File No. 711.5914/238½
The Danish Minister to
the Secretary of State
Danish Legation,
Washington,
October 6, 1916.
Dear Mr. Secretary of State: Since writing
you on October 2nd I have received by mail from the Danish Minister
of Foreign Affairs the text of the note from Mr. Egan to the
Minister, dated September 11th, and of the reply of the Minister to
Mr. Egan, dated September 13th, both relating to the property of the
Danish National Church in the Danish West Indies.
I beg to enclose herewith copies of the two notes.
It appears from this that the reply of the Danish Minister of Foreign
Affairs was also in the English language, and I beg to propose that
this English text should be used in the exchange of notes between us
to which you refer in your letter to me of October 5th just
received.
[Page 683]
The reason for this request is, that the Danish text which I sent you
on October 2nd is somewhat uncertain owing to errors of transmission
in the corresponding cablegram. I note for instance, that when the
Danish text in the last phrase but one says: forsaavidt angaaer dens Ejendoms—og Beskyttelsesret over den
Kirkelige Ejendom, it should have been Benyttelsesret or Brugsret, in
order to correspond to the now received English text.
I understand from your letter of yesterday that the note which you
propose to hand to me will be identical with the note of Mr. Egan of
September 11th, and as soon as you shall advise me of the exact
terms of the text, I will obtain renewed authority from the Danish
Government to proceed to the exchange.
I am [etc.]
[Inclosure 1]
Minister Egan
to the Minister of Foreign Affairs
No. 678
American Legation,
Copenhagen,
September 11,
1916.
Your Excellency: In reference to our
conversation on the matter of the relation of the United States
to the rights of the Established Church in the Danish West
Indies, I have the honor to repeat that the Secretary of State
proposes to exchange notes with the Danish Minister in
Washington, and he suggests on his side a note in the following
substance and form:
[Quotes paragraphs 3, 4 and 5 of Department’s telegram of
September 9, 1916, ante.]
My Government will be pleased if this exchange of notes can be
expedited as quickly as possible.
I avail myself [etc.]
[Inclosure 2]
The Minister of Foreign
Affairs to Minister Egan
Ministry of Foreign Affairs,
Copenhagen,
September 13th,
1916.
Monsieur le Ministre: With reference
to your note of 11 inst. concerning the relation of the United
States to the rights of the Established Church in the Danish
West Indies and to the provisions referring to this point in the
convention between the United States and Denmark ceding to the
States the Danish West Indian Islands, I have the honor to state
that it is understood and accepted by the Government of Denmark
and the Government of the United States that the provisions of
this convention referring to the property and funds belonging to
the Danish National Church in the Danish West Indian Islands
shall not be taken and construed by the High Contracting Parties
as imposing any trust upon the United States with respect to any
funds belonging to the Danish National Church in the Danish West
Indian Islands or in which the said church may have an interest;
nor as imposing upon the United States any duty or
responsibility with respect to the management of any property
belonging to said church beyond protecting said church in
possession and use of church property as stated in said
convention in the same manner and to the same extent only as
other churches shall be protected in the possession and use of
their several properties.
It will be evident from the above, that the Danish Government
accept the understanding as to the meaning and construction of
the provisions of the said convention in accordance with the
resolution of the United States’ Senate concerning the question
of the rights of the church in the islands.
I avail [etc.]
[File copy not signed]
