The public ledger. [volume] (Maysville, Ky.) 1913-1968, 1916-03-20
DANISH-WEST INDIES
Likely To BE Taken Over By the
United States-Danish Gov
eminent willing
To Sell.

Washington, ID. C.-The Danish
West Indies are likely to become AM
erican possessions in the immediate
future, according to those who have
watched the course of events leading
up to the recent announcement from
Copenhagen, suggesting the willing
ness of the Danish government to sell
the islands. Several times in the past
there have been movements to acquire
these islands, but the negotiations fell
through, for various reasons. There is
a new Importance attached to the little
islands since the digging of the Pa
mama Canal, for their possession by an
aggressive enemy might threaten the
safety of the canal in time Of war.
The three islands involved in the Of
fer of Denmark are st. Thomas, St
Croix and st. John. They have an
area of about 1873 square miles, and a
population of $4,000, mostly negroes
Raising of sugarcane is the only in
dustry Of these islands.
Frequent reports have been made Of
the use of the harbors of these islands
by German commerce destrOyers at the
outset of the European war 1t was
said at that time that Denmark was
powerless to protect the neutrality of
the islands, but the fact of their use, if
clearly established, gives clear les
son to the United States as to the value
of these little corners of the Caribbean
to nation owning the Panama Canal
and unfolding the Monroe Doctrine.
If not the sole. at least the most
vital reason suggesting the purchase
Of these islands by the United States,
is their strategic Importance and the
likelihood of their control passing into
the hands of some European power
whose ownership would constitute a
menace to the military interests of the
United States.
There is very good circumstantial
evidence, it is said here, to support the
report that Germany looks forward to
ownership of the Danish West Indies.
In the past, when the United States
sought to buy them, it was German
influence in Copenhagen which inter-
vened to prevent the sale. That was
only six years ago, in 1910. Some ten
years before that time, there was a
movement to buy the islands for four
millions of dollars, but the project fell
through in Congress.
Congress awoke to the situation in
1910, and the United States again re-
vived the question of purchase At
first the Danes manifested a willing
ness to sell the islands, but of a sud
den, and for reasons never made fully
clear, this offer of sale was withdrawn
by Denmark, and she remained abso-
lutely Indifferent to further SUCCESS
tions of purchase. It was in this sec
on attempt at purchase that the Ger
man influence was exhibited, 1t is
said.
That Denmark has now voluntarily
brought forward suggestions of sale
is believed to indicate that the Danes
think the present moment favorable
one to disregard the injunctions of
Berlin. The hope is expressed in di-
plomatic circles here that Congress
will prove liberal enought to grant the
comparatively small appropriation
needed for the purchase, about five
millions.
II has never been doubted here but
that Denmark would be glad to part
with these possessions of hers for a
reasonable sum at any time. As the
Copenhagen reports say. industrial and
social conditions in the islands are not
favorable. The Danes lack the naval
power to maintain effective control,
5000 miles away from the home gov
eminent. and her facilities for prop
er administration and development are
equally limited. Recent strikes among
the plantation laborers have served to
make matters worse. But under Amer
lean control conditions could be ma
terially changed for the better