New Britain herald., 1916-08-11
RIGSDAG TAKES UP
 SALE OF ISLANDS
Lower House Expected to Vote in
 Favor Of Move

| reading of the bill providing for the sale of the Danish West Indies to the l United States was taken up yesterday l in the Folkething, the lower house of
 the Rigsdag, and will be continued to-
 day. It is believed that the FoIke-
 thing will adopt the measure, as the | radical and socialstic parties, which l have a majority, favor the sale. The Landsthing, or upper house, it is thought, is opposed to the measure the left party having joined the con- servatives, who desire to postpone con- sideration of the matter.
 During the discussion there was
 much excitement in the house, and
 some women among the spectators
 shouted, we will not sell!''
 Several of the ministers took part in
 the debate, and the statement was
 made in behalf of the government that
 neither domestic nor economic consd-
 crations. but the international situa- tion, had brought the question to a
 head, and that if the sale was rejected the government would dissolve the Rigsdag and appeal to the country.
 The finance minister, Edward Brandes, intimated that the govern ment had had no alternative but to eccede to the desire of the United States
 o;,,;c I7,-i1 Io enius, in opening the debate, recom- mended ratification of the sale. He denied that the government was forced to sell, and added that it had not favored the sale because of the favorable purchase price, but be- cause retention of the islands might 1 possibly involve Denmark in interna- tional complications. It was for the | RigSdag now to make final decision l
 Would Wait Until After War.
 J. c. Christensen, ex-premier and | leader of the left party, was unable to 1 believe, as rumored, that Denmark 1 was forced to sell or that there was any international danger, as such be- l lief would be an insult to the United l States. The proposal to sell the islands, he declared, was not only a but had come as a coup de main, and in the opinion of his party nothing should be decided during the var or until after the election.
 Leaders of the radical and socialist parties said that their parties favored he sale, but the socialist leader advo- ,ated the taking of a plebiscite of the 5eople of the islands, if that were possible.
 The conservative leader strongly opposed the sale, declaring that a ma Crity of the party was against it.
 The minister of finance emphasized he international considerations which lad brought the matter to a head, and declared that dissolution of the Rigs lag would follow rejection ot the neasure Neither consideration of a domestic nature in the islands, nor economic gain had been the deciding factor. Already, in 1913, the govern nent had received an offer for the purchase of the islands, but declined ,o sell, as it had no desire to lower the Danish colors anywhere without CO., gent reasons.
 Those who opposed the sale, the minister continued, had an easy task, because the government was unable e unveil it's chief arguments in favor Jf the sale. w nat Snoulu pe uOIle, LOT instance, if the United States took possession of the islands? he asked Should Denmark declare war against Inc United States or appeal to Eu- rope? The government felt bound to submit to the desire of a great state. The government regretted that the colors had to be lowered, but when a hurricane was blowing one had to run before it.
 The minister concluded by warning the house that responsibility for fore ing elections, and the consequences a rostponement might involve, would fall on the Rigsdag.