Metropolis weekly gazette. (Metropolis, Ill.) 1???-19??, 1917-03-09

owned by the United States.
Ownership of the islands pass
ed from Denmark TO the United
States when Secretary Lansing and
Constantin Brun, the Danish minister
at Washington, formally exchanged
the ratifcations of the treaty convey
Ing the islands TO this government
The title passed with the exchange of
notifications, but the actual physical
possession OF the islands will not take
place until the purchase price of So
100000 is paid to Denmark.
The treaty provides for the appoint
ment of an agent by Denmark TO de-
liver and the appointment OF another
by the United States TO receive the is
lands. The American agent has not
been named, but ii is expected that
Franklin ID. Roosevelt, the assistant
secretary of the navy, will be desig
mated.
Plans For Governing Islands.
Plans for taking over the islands and
for the establishment OF American gov
srnmental control are being perfected
by the administra ton. The bureau of
insuIar affairs of the war department,
which has handled matters relating to
Cuba, Porto Rico, the Philippines and
other American insular possessions, is
now working out a tentative plan for
the government of the islands. Two
plans have been drafted. One pro-
poses a civil form OF government, with
civil governor. as was the case with
Porto Rico. while the other calls for a
military government, under control Of
naval or military governor.
Senator Stone. chairman of the for
sign relations committee, has confer
red with President Wilson. Secretaries
Lansing and Baker and other admins
tration officials regarding the taking
over of the islands. 1t is believed that
the policy will be to effect the transfer
with as little disruption of the existing
regime as possible for the present
Approval by Denmark's parliament
of the treaty by which the United
States acquires the Danish West In
dies opened the way for the prompt
exchange OF notifications between the
two governments and consummation
of negotiations that have been in
progress internationally since the civil
war.
The American naval strategists for
years have regarded possession of this
little archipelago lying fifty miles east
{ of Porto Rico as absolutely necessary
to prevent any European power from
acquiring it and, moreover, to estab-
lish there great naval base and coal
ing station for the United States feet
Commercially the islands are regarded
as of comparatively little value.
The United States ratified the treaty
Sept 9, the only question raised being
the large purchase price.
Denmark Offered Us Islands.
Some interesting details regarding
our previous negotiations for the pur-
chase of the Danish West Indies, which
on two occasions proved abortiYe were
brought to light when the senate re-
Gently ratified the proposed treaty for
their purchase at the cost of $25, 900.
600. At the time Of our war with
Spain a bill for the purchase at cost
Of 100000 aroused so little interest
that il was allowed TO die in the senate
The Danish government first entered
into a treaty with the United States
providing for the sale of the Danish
West Indies during the period when
William Fl. Seward was secretary OF
state. The senate never voted upon
this treaty, and owing to this fact the
Danish government. when it took up
fhe question anew in the first McKin-
ley administration, did not feel that It