File No. 711.5914/260a.
The Secretary of State
to the Danish Minister
Department of State,
Washington,
January 29, 1916.
My dear Mr. Minister: I am having prepared
a draft of a treaty transferring to the United States the
sovereignty of the Danish West Indies, which I shall submit to you
as a basis of negotiation. In the course of preparing this draft it
has occurred to me that it would be very useful to have a definite
statement of the character and extent of Danish obligations and
rights in these islands as indicated in the attached formal note, so
that if it were necessary, as was done in the Treaty of 1902, to
make any statements in the new treaty in regard to public rights and
obligations, the information would be before us in compact form.
Such information would also be very useful for the Government in
answering inquiries which undoubtedly will be made by the Senate as
to the status of the financial and other obligations of the Danish
Government in the West Indies. I hope that in making this request I
am not imposing an unnecessary burden upon you at this time, when I
know you are extraordinarily busy.
I am [etc.]
[Inclosure]
The Secretary of
State to the Danish
Minister
Department of State,
Washington,
January 29,
1916.
Sir: With reference to the proposed
transfer of sovereignty of the Danish West Indies Islands to the
United States, I have the honor [Page 599] to request that, if you perceive no
objection, you notify me formally as to the following:
- (1)
- The character and extent of the public property of
every kind and description now belonging to the Danish
Government or the Governments of the Danish West Indies,
together with all appurtenances thereto, in these
islands, including all public, Government or Crown
lands, public buildings, wharves, fortifications,
barracks, franchises, concessions, grants, and other
privileges.
- (2)
- The nature and extent of all grants, concessions,
franchises and privileges which have been dispensed by
the Danish Government or by the Governments of the
Danish West Indies, in or in any way relating to these
islands and which are now in existence.
- (3)
- The nature and extent of any Government obligations
resulting from or connected with the matters mentioned
in paragraphs (1) and (2).
The object of this request is to have a definite description of
the rights and obligations of the Government of Denmark and the
Governments of the Danish West Indies in these islands up to the
date of the signature of the proposed treaty before us during
the negotiations, in order that a proper statement in regard to
them, if deemed advisable, may be inserted in the proposed
treaty. I believe that a clear understanding of these matters
will contribute to the expedition with which the treaty can be
disposed of in this country, and to the removal of any possible
cause of dispute which may arise out of public rights and
obligations in these islands.
Accept [etc.]