Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1916-09-08
Matter Was Pressed for
Strength 1t Would Give
Fight in Denmark.
PLAN TO REDUCE COST
IS GIVEN DRUBBING
United States Wants Series
of Small Islands for
Strategic Value.

WAsHINGToN. Sept THE
w treaty for the purchase from
Denmark of the Danish West Indies
for s25.000,000 was ratified by the
senate tonight. There was no roll call
and less than a half dozen senator's.
including Senators Norris, Jones and
Clapp. voted against 1t.
Favorable action on the treaty at
this session of congress had been
strongly urged by the administration.
particularly because of the influence
1t might have upon the situation in
Denmark. where, though the lower
house Of parliament has approved It,
fight is being made for ratification
in the upper house.
But Little Opposition.
The vote tonight followed several
hours of debate in executive session
while the senate was waiting for the
conference report on the emergency
revenue bill the only obstacle to ad-
journment of congress. Finding that
no serious opposition developd, ad-
ministration leaders arranged for a
recess from 8:l5 to $3.50 o'clock to
round up a quorum and to force final
action. BY mistake adjournment in
stead OF recess was taken. causing
a few minutes delay while the
sergeant alarms looked for minister
to offer the invocation required under
the rules, but when no minister was
to be found precedent was estab-
lished by dispensing with the invoca-
tion and voting began soon afterward.
An amendment by Senator Norris
to reduce the purchase price from
100000 to $10.000.000 was de-
feated by an overwhelming vote and
the treaty was approved just as 1t was
signed by Secretary Lansing and Min
lister Brun on August 4.
Are of Strategic Value.
Negotiations for the purchase of
the islands, little group to the east
of Porto Rico, have been in progress
intermittently for half century. Be
cause of their strategic value, par
ticularly since the construction of the
Panama canal the American govern
ment has been anxious to acquire
them, not only with a view to estab-
fishing naval base there. but to
prevent the islands from falling into
the hands of any foreign power. Ger
man interference was credited with
blocking negotiations on the subject
In 1902 after the United States senate
had ratified a treaty
Practically nothing was known
about the recent conferences between
Secretary Lansing and Minister Brun
and there was no announcement of
the fact that the neg citations had
been renewed until shortly before the
pact was signed. Even then the terms
OF the purchase were kept secret un-
I'll one of the confidential copies Of
the treaty sent to the senate had dis
appeared and It's substance published.
sale Is opposed.
In Denmark the treaty has de-
vcloped political crisis that may re-
suit In q new general election of men,
bers of parliament and reorganization
of the cabinet rhe folkethng. the
lower house. ratified it August IA by
u vote of 81 to a., but much more
serious opposition developed In tho
landsthing After a bitter fight the
upper house adopted a resolution
notifying the cabinet that it was will
ing parliament should be dissolved
and general election held unless sale
of the islands could be postponed un-
I'll after the European war. The vote
on this resolution was 80 to I.
Under the terms of the treaty Dem
mark would sell 10 the JOited States
the islands Of St Thomas. ST. John
and St. CrOix, together with adjacent
islands and rocks and including the
right Of property in all public. govern
ment or crown lands, public h0ild-
irgs, warves. ports. harbors, fortir-
cations. barracks. public funds, rights
franchises and privileges and all other
property Of every kind or description
now belonging to Denmark together
with all the appurtenances thereto"