Minister Swenson to
the Secretary of State
No. 243
American Legation,
Copenhagen,
January 31, 1902.
Sir: I have the honor to enclose herewith a
copy, together with a translation, of a note from the Minister for
Foreign Affairs, dated
[Page 518]
the
24th instant, in reply to one which I addressed to his excellency, under
date of December 16th last, relative to the termination of the
negotiations and the signature of the treaty for the cession of the
Danish West Indies to the United States.
I have [etc.]
[Inclosure—Translation]
The Minister of Foreign
Affairs to Minister Swenson
Mr. Minister: I have had the honor to
receive your note of the 16th instant, in which you were good enough
to communicate to me a cablegram which the Secretary of State had
addressed to you on that date, from which it appears that the
Government of the United States would not object if the Danish
Government should decide to submit the question of a cession of the
Danish West Indies to the United States to a vote by the inhabitants
of the islands, after the signature of the treaty but before the
ratification of the same by His Majesty the King. This point having
been clearly established, the King has affixed his signature to the
full powers authorizing His Majesty’s Minister at Washington to
conclude and sign the convention as per the text agreed upon by the
two Governments; and accordingly Mr. Brun has today been cabled
authority to sign the convention, without awaiting the arrival of
full powers, which have been forwarded by this day’s mail.
In expressing to you my keen satisfaction at seeing the negotiations
so long conducted by our two Governments thus terminated, I am glad
to bear testimony to the spirit of frankness and cordial friendship
in which they have been carried on by your Government, and which is
sincerely appreciated by the King’s Government.
It is with pleasure that I avail myself of the opportunity to make
acknowledgement of the perfect courtesy and uprightness as well as
the compromising spirit which you have evinced towards me throughout
the negotiations, and which I assure you I shall ever cherish as a
pleasant souvenir.
