The need of the United States for a naval base to prevent
blockade-running during the Civil War influenced President Lincoln
and Secretary Seward to urge the purchase of the Danish West Indies,
in order to obtain the rights to the harbor of St. Thomas. Actual
negotiations were not undertaken, however, till after Lincoln’s
assassination. The first proposals were made to Denmark when she was
smarting under the loss of Schleswig and Holstein, after the victory
of her Teuton enemies. Secretary Seward visited the islands in the
year 1866, and offered five million dollars for the group. But Denmark
hesitated to conclude arrangements, lest she displease her victors.
Furthermore, Napoleon III refused his consent to the transfer of St.
Croix, and according to the agreement entered into at the time of the
purchase of St. Croix from France, Denmark could not dispose of this
island to any other country without the approval of the original owner.
Seven and a half million dollars was the price finally named in 1867
for the two northern islands, and the Danish Senate and the inhabitants
of the island voted in favor of the transaction. In the United States
Senate the chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee was Charles
Sumner. As an opponent of President Johnson, it is believed he feared
the purchase of the Danish West Indies, following the Alaska purchase,
would bring too great popular favor to the Administration. At any rate,
no action was taken on the treaty when it was presented. The opposition
of Sumner to the Grant administration further delayed ratifications,
and, in 1870, the treaty was allowed to lapse.
The Danes again showed themselves willing to sell the islands during
the presidency of Harrison and Cleveland, but met no response on the
part of the United States. After the Spanish-American War, proposals
were again renewed. A treaty was drawn up by John Hay in 1901, and the
purchase price fixed at five million dollars for the three islands, St.
Croix being included by consent of France. The United States Senate
confirmed the second treaty in February, 1902, but this time the Upper
House of the Danish Parliament failed to ratify. German influence in
Denmark was held accountable for this attitude, since German steamship
interests would be furthered by the retention of the islands by Denmark.
In 1911, the transfer was once more broached, but again it failed of
consummation. The question last came up for discussion in August, 1916,
and again negotiations would have been fruitless but for the insistence
of the Danish premier, who threatened to dissolve parliament and
participate a general election if Government and people did not consent
to the disposal of the islands. On January 17, 1917, terms were finally
concluded between the two countries.
At a farewell service held in St. Thomas after the ratification of
the treaty of cession had been exchanged by Secretary Lansing and the
Danish Minister at Washington, the pastor paid this just tribute to the
rule of Old Denmark, that had lasted, almost without interruption, for
nearly two hundred and fifty years: “Of what are our thoughts, now that
the end is reached? Of oppression and misrule? Exploited resources? A
people crippled with taxes to enrich others? Education systematically
neglected? The rule of the few over the many? Justice sold to the
highest bidder? Government without heart or sympathy with the poor? Any
or all of these things so often the accompaniment of colonial rule? No.
At the bar of history the account is rendered. Today we may think of
the solid good of the past, and pray that the new flag shall stand for
all those things for which the old flag has stood.”
On March 3, 1917, an act was approved by the United States Congress
to provide a temporary government for the people of the Danish West
Indies, and on the last day of that month the formal transfer was
sealed by the payment of a treasury warrant of $25,000,000 by the
United States Secretary of State to the Danish Minister in Washington.
Telegraphic advice was immediately sent to representatives of the two
Governments at St. Thomas. Upon receipt of the messages the ceremony
of the transfer was enacted at the Saluting Battery, St. Thomas, by
the retiring Danish governor and the acting United States governor
(commander of the U. S. S. _Hancock_), in the presence of naval,
military and civil guards and an impressive assemblage of citizens.
The transfer was simultaneously celebrated at Christiansted and
Frederiksted, St. Croix. On April 7, 1917, the first governor of the
islands, Rear Admiral Pollock, late Chief of Naval Intelligence, was
officially welcomed and installed in office.
The inquiry, “Are the islands worth the expenditure of $25,000,000?”,
is answered by present-day students of naval tactics. “We have at
least the value of the twenty-five millions in these offensive times
in keeping any foreign power from getting a foothold there. We have
bought the finest site strategically, logistically and tactically for a
first-class naval base on the Atlantic seaboard.”
PREPARED BY THE EDITORIAL STAFF OF THE MENTOR ASSOCIATION
ILLUSTRATION FOR THE MENTOR. VOL. 6. No. 13. SERIAL No. 161
COPYRIGHT, 1918, BY THE MENTOR ASSOCIATION, INC.
[Illustration: PHOTOGRAPH BY E. M. NEWMAN