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In OTL Prussia owned several islands in what are now the US Virgin Islands during the 1670s to 1720s, and were then known as Danish West Indies; and also one island that is now under Puerto Rico's jurisdiction. What would the consequences be if Prussia, then Germany, keeps those West Indies islands and WWI goes on schedule (consider that Prussia doesn't trade it to Austria for Schleswig, or back to the Danes or sell it to the British for Heligoland, or trade it to France for whatever reason; and therefore very little butterflies). How would America relate to a German occupation of territory so close to the trade routes from/to the Panama Canal?

In OTL the US bought the islands from the Danes because of fear of German use of the islands for U-boats and their strategic location. If Germany uses it in this ATL for U boats that attack US shipping would this drag the US into WWI earlier? The US, specifically under Wilson's direction, did not agree to any territorial "winnings", protectorates or mandates, that were offered in many of the post WWI treaties that went through 1918 to 1921. Would the US change that position in order to annex those islands? Would it be a League of Nations mandate or straight annexation? A purchase in place of forgiveness of some of the reparations? I don't see that the US would just allow it to be returned to the Danish after 200 years and even being a friendly nation it is too strategic.
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