Minister Swenson to the Secretary of State
Copenhagen, January 2, 1902.
Sir: I have the honor to confirm my cablegram of the 2nd instant which deciphered reads as follows: [Printed ante.]
In connection with the above subject, I refer you to my Nos. 235 and 236, dated December 21st and 27th last, respectively. The popular agitation for a plebiscite still continues, though with somewhat abated zeal.
If the Minister for Foreign Affairs firmly resists the temptation to yield to this sentimental opposition to a sale without plebiscite, it will soon subside and disappear. He is strongly influenced, however, [Page 507] by political considerations, fearing to give offense by rejecting an apparently just and reasonable request.
This is undoubtedly what actuates him in asking the United States Government to give its consent to a vote in the islands.
His alleged fears that the treaty as agreed upon may be rejected by the Landsthing are, in my opinion, not well founded; nor do I believe that he considers the danger from that quarter as serious as he would have it appear.
At a state dinner given by the King last night, I met a number of Landsthing members of the Right (opposition), many of whom I number among my friends.
Mr. Schested, former Minister for Foreign Affairs, at present Vice President of the Landsthing; Count Danneskjold Samsoe, Chairman of the Finance Committee of that body; General Hedeman, an influential member, uncle to the Governor of the Danish West Indies—all agreed in saying that the upper branch of the Rigsdag had not made its consent to an eventual treaty of cession dependent upon a plebiscite.
When I asked them if their party would assume the responsibility of rejecting a treaty without plebiscite, they said that no such intimation had been made to the Minister for Foreign Affairs; and they did not think it likely that the party would care to relieve the Ministry of any of its responsibility in this matter. To an interrogatory from Mr. Deuntzer as to whether they still favor sale of the islands —as they had informed his predecessor last year—they had replied that in case the present Ministry could with good grace break off negotiations, and desired to do so, they—the Right—would not embarrass the responsible Government by insisting on the sale and dragging the question into budget debates, etc.
Individual members had expressed a desire for a plebiscite; but no demand for it had been made—The gentlemen whom I interviewed did not think that the sentiment in favor of the sale was as strong as last year.
Nevertheless, they made it quite clear to me that Mr. Deuntzer has it in his power to secure the ratification of such treaty as he is able to make.
I have [etc.]