Sunday, June 24, 1923. President Harding stops by Denver.

The Nigerian National Democratic Party was founded.  The party, which advocated for Nigerian independence, was the first in the then British colony.

In other colonial news, France's Chamber of Deputies debated whether to give the French West Indies to the US in payment of war dept.  Prime Minister Raymond Poincaré killed the suggestion, saying, "I never would permit such a proposal to be officially made to the French government."

President Harding was in Denver.

Transfer Day: The United States takes possession of the Danish West Indies

The Dannebrog, the Danish flag, being lowered at the Governor's Mansion for the last time on this date in 1917.  Note the fence made of chain and cannon.

On this day in 1917 possession of the Danish West Indies from Denmark to the United States was accomplished, although it appears the official start of US ownership of the islands was the following day, April 1.  The treaty and other events leading to this were addressed earlier on this blog.

The day is commemorated on the US Virgin Islands as Transfer Day.

The Wyoming Tribue for January 23, 1917: Villa Ready To Regain Territory

While the other Cheyenne and the Casper papers were silent on this topic, at least on the first page, the Wyoming Tribune was sounding the alarm about the impact of American withdrawal from Mexico.

The weather and speeding were also in the news. And a cartoon complained about the price of the Danish West Indes.

The United States ratified the treaty of sale for the Danish West Indies . . .

on this day in 1917.

The sale had been arranged in 1916 and a treaty signed by the Danish Minister and U.S. Secretary of STate on August 4, 1916.  The U.S. Senate approved the treaty making the transfer on September 7, 1916.  But this was not without considerable controversy in Denmark and it was scheduled for a referendum in Denmark, which was held, passing the sale, on December 14, 196.  On December 22, 1916  the Danish Parliament approved the treaty.  Woodrow Wilson ratified the treaty on this day in 1917.  Ratification exchanges would occur the following day and the treaty proclaimed on January 25 by  the United States and March 9 by King Christian X.  The warrant for payment would be made on March 31, 1917, and the exchange of ownership occured on April 1.