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Show UNITED STMTS TO BUY ISLANDS Negotiations Practically Completed Com-pleted With Denmark for Purchase of Danish West Indies. Washington, July 25. Official announcement an-nouncement was made at the White House today that uegotlations havo practically been completed for the purchase or the Danish West Indies by the United States from Denmark for $25,000,000, A treaty Closing the transaction probably will be signed today and sent Immediately to the senate. While details of the treaty "were not given out. it Is understood that the United States would come into complete possession of the islands Word has been received from Denmark Den-mark that the treaty is practically certain of being ratified by the Danish Dan-ish parliament. The Danish West Indies-St. Croi. St. Thomas and St. Johns lie due east of Porto Rico and their value to the United States is strategic from a military point of view. The harbors of St Croix and St. Johns are of importance to the American navy and the harbor of St. Thomas Is on the direct route from New York to the Panama canal. The acquisition of the islands by the United States has been the subject sub-ject of unsuccessful diplomatic negotiations nego-tiations since the civil war. Secretary Garfield began negotiations negotia-tions for acquisition of the islands in 1865, because the naval preparations of the war had shown the necessity of a base in the West Indies. A treaty was made and ratified by Denmark, but the United States failed to act on It in proper time and It lapsed. Ineffectual In-effectual efforts were made to reopen re-open the negotiations during President Presi-dent Cram's administration. In president presi-dent Roosevelt's administration Denmark Den-mark offered the Islands for five millions. mil-lions. The United States senate this time ratified the treaty but the Danish Dan-ish senate defeated it. Denmark's huge expenses since the beginning of the war are said to be responsible for her willingness to sell the islands. ' -on |