File No. 711.5914/134
Minister Egan to
the Secretary of State
No. 943
American Legation,
Copenhagen,
August 9, 1916.
Sir: With reference to the Department’s
telegraphic instruction No. 142 of August 5, 1916, asking for the
four documents referred to in the first paragraph of the letter of
the Danish Minister of Finance of January 18, 1913, I have the honor
to enclose the four documents referred to which are in the form of
letters. It is evident from the contents of the letter written by
the Minister of
[Page 647]
Finance of
October 2, 1912, that the concession to the “Vestindiske Kompagni”
has lapsed because the conditions for the granting of that
concession had not been fulfilled. The Foreign Minister informs me
that these are all the documents referring to this concession in his
possession. This will doubtless be considered very remarkable as the
concession was of so much importance, but several applications on my
part to the Foreign Office resulted in the reiterated assertion that
there are no other documents in the case.
I have [etc.]
[Inclosure 1—Translation]
[Untitled]
K. No.
Ministry of Finance,
Copenhagen,
October 2,
1912.
On the 1st instant the Consortium notified the Ministry of
Finance to the effect that the subscription for stocks in the
“Vestindiske Kompagni” had not reached the result that was
conditional for the granting of the harbor-concession, and that
under the circumstances the Consortium desires, without the
concession, to proceed with the work.
In compliance herewith the Consortium has offered to undertake
temporarily the erection of the first section of the harbor
plant at Long Bay, provided that the right to dispose of any
area and dock which it may construct be reserved to it.
In this connection you are informed that the Ministry of Finance
agrees, also if the concession is dropped, to permit the
Consortium to fill up and deepen the part of St. Thomas harbor,
which on the map attached to the concession of July 7th, last,
is marked with A., and which is situated directly in front of
the area acquired by the Consortium. Permission is also granted
to the Consortium to dispose freely of any area and dock which
it may erect.
-
N. Neergaard
-
C. Dines Hansen
To the Consortium to utilize [for
utilization] through draining and deepening an area within
the harbor of the Danish West Indian Island, St. Thomas.
[Inclosure 2—Translation]
[Untitled]
K. No. 1209
Ministry of Finance,
Copenhagen,
October 11,
1912.
In connection with the Ministry of Finance’s letter of the 2nd
instant, through which the Consortium was notified that the
Ministry of Finance was willing, even if the concession granted
to the Consortium on July 7, last, is dropped, to grant to the
Consortium the permission to drain and deepen certain
particularly specified areas within the harbor of St. Thomas,
and to utilize the recovered areas and docks, the Consortium has
through a communication of the 8th instant called attention to
the fact that it is its intention, because the development makes
it advisable, to accomplish the whole of the previously
contemplated plant. In this connection the Consortium asks for
particulars as to how it may secure a free disposition of the
plants.
You are hereby informed that permission is granted to the
Consortium to reclaim (inddæmme) those
areas in the harbor of St. Thomas, which on the map, attached to
the afore-mentioned concession, are marked in red color. When
these areas have been recovered, they shall be considered the
property of the Consortium, which may dispose freely and
independently of them. However, should such a property in any
way be involved in a conflict with the interests of a private
individual, the question should be settled with the party
concerned. The Consortium should further have the sole right to
dispose of the docks, which it may have erected in accordance
with the map. It is particularly pointed out that this
permission reserves the Consortium the right to collect wharf
dues, anchorage and other similar dues from such crafts as call
at
[Page 648]
its docks or take
advantage of the harbor facilities. The wharf dues are a fixed
tax, and should be collected equally from all.
It is also stated that the Consortium is permitted to erect on
its area, tanks for liquid fuel to serve as fuel for ships,
subject, however, to such precautions as may be considered
necessary by the local authorities.
Pilot and harbor dues (also ship’s dues) shall be paid to the
harbor’s cashier by all ships which call at or take advantage of
the facilities offered by the harbor, such as the use of piers,
dock arrangements, etc., which the Consortium may have erected;
conditions and rates to be the same at all times as those which
are in effect in the remainder of the harbor.
The police inspection of the afore-mentioned water and land
districts will be under the control of the harbor and local
police authorities.
-
N. Neergaard
-
C. Dines Hansen
To the Consortium to utilize through
draining and deepening an area within the harbor of the
Danish West Indian Island St. Thomas.
[Inclosure 3—Translation]
[Untitled]
K. No. 1226
Ministry of Finance,
Copenhagen,
October 14,
1912.
Acknowledging the receipt of the Consortium’s letter of the 12th
instant enclosing the concession issued in favor of the said
Consortium on July 7, last, it is hereby stated that the
Ministry of Finance is willing to transfer the rights, which
were granted to the Consortium through the Ministry’s letter of
the 2nd instant, K. No. 1183, and of the 11th instant K. No.
1209, to a limited company with administration at Copenhagen.
The Board of Administration should be formed in such a way that
the greater part of the members are Danish citizens.
With respect to the application of the Consortium requesting that
all materials, imported in connection with the intended first
erection in and at St. Thomas harbor, also to be exempt from
duty under the administration of the contemplated concern,
please note that it is the intention of the Ministry to
authorize the Administration of the Danish West Indian Islands
to place before the Colonial Board of St. Thomas and St. Jan an
ordinance-proposal in favor of this question.
-
N. Neergaard
-
C. Dines Hansen
To the Consortium to utilize through
draining and deepening an area within the harbor of the
Danish West Indian Island, St. Thomas.
[Inclosure 4—Translation]
[Untitled]
Det Vestindiske Kompagni,
Holbergsgade 2.
With reference to the Ministry of Finance’s letter of October 14,
(K. No. 1226) and of October 17, (K. No. 1235) last, the
Consortium to utilize through draining and deepening an area
within the harbor of the Danish West Indian Island St. Thomas
takes the liberty to request that the rights, which were granted
to the Consortium through the Ministry’s letter of October 2,
(K. No. 1183) and of October 11, (K. No. 1209) [see letter of
October 14, (K. No. 1226) of last year], may be transferred to
the stock company, Det Vestindiske Kompagni, which is resident
at Copenhagen, and the Board of Administration of which consists
of persons who are all Danish citizens.
The undersigned, Vestindiske Kompagni, hereby has the honor to
enclose copies in triplicate of the Journal of Proceedings from
the Company’s General Assembly, touching upon the constitutional
meetings on October 16 and on December 12, last year, and three
copies of the Company’s printed rules. The Company at the same
time requests that the above-named rights be transferred to it,
and that the Administration of the Danish West Indian Islands
place before the Colonial Board of St. Thomas and St. Jan a
proposal for an ordinance directing that all materials
imported—whether by the Company or by others,
[Page 649]
whom the Company has charged with
part of the work—in connection with the first erection in and at
St. Thomas harbor, be exempt from duty.
Copenhagen
,
January 6, 1913
,
Respectfully
The Consortium to
utilize through draining and deepening an area within the
harbor of the Danish West Indian Island St. Thomas.
-
H. N. Andersen
-
Holger Petersen
-
C. M. T. Cold
Board of Administration of “Det
Vestindiske Kompagni”
-
H. N. Andersen
-
Holger Petersen
-
C M. T. Cold
-
C. F. Maegaard
-
H. C. V. Møller
-
A. Heide
-
Alex. Foss
-
H. Schultz
-
Schmiegelow
-
J. F. Fenger
To the Ministry of Finance, Central
Administration for the Colonies.
