Omaha daily bee., 1916-09-09
SENATE VOTES! TO.
BUY DANE INDIES
U. S. Upper House Ratifies
Treaty Providing for Pur-
chase Of Islands.
NORRIS AMENDMENT LOST

Washington, Sept. 8.-The treaty
providing for the purchase from Den
mark of the Danish West Indies for
S2s,OoO,0OO was ratified by the SEN
ate last night There was no roll call
and Tess than half-a dozen senator's
including Senators Norris, Jones and
Clapp, voted against it. \
The amendment BY Senator Norris
to reduce the purchase price from
$250OoQoO to $lO,O0O,Oo0 was defeated
by an overwhelming vote, and the
treaty was approved just as it was
signed by Secretary Lansing and Min
lister Brun in August.
Deal on Long Time. .
Negotiations for the purchase OF
the islands have been in progress in
tepmittently for hal6a century. Be-
cause of their strategic value, particu-
larly since the construction of the
Panama canal, the American govern
>ment being anxious to acquire them
not only with view to establishing
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 sem
ate had ratified treaty. -
In Denmark the treaty has de-
veloped a political crisis that may re-
suit in new general election Of
members of Parliament After bit
ter fight the upper house adopted
resolution notifying the cabinet-that
it was willing Parliament should be
dissolved and a general election held
unless sale of the islands could be
postponed until after the European
war.
St. Thomas and St. Johnare part
of the virgin. islands; so named by
Christopher Columbus. St. Thomas
lies about thirty-six miles east Of
Porto Rico, with St. John Immediately
TO the eastward. ST. Croix, the largest
of the three, is situated about forty
miles south of St. Thomas in the
Caribbean Sea. St. Thomas, an i'm
portsnt coaling- station and depot Of
trade, with an excellent harbor, is
twelve miles long east and west and
from one to three miles broad. The
only article of export is bay rum. \
>,Cyclone Refuge.
St. John is eight miles long, east
and west, and Of irregular breadth.
Its AREA is about forty square miles.
; 1t occupies,an excellent position near
St. Thomas and its port Of coral
on the east side is said to be the
best harbor of refuge from cyclones
in the Antilles during cyclones.
St. Croix, also named by Columbus,
is nineteen miles long, OF irregular,
breadth and contains 1880 acres, of
which over 10000 acres are devoted
to the cultivation of sugar. Christian
sted. commonly called the basin, is
the capital fcity Of the Danish West
Indies and is situated at the head
ofSan inlet on the north side Of St.
Croix. These are harbors at the
capital and at Frederrkstead, is the
second largest town.
The islands are inhabited mostly by
free negroes, engaged in the cultiva-
ton of sugar cane.
Proposal Agreed To.
Copenhagen, Sept. 8--(Via Lon
don THE proposal of the conserya-
tive party for the appointment Of a
parliamentary committee Of thirty
members to consider the negotiations
for the sale of the Danish West In
dies to the United States was agreed
to tonight by the representatives of
various parties in the Richstag after
a lengthy meeting