Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1916-08-08

The only objection heard against the proposed
purchase Of the Danish West Indies by the United
States is that the price, twenty-five million dollars
is too high. Certainly, the islands are not worth
that much to Denmark, but they might be worth a
vast deal more to some ambitious European Power;
and, in hands GnfrIendly to the Monroe Doctrine.
they might become a sharp menace to American
interests.
Values are relative Whether these three bits of
sea-girt land would be bargain or an extravaganza
at twenty-five million dollars depends who is to
acquire them and what purpose they to serve
Merely for territory and resources, they would be
of scant value to a nation whose domain is already
so broad as that of the United States, but when
their strategic possibilities considered the ques-
ton assumes quite a different aspect.
As Roland G. Usher, the noted student of inter
national affairs, points out in the Philadelphia
Public Ledger. these islands control. might i'm
peril our control of the approaches to the Gulf
and other positions in which vitality
cerned The principal member of the group, St.
Thomas has a natural harbor-"deep, broad, land
locked protected from storms and in a measure
from observation from the sea'-which. according
TO who held it, would be great advantage a
great danger to the United States.
steep cliffs afford admirable opportunities
for Notifications observations of other fleets,
and excellent locations for powerful wireless
seize this as fleet base for operations against
our positions in the Gulf of Mexico or against
own Atlantic coast Suppose it should
fortify it secretly and then, when all was
ready, make dash at Panama and take pos
session. The guns in the forts around the
canal are still very Vulnerable to a modern
feet, and 1t is difficult to see how the canal
could be retaken without the expenditure of
many times twenty-five million dollars. We
any such plans would attempt to carry them
out after the present But why take a
chance on it? Why sit around and wait Tor
trouble to come? Why not take out an in
surance policy of about twenty-five million
dollars on property worth, at q modest COM
putG-ion about five hundred million? pol
icy all paid up for the rest of time, so far as
that particular source of trouble is concerned"
1t is commonly suspected that the plans of the
United States for purchasing the Danish West In
dies In 1902 were thwarted by German influence
A deal was at the point OF consummation when
for reasons unexplained at the time Denmark
strangely baked. The Danes are now eager to
sell, partly because they need the money and be-
cause, moreover they wish to be quit of possess
sion which might involve them in trouble with
their mighty Teuton neighbor. The United States
will do we'll to act while the coast is clear from
interference such developed in 1902.
As long as these islands the market
there will be a chance of some European Power
buying them, an event that would spell serious
complications; for the Monroe Doctrine is opposed
to the extension of European suzerainty in this
hemisphere either by conquest by purchase.
Thus as safeguard against vexng and dangerous
issues well for purposes of strategic defense
the United States will do we'll to grasp the present
unencumbered opportunity for getting the Danish
West Indies.