The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1898-12-03
MUCH WORK YET.
The Treaty Cannot be Signed for Some
DAYS to Come,

Washington, ID. c., Nov. 2S.-The Off
Gals OF the state department without hesi-
fancy accepted as accurate the AsSocat-
ed press bulletin from Paris announcing
that the Spanish commissioners had ac-
cepted the American terms, although off,
cIal adylces to that effect had not been
received at noon.
Secretary Hay has been confident from
the beginning that such would be the out
come, although ut times there were signs
OF serious disagreements that might have
led to a failure of the commission 1t is
not understood from the news SO far re-
CeiveQ that the commissioners have vet
reached the point of signing treaty
Much remains to be done in execution of
the last instructions of the state depart-
ment before the peace treaty itself can be
completed and made ready for signature
The work may be hurried materially,
however, should the state department de-
eide to permit the treatment of the re-
manning questions to he settled in separa to
conventions. The instructions to the
American commissioners, sent last week
were to arrange for Il renewal of the de-
nounced trade treaties with Spain, for the
acquisition of Sulu. for obtaining conces-
sions for cable connections in other quar-
ters, and Tor the procurement of religious
toleration in the Caroines.
These things are not likely to be easily
disposed of, so it may be that the Ameri-
can commissioners will feel that they
have complied with the spirit of their in
struCtions if they succeed in including in
the peace treaty 4 provision binding the
Spanish government to negotiate thereaf-
ter on those subjects on lines that may
be very broadly defined in the peace
treaty.
In this case two or three more sessions
of the peace commission should suffice TO
complete the work of that body: other
wise it is doubtful whether the work can
be completed before Christmas.
The exact text of the agreement reached
III Paris mp to this point is not yet known
to the state department, although of
course 1t has knowledge OF the general
terms of the agreement Consequently il
is not possible at the present to obtain
here a copy for publication of this i'm
portdnt document Moreover. it is sug-
gcstcd at the state department that if the
customary rules relative to the publica-
ton of treaties hefollowed. this particular
treaty must be withheld from the press
until the United States Senate. in its dis
cretiOu. decides to make il public. There
is no rule or law, however. Oh this point
and the practice is based entirely upon a
rather old-taShioned conception of the de
gree Of courtesy which should be exhib-
tied towards tue Senate by the executive
branch
\ call at the state department today of
the German charge, Count Won Sternbcrg
gave rise to 4 rImor that he had come to
make representations to the department
respecting certain rights claimed by Ger
many in the Sulu islands Whether this
is true or not could not be aScertancd.
The department. however. has not failed
70 take notice Of certain indirect and suS-
picIouS attempts To ALLEVIATE the Sulu isl
andS from the rest Of the Philippines and
has been forehanded in this matter. II
was recognized from the beginning. and
/
ence OF other nations that have gone to
war Ill recent years, that attempts might
be expected To be made by nations that
were not party to the war IL secure a,l-
yantaEcS IL which they had not the slight
est equitable claim.
Japan WIS Il notable sufferer from this
sort Of treatment ut the hands of certain
Eugopean nations. and consequently pre-
cautions We're taken in the case of the
Paris commission u avoid leaving any
loophole for the entrance Of any plea or
demand for special privileges. either in
the matter OF territorial acquisition. or
trade concessions.
Accordingly when the administration
decided TO acquire the Philippines the
American commissioners were especially
charged to define the limits of the group
50 aS Ia leave no room for miSconception
on this point. nor for the settling up of
claims 10 islands whose inclusion in the
10 reduce the American claim to the
ciearest possible outlines resort was had
g the definitions of the boundaries of the
Philippine group by geographical lines
here WIS reason for this. for at Il
very carly stage i'm the war Spain. prob
ably with 3 forcboding of what the out
come Was IL he. sought to separate the
important Ni>aya> group from the re
m1lnder uf the Philippines by A decree
and information was quietly conveyed to
the state department II the effect that Il
certain European power was engaged in
an effort TO obtain. through an agreement
with Spa in the important island OF Pala-
wan. lying to the ;, uthwe>t OF the Phil
ippine group and commanding an impor-
taut position in the trade between China
md Australia.
It was recognized that the Suiu islands
might become an object Of attack for
heir status Is not quite like that Of the
-erlainiL- of The Philippine group. Spain 5
,yHu till - them was net established
geyond doubt until 1877. when Germany
md Great Britain both acknowled-s j
Spanish sovereignty III return for cerJall,
concessions ~ 10 freedom Of trade anu
fisheries - Tar Is The Islands were r"a-
ls1nc4
T h2rpecs4. ra~harz fes-rnatsiy f7e -H-