Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 39 Part 2.djvu/523

 1716 CONVENTION—DENMARK. Avcusw 4, 1916. Exchange ofnutos. [Exchange ot Notes mentioned in Proclamation.] [The Secretary of State to the Danish Minister.] DEPABTHENT or S·rA·n:, S WAsmxw·r01v, January 3, 1917. mz Btwn $°°"“" °' I have the honor to inform you that the Senate ot the United States by its resolution of ratification has advised and consented to the ratification of the convention between the United States and Denmark, ceding to the United States the Danish West Indian Islands, with the following provisosa “ Provided, however, That it is declared by the Senate that in advising and consenting to the rutiticution ot the said convention, such advice and consent are given with the understanding, to be expressed as a part of the instrument ot ratmuntion, that such Convention shall not be taken and construed by the High Contracting Parties as imposing any trust upon the United States with respect to any funds belonging to the Danish National Church in the Danish West Indian Islands, or in which the said church may have an interest, nor as imposing upon the United States any duty or responsibility with respect to the management of any property belonging to said church, beyond protecting said church in the possession and use of church property as stated in said Convention, in the same manner and to the same extent only as other churcha shall be pmbected in the possession and use of their several properties. And provided further, that the Senate advises and consents to the ratitication of the said Convention cu condition that the attitude of the Unitedé States in this particular, as set torth in the above proviso, be made the subject of am exchange or notes between the Governments of the two High Contracting Parties, su as to make it plain that this condition is understood and accepted by the two Governments, the purpose hereof being to bring the said Convention clearly within the Constitutional powers of the United States with respect to church establishment and freedom of religion" In view of this resolution of the Senate I have the honor to state that it is understood and accepted by the Government of the United States and the Government of Denmark that the provisions of this Convention referring to the property and funds belonging to the Danish National Church in the Danish West Indian Islands hall not be taken and construed by the High Contracting Parties as imposing any trust upon the United States with respect to any funds belonging to the Danish National Church in the Danish West Indian Islands, or in which the said church may have an interest nor as imposing upon the United States any duty or responsibility with respect to the management ot any property belonging to said church, beyond protecting said church in the possession and use ot church property as stated in said Convention, in the same manner and to the same extent only as other churches shall be protected in the possession and use of their several properties. I trust that your Government will in a formal reply to this communication accept this undersumdlug as to the meaning and construction of the provisions at said Convention in accordance with the foregoing resolution of the Senate. Accept, Sir, the renewed assurances of my highest consideration. Rcnmrr Lncsmc Mr C0¤s·nm·m Bum, Minister of Denmark. [The Danish Mmtater to the Secretary of State.] ygmzy, D l n I I h Tum Dhmsu Lmnrow Whsnmcrrou, D. C. January 8rd 1917. Su: In reply go your communication of this day concerning the relation of the United States to the rights of the Established Church in the Danish West Indies and to the provisions referring to this point in the convention between the United States and Denmark ceding to the States the Danish Westindian Islands, I have the honour to state that it is understood and accepted by the Government of Denmark and the Government of the United States that the provisions of this convention referring to the property and funds belonging to the Danish National Church in the Danish Westiudian Islands shall not be taken and construed by the high contracting parties as imposing any trust upon the United States with respect to any funds belonging to the Danish National Church in