DECLARATION.


 In proceeding this day to the signature of the Convention respecting the cession
of the Danish West-Indian Islands to the United States of America, the undersigned
Secretary of State of the United States of America, duly authorized by his Government,
has the honor to declare that the Government of the United States of America will not
object to the Danish Government extending their political and economic interests to
the whole of Greenland.
 ROBERT LANSING.

 New York, August 4,1916.
 [Exchange of Notes mentioned in Proclamation.]

 [The Secretary of State to the Danish Minister.]
 DEPARTMENT OF STATE,
 WASHINGTON, January 3, 1917.

SIR:

 I have the honor to inform you that the Senate of 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 provisos:

 "Provided, however, That it is declared by the Senate that in advising and
 consenting to the ratification of the said convention, such advice and consent
 are given with the understanding, to be expressed as part of the instrument of
 ratification, that such Convention shall not be taken and construed by the High
 Contracting Parties as imposing and [sic.] 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
 churches shall be protected in the possession and use of their several
 properties. And provided further, that the Senate advises and consents to the
 ratification of the said Convention on condition that the attitude of the United
 States in this particular, as set forth in the above proviso, be made the subject
 of an exchange of notes between the Governments of the two High
 Contracting Parties, so 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."