pagni the West Indian company
granted Jan. 10. 1918. and April 10,
1913, being license to drain. deepen
and utilize certain areas in st. Thomas
harbor and preferential rights as to
commercial, industrial or shipping es-
Establishments in that harbor.
Concession Of June 20, 1914. for es-
tablishment Of a Danish West Indian
bank of issue.
Article provides for the appoint.
ment Of proper agents for the purpose
Of formally delivering and accepting
the territory coded.
Price s25.ooo.o 600.
Article 5 provides for the amount to
be paid for the islands. the sum stipu.
lated being $25,OQO.OOO "in gold coin Of
the United States" to be paid within
ninety days from the date Of the ex.
change Of Publications and to be paid
in Washington to the representative Of
the Danish government.
Article G relates to citizenship. Dan.
ish citizens may remain or remove
from the islands at will, including the
right to dispose of their property or its
proceeds. In case they remain they will
continue to enjoy all the rights. politi-
cal and religious, secured to them by
laws now In force. If the present laws
are altered. the inhabitants shall not
thereby be placed in less favorable posi-.
ton in respect to their rights and liber-
ties than they now enjoy.
Those who remain in the islands may
preserve their Danish citizenship by
making within one year from the date
of exchange Of Publications a declara.
ton of their decision to preserve such
citizenship. In default Of such declara-
ton they shall be held to have re-
nounced 1t and accepted citizenship in
the United States.
Article provides that Danish citi.
Gems residing in the islands shall be
subject in matters civil as we'll as Grim
inal to the Jurisdiction of the courts Of
the islands, pursuant to the ordinary
laws governing the same. etc.
Article 8 relates to judicial procedure
pending at the time Of formal deliv-
cry Of the islands ceded and provides
for the disposition of civil and GRIM
inal litigation then under way. Cases
pending before the superior or the SUI
preme court in Denmark shall continue
to be prosecuted before the Danish
courts until final Judgment according
to the law hitherto in force
Article 0 provides that the rights
of property secured by copyrights and
patents acquired by Danish subjects
in the islands coded at the time of ex-
change or ratification shall continue
to be respected.
Article 10 stipulates that treaties.
conventions and all other international
agreements of any nature existing be-
tween the United States and Denmark
shall go ipso extend, in default Of a
provision to the contrary. also to the
ceded islands.
Article II provides that in case Of
differences Of opinion regarding the
Interpretation or application of this
treaty, if they cannot be settled through
diplomatic methods, the questions shall
be referred to the court of arbitration
at The Hague.