Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-05-02
DANES GLADLY RID
|. OF VIRGIN ISLANDS
Wet Monte Carlo Proposal
for RepurChase Urged by
Some Politicians.

COPENHAGEN, Denmark, May 2
| (NANA).-"President Hoover Is right
when he says the Virgin Islands are
now an effective poor house But 1t
is the fault of the Americans them
selves. It was not poor house they
! took over from Denmark"
This comment upon Mr.. Hoover's re-
cent remarks on economic conditions in
the Virgin Islands Is made by the last
Danish governor there, Helweg Larsen.
Mr., Hoover'S remarks probably were
| read with even more interest in Den
mark than in the United States. But
no ,1erxon now holding office is willing
to comment. The members of the pres
emit government, II they were willing TO
speak. undoubtedly would say 1t was
good thing Denmark parted with the
Islands. and that the cost OF putting
them on q paying footing had been
| taken OF the shoulders OF the Danlsn
{ taxpayer. That view probably Is shared
by the mapority Of the people In Den
mark.
Would Build U. S. Monaco.
However. there are also circles In
which Mr.. Hoover's remarks have acteo
as a fan to the flame OF indignation
which has been burning ever since Den
mark decided to lower her nag over
her West Indian possession ana 10 sell
It to the United States.
There are people here who would De
willing at q word to start an ag1tatlon
to blly the islands back. ana they nave
their nlans all worked out to change
ths Islands from a poor house" into an
earthly paradise. 80
Tvhey would turn the islands into
| new Monte Carlo, easily reached from
the United States, with liquor In plenty
and at fairly low prices. But these re-
markable schemes are not sponsored by
responible political leaders.
Governor Sees DepOpulatiOn.
Former Gov. Larsen believes the
greater part Of the population. VIII
leave the islands and seek living
ST Is particularly st. croix that Is
IN a had way." he said. "A large part
of the population of this island has for
a long time had nothing to live on ex.
cent relief from the American Zee
cross. The main reason for the crisis
ia that the Americans have prohlblteo
the production Of rum. In former times
rum was q fine source OF income, pc.
cause St. Croix rum enjoyed gooo
renlltation all over the world.
IAN additional reason is the crisis in
the sugar market, which has caused
most plantations to close down; Inc
| good harbor in st. Thomas, the best IN
| the West Indies, will probably prove the
salvation Of that island. But Tor 81.
Croix I can see no hope so long as pro-
hibition continues in America. l expect
the island will gradually go to bush"
! A Danish high court lawyer, j: stem,
who recently visited the islands, has
written q description of them.
EVERYWHERE" he writes, you hear
| complaints over the rapid deterioration
of the islands since America took them
over. The United States destroyed the
| rum trade and has proved unable TO
bring new initiative to the Islands.
HarbOr Also Neglected.
Nothing is done to repair the dam
age caused by time. II tree Is blown
down, no one bothers to remove IL.
The once-beautiful residences OF Chris
\ tianssted, where the rich plantatlon
owners used to live. are partly IN RUNS
! In the middle Of the farbor OF Chris
1 tianssted lies q 150-year old schooner,
| the Vigilant, originally a pirate ship,
later a man-of-war, and finally pas
senger boat between st. Thomas and
st. Croix. Some years ago 1t keeled
over IN the middle Of the harbor, and 1T
has been lying there ever since. Prob
ably it will remain until 1t has rotted
away"
Mr.. Stein does not put all the blame
on the Americans. He lays share OF 1t
to the paSsivtty OF the Danish popula-
ton that still lives there.
(CopyriRht, 1881, by the North American
| Newspaper AllianceO