The Secretary of State to Minister Swenson
Washington, January 15, 1902.
Minister Brun, executing instructions of Minister for Foreign Affairs, has asked our formal assent to a plebiscite, and in the event of our not assenting, has intimated that upon assurance of the United States not objecting to plebiscite he would be authorized to sign, leaving the vote to be taken before ratification. I have answered Minister from Denmark that the processes by which Denmark may reach a conclusion to ratify being wholly of the domestic concern of Denmark I felt unable to unite with Danish Government in prescribing a popular vote and could neither assent nor object thereto. As Denmark is thus made aware of our interposing no objection, the signature of the treaty forthwith appears to be the necessary and proper step. Each party signs subject to ratification according to [Page 512] its own domestic procedure, the form and manner of which is not subject to the consent or question of the other party.
You will press this view upon the Minister for Foreign Affairs as being the course which at this juncture best befits the sovereign rights of the two Powers. Delay in signing treaty is to be deprecated because likely to involve embarrassment here.