Se. Majestät der deutsche Kaiser und König von Preussen und Se. Majestät der Kaiser von Oesterreich und König von Ungarn haben zu diesem Zwecke zu Ihren Vertretern ernannt:

Se. Majestät der Deutsche Kaiser und König von Preussen den Prinzen Heinrich VII. Reuss, Allerhöchst Ihren Botschafter und General-Adjutanten etc.

Se. Majestät der Kaiser von Oesterreich und König von Ungarn :

den Grafen Julius Andrassy von Czik-Szent-Kiraly und Kraszna Horka, Allerhöchst Ihren Minister des kaiserlichen Hauses und des Aeussern

etc.,

welche nach Vorlegung ihrer in guter und richtiger Form befundenen Vollmachten über nachstehende Artikel sich vereiniget haben.

ARTIKEL I. Die in dem zwischen Sr. Majestät dem König von Preussen. und Sr. Majestät dem Kaiser von Oesterreich, König von Böhmen und Apostolischen König von Ungarn, am 23. August 1866 zu Prag abgeschlossenen Friedensvertrage niedergelegte Vereinbarung, wonach der Uebertragung der Sr. Majestät dem Kaiser von Oesterreich durch den Wiener Friedensvertrag vom 30. Oktober 1864 erworbenen Rechte auf die Herzogthümer Holstein und Schleswig an Se. Majestät den König von Preussen eine Modalität hinzugefügt ist, wird hiedurch aufgehoben, so dass die Worte im Art. V des genannten Vertrages vom 23. August 1866:

His Majesty the German Emperor and King of Prussia and His Majesty the Emperor of Austria and King of Hungary have appointed as their Representatives for this purpose:

For His Majesty the German Emperor and King of Prussia, the Prince Henry VII of Reuss, His Majesty's Ambassador and General-Adjutant ;

For His Majesty the Emperor of Austria and King of Hungary, the Count Julius Andrassy of Csik-SzentKirály and Kraszna-Horka, His Majesty's Minister for the Imperial Household and for Foreign Affairs;

Who, having duly exhibited their full powers in proper form, have agreed to the following Articles:

ART. I. The Union laid down in the Peace concluded at Prague between his Majesty the Emperor of Germany, King of Prussia, and his Majesty the Emperor of Austria, King of Bohemia and King of Hungary, on the 23rd of August, 1866, by which a form is added to the transfer to His Majesty the King of Prussia of the rights of his Majesty the Emperor of Austria over the Duchies of Holstein and Schleswig acquired by the Vienna Treaty of Peace of October 30, 1864,1 is hereby cancelled, so that the words in Article V of the abovenamed Treaty of the 23rd August, 1876:-"With the condition that the population of the northern districts of

"mit der Massgabe, dass die Be- Schleswig shall be ceded to Denmark

THE ISLANDS OF ST. THOMAS AND ST. JOHN, WEST INDIES, 1868

Extracts from Correspondence Concerning the Proposed Cession of the Islands of St. Thomas and St. John by Denmark to the United States, July 17, 1866-October 24, 1867 1

MR. SEWARD TO MR. RAASLOFF

(Confidential)

Department of State, Washington, July 17, 1866.

SIR: I have the honor to propose to you that the United States will negotiate with the King of Denmark for the purchase of the Danish islands in the West Indies, namely, St. Thomas and the adjacent islets, Santa Cruz and St. John.

The United States would be willing to pay for the same five millions of dollars in gold, payable in this country. Negotiation to be by treaty, which, you will of course understand, will require the constitutional ratification of

the Senate.

Insomuch as you propose to visit Copenhagen, the United States minister at that place will be instructed to converse with you or with your Government on the subject; but should your Government conclude to negotiate, the proceeding will be expected to be conducted here and not elsewhere. Accept, sir, the renewed assurance of my high consideration.

SIR: This morning I received a note from General Raasloff, informing me that Count Frijs desired to see me this evening. At the appointed time I was received by the count at his house, General Raasloff being present.

1 United States, Compilation of Reports of Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, 1789– 1901 (Senate Document No. 231, pt. 8, 56th Congress, 2d session), vol. 8, pp. 162–198.

The object of the interview was to acquaint me with the conclusions of the Danish Government upon the subject of your confidential proposition to General Raasloff of July last.

The count informed me that your offer had been promptly communicated to the Danish Government, and had been repeatedly and duly considered; that the Government had uniformly been, and were still, of the opinion that the terms offered could not be accepted; and that the Government had concluded to comply with what they supposed to be your desire, that they should make a counter proposition. He said they would cede the group of three islands to the United States for $15,000,000; or, in the alternative, the two islands of St. Thomas and St. John for $10,000,000, and Santa Cruz for $5,000,000, with the option of taking the two former and rejecting the latter; that as to Santa Cruz, the Government could not sell without the consent of France; and he was of the opinion that if there was any difficulty on that point, so that it could not be ceded to the United States, it would not be sold to France but be kept by Denmark; that the ratification by the Rigsdag of such a cession is constitutionally necessary; and, after that, the Danish Government will require that the consent of the people of the islands shall be had.

SIR: By the telegram in cipher of this Department of the 23d instant, which Mr. Adams was directed to forward to you in writing from London, you were informed of the terms and conditions upon which the United States would accept a cession of the Danish West India Islands. If by the time that this instruction shall reach you the Danish Government shall be prepared to accept those terms and conditions, the accompanying full power will enable you to enter upon and conclude the negotiations of a convention upon the subject. A draft of a convention is also transmitted. It is expected that in the instrument as ultimately signed there will be no material variation from this draft.

The cession must include all the islands owned by Denmark in the quarter referred to. The sum to be paid therefor by the United States must not exceed $7,500,000 in gold.

The convention must be signed and ratified on behalf of Denmark on or before the 4th of August next. These terms and conditions are indispensable. If they should be refused by Denmark you will declare the negotiation at an end.

It is not believed that the consent of the people of the islands is necessary. You will notice that provision is made in the draft for the withdrawal of any of the inhabitants of the islands. If they choose to remain there they may either become citizens of the United States, or, if they should prefer not to forswear their natural allegiance, they may stay and will enjoy that protection which is by treaty stipulated in behalf of Danish subjects elsewhere in the United States and which they might also claim pursuant to public law.

I am, sir, your obedient servant,

George H. Yeaman, Esq., etc., Copenhagen.

WILLIAM H. SEWARD.

DRAFT OF THE TREATY ACCOMPANYING THE ABOVE

The United States of America and His Majesty the King of Denmark, being desirous of confirming the good understanding which exists between them, have for that purpose appointed as plenipotentiaries the President of the United States, George H. Yeaman, accredited as their minister resident to his said Majesty, and His Majesty the King of Denmark.

And the said plenipotentiaries having exchanged their full powers, which are found to be in due form, have agreed upon and signed the following articles:

ARTICLE I

His Majesty the King of Denmark agrees to cede to the United States by this convention all the Danish West India Islands, namely, the island of St. Thomas, the island of Santa Cruz, and the island of St. John.

ARTICLE II

In the cession of territory and dominion made by the preceding articles are included the right of property in all public lots and squares, vacant lands, and all public buildings, fortifications, barracks, and other edifices which are not private individual property.

Any Government archives, papers, and documents relative to the territory and dominion aforesaid which may be now existing there shall be left in the possession of the agent of the United States, but an authenticated copy of such of them as may be required will be at all times given by the United