http://www.melissaprimm.com/islands-for-sale-united-states/
Where online can I find the complete text of the 1917 Treaty regarding the sale of the Virgin Islands?
We are doing research on territorial cession issues, and have to prepare a report on the US Virgin Islands. According to our understanding, these were sold to the United States by Denmark in 1917.
However, we have been unable to locate the full text of the Treaty on the internet. Can anyone provide a URL for this 1917 Treaty?
Convention for the cession to the United States of the Danish West Indies, and declaration by the United States. Signed at New York August 4, 1916; entered into force January 17, l917. 39 Stat. 1706; TS 629; 7 Bevans 56. http://uniset.ca/other/cs6/39Stat1706.html
See also: 48 U.S.C. § 1405 (2006) . “Geographical application of subchapter; land and waters included in term ‘Virgin Islands’ http://www4.law.cornell.edu/uscode/html/uscode48/usc_sec_48_00001405—-000-.html
There is also an ORGANIC LAW: http://www.lawsource.com/also/usa.cgi?xvi
and a NATIONALITY LAW: http://www4.law.cornell.edu/uscode/html/uscode08/usc_sec_08_00001406—-000-.html
May I suggest two other items to look at regarding cession:
Treaty to Resolve Pending Boundary Differences and Maintain the Rio Grande and Colorado River as the International Boundary, 23 November 1970, T.I.A.S. 7313, 23 U.S.T. 371., http://uniset.ca/other/cs6/23UST371.html
A discussion of treaties ceding US territory appears in the dissenting opinion of Judge MacKinnon in the case Edwards v. Carter, 580 F.2d 1055; 189 U.S. App. D.C. 1 (1978). http://uniset.ca/other/cs6/580F2d1055.html
Mister Rogers defending PBS to the US Senate