File No. 859.00/37
Minister Egan to the Secretary of State
Copenhagen , July 15, 1910 .
Sir:* * * Naturally, it is interesting to know how the present condition of the Treasury may affect the question of the sale of the Danish Antilles. The late Ministry would have been inclined to talk about the subject in rather a Platonic manner, having no majority behind them. The Radicals and the Socialists would be glad to get rid of the islands which still continue to be a source of great expense, but the Conservatives and some of the Moderates still cherish the [Page 560] hope that an exchange, for part of their beloved Schleswig may still be arranged. I have talked with all classes on the subject. H. M. the King would submit to any plan for the sale of the Danish Antilles that the majority might approve. H. M. the Queen is devoted to the welfare of the colored people in the islands; she, I think, fears for their safety, if they should come under the jurisdiction of the United States. The conservative landowners look on the possible sale of the islands as a national disgrace. “Denmark” they say, “can not afford to part with a single mile of territory; it would be a loss of prestige; but we might exchange.” In strictly informal conversation, one points out, in vain, that Denmark has Iceland and the untouched resources of Greenland. The smaller landowners and those of the city people who are of the Moderates would not allow their representatives to vote for the sale of the islands unless the money was to be applied by the party to which they belong. The Conservatives, as I said, are against any sale; the opinion of the majority of the Left-Moderate party, at present in power, would depend on the financial needs of the moment, with allowance for opposition because of national pride.
Three of the Centre groups amalgamated in one Left party, thus securing precisely one-half of the seats in the Folkething—i. e., 57 out of 114. As many of these Left were elected with the help of the votes of the Right, and, on the other hand, some of the 13 members of the Right were elected with the assistance of the Left, there is an alliance between Right and Left; these two parties together in the Folkething command about 70 votes against the 44 votes of the Radical and Socialist groups.
The high esteem in which the United States is now held—there is scarcely a Danish family of the middle classes that has not a representative in our country—would count much in favor of the sale. The reaction against the sale which followed the failure to sell in 1902 has lost its violence; (though, since the rumored conflicts caused by the racial feeling aroused by the Jeffries-Johnson fight at Reno, several distinguished persons have uttered renewed fears that the jealousy of American whites might almost enslave the blacks in St. Thomas, St. John and St. Croix). Major-General C. H. Arendrup, formerly Governor of the Danish West Indies, expressed great horror the other day, at the preparations made by Denmark in 1902 “to sell thousands of human souls.” “But they voted,” I said. “Ah, my dear Mr. Minister, these poor blacks do not know their own minds from one day to another.” Captain Cold, very recently Governor of the islands, is less fervent in his desire to keep the islands. “In case of war,” he said, “you would take them, anyhow.” He admits that the islands will never pay Denmark, in fact, they must always be a loss, but I think that he, like his chief, Admiral de Richelieu, imagines that an exchange by which Denmark may receive a part of the German territory wrested from Denmark in 1863, may be possible. And yet he is one of the most practical men in Denmark, and both he and de Richelieu have the best feeling towards the United States; they have many times shown this.
The basis of this exchange is always the cession of Greenland. Denmark would cheerfully give up Greenland and even Iceland, which alternately threatens “to go it alone” or to join itself to Norway, for a part of Schleswig.
[Page 561]As soon as I can collect the information, I shall send you a lengthy report on the conditions of the Danish West Indies as seen from Denmark. The time is not yet ripe to raise the question of the cession of the Danish West Indies; yet, as soon as the Panama Canal is completed, it will be raised by somebody in Denmark, though it is apparently forgotten now; any insinuation or suggestion from me, repeated in the press, would immediately raise it, and raise it futilely. I invariably avoid the subject when it is discussed seriously, or assume that the “exchange” so often mentioned is a desire, on the part of the Danes, to secure one of the Philippines. H. M. the Queen of Denmark once sounded me on this subject, and took it as a great joke when I said that my country would be glad to settle all the bills for the expense of the Danish West Indies, if Denmark would undertake the financing of the Philippines. “You think that you have too many islands then,” she said, much relieved.
I have [etc.]