The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1916-08-11
DENMARK FEARS
 LONGER TRYING
 TO HOLD INDIES
Rigsdag Is Warned It Must Ratify Sale or Be
 Dissolved.

| Copenhagen, Denmark, Aug. H.
 Unless the Rigsdag (Congress) rati- fies the sale of the Danish West In-
 dies to the United States it will be
 dissolved and the question will be sub
 mitted to a vote of the people.
 That notice was served today when
 the Landsthing (Senate) took up on
 first reading the bill to approve the l transaction. Members were informed
 that the government did not enter upon the deal because it wished to part with the islands, nor because it
 was tempted by the $25,000,0O0 offer, | but because it foresaw international
 complications if it held on to them. | It is expected that the Folkething
 (House of Representatives) will pass the bill, as the Radical and Social
 ist Parties favor it. But the Lands
 thing, the majority in which is be- lieved to oppose the sale, may at least
 postpone action.
 "We Will Not SeIl!" Women Cry During the discussion today there
 was much excitement and some wo- | men among the spectators shouted, We will not sell.''
 Several Cabinet members took part in the debate.
 Finance Minister Brandes intimat- ed that the government had no alter. native but to accede to the desire of the United States.
 Foreign Minister Scavenius denied that the government was forced to sell, explaining that to do so was deemed wise.
 Ex-Premier Christensen, leader of the Left Party, said he could not be- lieve, as is rumored, that Denmark is obliged to sell or that there is any international danger, as such belief would be an insult to the United States. The proposal to sell the isl- ands, he declared, was not only sur prise but coup de main, and in the opinion of his party nothing should be decided during the war or until after elections.
 Wants Vote of Islanders.
 The leaders of the Radical and So- cialist parties said that their parties favor the sale, but the Socialist leader advocated taking vote of the people of the islands, if that is possit0.
 The Conservative leader strongly opposed the sale, declaring that ma jority of his party is against it.
 The finance minister dwelt on the international considerations which l precipitated the matter and gave warning that dissolution of the Rigs daw would follow rejection of the measure.
 Neither consideration of a domes- tic nature in the islands nor economic gain had been the deciding factor" he asserted. In 1913 the government received an offer for the islands but declined to sell, as it has no desire to lower the Danish colors anywhere without cogent reasons.
 State Secret Cannot Be Revealed.
 Those who oppose the sale have an easy, task, because the government cannot unveil it's chief arguments in | favor of the sale. What would be done, for instance, if the United States took possession of the islands?
 Should Germany declare war against the United States or appeal to Europe? The government felt bound | to submit to the desire of a great | state. The government regretted that | the co1ors had to be lowered, but when | 8 hurricane is blowing one has to run | before it. Responsibility for forcing | elections and the consequences a post l ponement might involve would fall | upon the Rigsdag.''
 Foreign Minister Scavenius declared | that it will be a serious matter if the | sale is postponed The Rigsdag as now constituted is fully competent to make a decision ''