The Acting Secretary of State to Minister O’Brien
Washington, July 19, 1905.
Sir: Supplementing my instruction to you, No. 4 of the 15th instant, stating the groundlessness of the report that the unratified treaty for the purchase of the Danish West Indies would be revived at the next Congress, the President directs that you ascertain, in an informal manner, whether or not the Danish Government is now inclined to ratify a treaty for the cession of these islands. In making this informal inquiry you will bear in mind that it is more or less tentative on our part, as the President is not advised whether the Senate would consent to a new treaty.
I am [etc.]