, 1898-11-29

of certain European nations and conse-
quently precautions were taken in the
case of the Paris commission to avoid
leaving any loophole for the entrance
of any plea or demand for special privi-
leges either in the matter of territorial
acquisition or trade concessions. Ac-
cordingly when the administration de-
cided to acquire tine Philippine islands
the American commissioners were es-
pecially charged to define the limits of
the group so as to leave no room for
misconception on this point, nor for
the settling up Of claims to islands
whose inclusion in the group might be
regarded as doubtful. To reduce the
American claim to the clearest possible
outlines, 8 was had to the defini-
lions Of the boundaries of the Philip
pine group by geographical lines.
There was reason for this, for at a very
early stage OF the var Spain. probably
with a ~foreboding Of what the outcome
was to be, sought to separate the i'm
portant Visayas group from the re-
mainder Of the Philippines by a decree,
and the information was conveyed to
the state department to the effect that
a certain European power was endeav-
.oring to obtain. through an agreement
with Spain, the important island of
Palawan. lying to the southwest of the
Philippine group and commanding an
important position in the trade between
China and Australia.
It was recognized that the Sulu ISL
ands might become an object OF attack,
for their status is not quite like the re-
matnder Of the Philippine group.
Spain's own title to them was not es-
tablished to them until 1877, when Ger
many and Great Britain both recogniz-
ed Spanish sovereignty in return for
certain cession as to freedom Of trade
and fisheries so far as the islands were
concerned. 1t happened, perhaps fort
unately for our continent, that the Sulu
islands belonged to the Philippines,
that a few years later Spain herself is
sued a decree declaring the islands to
be a part of the Philippines and x
tended the authority OF the captain
general at Manila over the group.
The trade concessions above refer
red to were confined to Great Britain
and Germany, and just what effect an
nexatior OF the Philippines to the Unit
ed States will have upon them is a mat
ter to be hereafter decided. A preced-
emit close at hand is afforded by the
French annexation Of Madagascar. In
A;uAoCe9he A&ted States had a spec
ial treaty with the Malagasy govern
ment under which exports from the
United States were admitted to the isl
and under certain fixed and favorable
ad valorem rate. The French govern
ment, which acquired the islands by
conquest. claimed that this treaty
would give way to the ordinary French
tariff, and the United States was oblig-
ed to accept that contention.
Therefore it cannot now be told
whether the special privileges held by
Germany and England in the Sulus are
to continue, and it Is probable that the
subject will be death with in connec-
tion with the whole problem that will
be presented to our government in ar
ranging a tariff system and shipping
laws for the colonies. 1t is believed
that the defination Of the limits OF the
Philippine group in the American de
mands was as follows: From 5 de
srees 80 minutes north latitude to 10
degrees SO minutes north latitude and
from III degrees east longitude to l26
degrees east longitude, thus covering
about 1000 miles north and south and
600 miles east and west.