Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1917-03-29

TAHE Danish West Indies are now
owned by the United States.
Ownership of the islands pass
ell from Denmark 10 the United
States when Secretary Lansing and
Constantin Brun. the Danish minister
at Washington. formally exchanged
the notifications Of the treaty convey
Ing the islands To this government.
The title passed with the exchange or
notifications, but the actual physician
possession of the islands will not take
place until the purchase price OF go
100000 is paid 10 Denmark.
The treaty provides for the appoint
rlent 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 1t is expected that
Franklin u. 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
ernmental control are being perfected
by the administration. The bureau or
insulari 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 tentative plan Tor
the government of the islands. Two
plans have been drafted. One pro-
poses a civil form Of government with
a civil governor. as was the case with
Porto Rico, while the other calls for
military government, under control or
O naval or military governor.
Senator Stone, chairman Of the for
eign 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 .Denmarks parliament
of the treaty by which the United
States acquires the Danish West In
dies opened the way for the prompt
exchange Of Publications between the
two governments and contamination
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
70 prevent any European power from
acquiring it and. moreover, to estab-
lIsh there q 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. o, 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 abortlVe' were
brought to light when the senate re-
Gently ratified the proposed treaty for
their purchase at the cost Of Sa5'OCo:-
600. At the time OF our war with
Suain a bill for the purchase at cost
OF S5.OOO,OOO aroused so little interest
that II was allowed TO die in the senate.
Tho nanish government first entered
into a treaty with the United States
uroyiding for the sale OF the Danish
west Indies during the period when
william II. Seward was secretary OF
state. The senate never voted upon
this treaty. and owing TO this fact the
Danish government. when 1t took IN
the question anew in the first Mekin-
Iev administration, did not feel that 1t