Sale of the Danish West Indian islands to the USA

The Danish West Indies began to experience severe decline in all respects from the middle of the 19th century because the sugar from St. Croix experienced intensely increased competition on the world market and trade and shipping on St. Thomas declined.

In 1873 rumor had it that Denmark intended to relinquish the Danish West Indies to Germany in exchange for Southern Jutland (lost to Germany in lost the Second Schleswig War in 1864). This was not correct, just as there was no basis in fact to other rumors concerning the cession of the colonies circulating in the decades following the failed sales attempt in 1867.

In 1916, Denmark and the USA conducted negotiations about the sale of the West Indian islands partly through telegrams that crisscrossed the Atlantic. But to the great frustration of the political opposition in Denmark, great secrecy surrounded the talks.

When Denmark finally sold the three West Indian islands to the USA in 1917, it was after many years of negotiation. Handwritten memos from the American ambassador in Denmark tell of the last years of the negotiations and the final sale.

When the negotiators had reached agreement on the precise wording of the sales treaty, the Danish ambassador, Constantin Brun, and the American Secretary of State Robert Lansing could sign it on 4th August 1916 in New York. The text was written in both English and Danish.

The sale of the colonies in the West Indies was the subject of exhaustive discussion among the general public in Denmark, both before and after the event. The printed press played a decisive role in the debate, and caricatures were often employed to stress a point.

The Danes had to agree before the colony in the West Indies could be sold. The vote in December 1916 was not merely the first referendum in Denmark, but also the first where women and servants could exercise their new voting rights. Faroese and Danes abroad were also given the opportunity to vote. The only people who were not asked were the population of the colonies in the West Indies.

In spite of the long journey between the Danish West Indies and Denmark, a community had arisen. Some found the sale to the USA a sad farewell to the distant mother country. On 9th March 1917 King Christian X signed an open letter to the people who would no longer be his subjects.

Henri Konow was the last governor of the Danish West Indies. He was commander of the warship Valkyrien, which had reached the islands one and a half years previously. When he arrived home again, Konow described a solemn transfer ceremony with both tears and cannon salutes.

Payment had to be made before the solemn ceremony during which Denmark officially transferred the West Indian islands to the USA. Five hours before the ceremony a cheque for 25 million dollars was handed to the Danish ambassador in Washington.

Despite the harsh past history, some inhabitants in the West Indian colony felt closely attached to their distant mother country. The transfer to the USA involved both hope for the future and sadness at the farewell to Denmark.

Even though American money was introduced in the West Indian islands after the sale in 1917, notes carrying the portrait of the Danish king were still legal tender in this part of the USA right up to 1934, as the Danish-West Indian National Bank had been awarded privileges that ran for 30 years.

After the sale of the West Indian islands to the USA, the largely black population hoped for better times. However, the new administration on the islands was markedly racist and many years were to pass before the population were permitted to select their own governor.