File No. 711.5914/100a
The Secretary of State to Minister Egan
Washington, August 18, 1916, 5 p.m.
150. Article 2 of the Danish Treaty provides:
Congregations belonging to the Danish National Church shall retain the undisturbed use of the churches which are now used by them, together with the parsonages appertaining thereunto and other appurtenances, including the funds allotted to the churches.
Senate Committee inquires, First, where the title to the church properties and parsonages reposes, whether in the Danish Government or some official thereof, in the Colonial Government or some official thereof, or in the Church as an ecclesiastical organization or corporation; Second, similarly, where the title to the funds mentioned reposes; Third, what is amount of funds, of what do they consist or in what invested and in whose control are they? Question involved is constitutional right of Congress to hold property of religious institutions.
Please obtain this information officially and telegraph it to me at the very earliest possible moment for the use of the Senate Committee. Before Monday noon if possible.
[Page 657]Papers in your mail despatch No. 915 March 27th do not give period for which concession to Ejnar Svendsen runs nor remaining specifications for the execution of the concession to be determined by the Government of the Danish West Indies. Please obtain this information officially in documentary form if possible, and cable report, but do not let this delay obtaining foregoing information for Senate Committee.
I have not heard from you regarding the letters referred to in the letter of the Minister of Finance of April 16, 1913 regarding St. Thomas harbor concession.
Answer foregoing in order and in separate telegrams.