Minister Swenson to the Secretary of State
Copenhagen, March 17, 1900.
Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your cipher cablegram of the 12th instant,7 and to confirm mine of the 16th instant,8 copies of which are enclosed herewith.
In my No. 150 of the 22d ultimo, I reported that the Minister of Foreign Affairs could take no definite action on your proposal before the Finance Committee of the Rigsdag had been further consulted regarding the terms of the convention and had given definite assurances of their assent to an eventual cession of the islands.
After some discussion of the matter, the committee in question addressed a written request to the Minister of Finance for certain information bearing on the contract and other obligations entered into by the Danish Government with the English West India and Panama Telegraph Company, the Floating Dock Company, at St. Thomas, and certain sugar factories. See my No. 150, of the 22d ultimo, with respect to these contracts, concessions and guarantees.
The desired information has not yet been furnished by the Minister of Finance; and hence the whole matter is in abeyance.
I have had frequent interviews with the Premier and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, and have made every effort consistent with courtesy and discretion to bring about definite action on the subject. The political conflicts in the Rigsdag have, however, during the present month, been of such all absorbing interest that the Danish West India question has been lost sight of.
As foreshadowed in my No. 154, of the 8th instant and reported in my cablegram as herewith,8 the disagreement between the Government and the Folkething has culminated in the resignation of the Ministry.
Though the resignation has not been made public, I know that it is in the hands of the King.
The proposed cession of the Antilles has in no manner contributed to the fall of the Ministry. There appears to be a strong sentiment in both branches of the Rigsdag in favor of such cession; and the Folkething, controlled by the opposition, is perhaps more favorable to it than is the Landsthing.
[Page 471]The Premier and the Minister of Foreign Affairs are of opinion that the change of Ministry will have no other effect on the pending negotiations than to delay them somewhat.
The Rigsdag will likely adjourn about April 1; and unless summoned for an extra session, will not meet again till in October. As no elections intervene, it is thought that the attitude of the National Legislature on the West India question will undergo no change during the recess.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs believes that an extra session would be called for the purpose of taking action on the convention, as soon as it shall have been signed by the two Governments and ratified by the United States Senate. I consider the delay unfortunate.
There has been some agitation against selling the islands; and attempts have been made to arouse public sentiment against it on patriotic grounds. Meetings have been held, resolutions adopted, petitions circulated, etc. I enclose herewith a newspaper clipping,8 with translation, containing the text and the signatures of a petition of this nature. Most of the signers are men of prominence in the various walks of life; but the address has not made a strong impression on the Rigsdag or on the public.
What might be accomplished in this direction when the members of the Rigsdag return to their constituents, and especially if an extra session were to be called for dealing exclusively with this matter, I do not pretend to be able to foretell.
I am of opinion that the convention ought to be acted upon during the present session of the Rigsdag.
I have [etc.]