The record-union., 1898-11-29
THE SPANISH
HAVE YIELDED.
Continued from First Page.)

to the State Department to the effect
that certain European Power vas
endeavoring to obtain, through an
agreement with Spain, the important
island Of Palawan, lying to the south
west of the Philippine group, and com
manding an important position in the
trade between China and Australia.
1t was recognized that the Sulu ISL
ands might become an object of attack,
for their status is not quite like that
Of the remainder of the Philippine
group. Spain's own title to them was
not established until 1877, when
Great Britain and Germany both ac-
knowledged SPANS sovereignty in re-
turn for certain concessions as to free
dom of trade and fisheries, so far as
the islands were concerned. 1t hap
pened perhaps fortunately for our con-
tention, that the Sulu Islands belonged
to the Philippines; that a few years
later with Spain herself issued a de-
cree declaring the islands to be a part
OF the Philippines, and extended the
authority of the Captain General at
Manila over the group.
The trade concessions above re-
ferred to We're confined to Great Britain
and Germany, and just what effect an
nexation of the Philippines to the Uni
ted States will have upon them is a
matter to be hereafter decided A pre-
cedent close at hand is afforded by the
French annexation of Madagascar. In
that case the United States had a spe-
cial treaty with the Malagasy Govern
ment, under which exports from the
United States We're admitted to the
island under a certain fixed and favor
able ad valorem rate. The French Gov
ernment, which acquires the island by
conquest, claimed that this treaty
should give way to the ordinary French
tariff, and the United States was OBJ
liged to accept that contention. In the
case Of Hawaii, it has been determined
that all treaties between Hawaii and
foreign Governments were terminated
by the annexation of the former and
though the same tariff rates still re-
main, they exist not by right of treaty,
but simply at the pleasure of the Pres
ident and Congress, until such time as
a permanent form of government shall
replace the present government There
fore it cannot be foretold whether the
special interests he'd by Great Britain
and Germany will continue, and it is
probable that the subject will be dealt
with in connection with the whole prob
lem that will be presented to our Gov
ernment in arranging a tariff system
and shipping laws for the colonies.
It is believed that the definition of the
limits of the Philippine group in the
American demands was as follows:
From 5 degrees, 80 minutes north lati-
tude to 19 degrees, SO minutes north
latitude, and from III degrees east
longitude to 126 degrees east longitude,
thus covering about 1000 miles north
and south and 600 miles east and west.
1t is the impression at the State De-
partment, in the absence of anything
save press reports of the proceedings at
Paris to-day, that the Commissions
work is now near an end, and that
about two weeks time will suffice to
close it up. This idea is based on the
belief that instead of undertaking to
arrange the several matters yet to be
settled in the treaty Of peace, a clause
will be placed in the treaty binding
each Of the parties to begin negotia-