The sun., 1916-08-19
MOVE IN SENATE TO
DELAY DANE TREATY
Borah Questions Paying $685.
100000 for Islands Once Of
fered at 81, 100000.
LANSING IS QUESTIONED
Secretary Promises to Give
Foreign Relations Com
mittee Full Details.

WASHINGTON, Aug. 1s.-The Senate
Committee on Foreign Relations heard
Secretary Lansing to-day on the treaty
submitted to tho Senate for the purchase
OF the Danish West indies. Senator
Borah OF Idaho. Republican. was the
chief inQuisitor for the committee. He
wanted to know why the Government
finds 1t necessary to pay S26 .000.0 900 for
Islands that were OF. cred to the United
States n few years ago for &5.000.000.
Mr.. Borah also asked for the details Of
the concessions granted from time to
time by the Government Of Denmark
which the United states under the terms
Of the treaty will assume. n whether
any. grants in perpetuity have been
made.
As to the details Of these concessions
Secretary Lansing admitted his lack Of
information and asked for at least two
days In which to obtain additional In
formation from Copenhagen.
There Is a growing feeling In The SEN
ate that this treaty will not be ratified
at his session Of Congress. The OPP
position In the committee has not grown
to formidable portions. II IL led by Sem
ator Borah and Senator McCumber. but
there 10 = disposition manifested on all
hands to learn more about the details.
Lobby IL HATED AZ.
Secretary Lansing told members Of the
committee the State Department had
decided to pay s25.ooo.ooo for the isl
Rnds. or 1ve times the price ut which
they had been offered heretofore. be-
AUS It was deemed necessary to make
the offer 20 attractive in Denmark that
there would be no doubt about its &C.
ceptance. Some unfavorable differences
were drawn from this statement by the
Foreign Relations Committee and curl
osity was manifested az to whether a
lobby was being encouraged to promote
sentiment In Denmark.
The only explanation offered by the
Secretary for the immediate acquisition
Of tho islands was that II was a part
OF the policy Of the state Department to
preserve the Monroe Doctrine against
any possible invasion.
Senator Borah asked Secretary Lam
sing whether II would not be IA violation
OF the Monroe Doctrine for IN other
Government TO try TO acquire the Islands
and wether he believed any foreign
Power would 40 wilfully affront the
United States as to seek to acquire ter
ritory In the Western Hemisphere. The
Secretary replied the State Department
believed II would he In a stronger posi-
W. ~ tbo WIN So
II Il held title TO the Danish West indies.
silent on Other Islaads.
II has been limited that the Admins.
tration was moved to buy the Islands
through fear Denmark might dispose OF
them to Germany. and might raise q seri-
nus question for the Cn!ter States. il-
volv!ng an infringement OF the Monroe
Doctrine. Mr.. Lans'ng's statement was
the hrst Official acknowledgment that
possible complications involving the
Monroe Doctrine figured chiefly In the
decision OF the United States to buy the
islands.
II was suggested to the Secretary tina,
there were several other islands In the
Immediate vicinity now under foreign
control. and Mr.. Lansing was asked II II
was the policy OF the Government TO en-
ter upon a general plan Of acquiring all
81 tisse foreign possessions. Secretary
Lansing replied this WAS n matter for
the future. bu, that II was within the
range Of possibilities.
II was learned nj issue OF bonds Ii
contemplated to raise the money 20 pay
for the islands. and the fact was also
brouGh, out. much to the discontinue
OF members OF the committee. that the
new possessions In 'he West Indies
would prove n liability rather than an
asset, for they are now running behind
each year.
THE committee wants all the facts
II can get regarding harbor and wharf.
age, telephone. lighting and other con
cess!ons granted on the islands by the
Danish Government" said Chairman
Stone Of the Foreign Relations tonight
when all the facts are obtained by
Secretary Lansing ! will call the com
mittee together again.s l think the com.
mittee will repOr the treaty zone tim.
next week. ! hope to get 1t ratified a:
this session. but some Of the Senators
say they have heard things which would
lead them to doubt our ability TO get the
treaty ratified before adjournment"