Salt Lake Telegram | 1902-02-08 | Page 7 | Value of Islands Considered Great

VALUE OF ISLANDS LANDS I. I CONSIDERED GREAT Danish West Indies of Much Importance Import Import- ance in in iii Strategic Way Strategic Way W WASHINGTON Feb Feb 8 The Thc The recent favorable report by the Senate committee commit commit- tee on foreign relations on the the treaty forthe for forthe forthe the cession c cf the Danish West Indies Islands was isas accompanied accompanied by b bYa ba a written statement made mad by y that committee to the Senate This report holds that during 1900 the islands to to the United States Stages SUgar sugar sug mola molasses s and ad hd di distilled distilled dis dis- tilled spirits amounting amo to and that during the same same period the importations importations from the United States States- amounted amount amount- ed to The annexation of the Islands was sought by the United States years ago and as far back ks ha Is 1867 Denmark Denmark declined de de dined to sell th the islands for but made a prop to part with them for Secretary Seward offered which was declined He afterward agreed ed to pay that amount for the islands of St. St Thomas 1 and St. St John but the trade fell through because of complications which arose Continuing the report says These Islands together with Porto Rico are of great Importance in itt a a. strategic way whether the strategy be he military or commercial St SL Thomas is a natural point of call for all European trade bound to the West Indies Central America or Northern South America These islands together with Porto Rico form the northeastern corner of the Caribbean sea and ar are arO of ot great Import Importance importance im Im- Im- Im port in connection with the American Amer Amer- Amerlean ican lean isthmus where a canal will be constructed constructed constructed con con- between the Atlantic and Pa Pa- They are of ot first importance In connection with our relations to regions of the Orinoco and the Amazon and with our control of ot the Windward pas pas- sage iJ