The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1898-12-03

of compulsion now while these diplo-
matte exchanges are in progress. she
may sell to the United States one OF the
Caroline islands, or may refuse TO do
so, and moreover if we buy the isl
ands, it must be at a price satisfac-
tory to Spain.
She may even sell the Caroline
group to Germany instead of to the
United States, if she can obtain bet
ter price from the former. There is
good reason to assume the correctness
Of the report thai Germany is, even
now, bargaining for these islands. All
the other points covered by these ne
gouations likewise are a matter for
mutual arrangement and not of de-
mand
The statement that Spain has re-
tused to sell us Ceuta. opposite the
Gibraltar, for a coal and cable station
is inaccurate. The United States has
not made any such proposition for the
acquisition Of that island, and would
hesitate very long before entering up
on the turbulent field of activities in
volved in the assumption of territory
in the neighborhood of the Mediterra-
mean.
The case is different respecting the
Carolines, The American naval eX-
perts have urged very strongly that
this group as whole be retained if
possible, and in addition that the Pelew
group lying to the westward be pur-
chased
They have pointed out that the
southernmost island of the Ladrone
group, Waloa, lies only 300 miles north
OF Ponape, in the Carolines, and the
Pelew islands are only about six hun
dred miles distant from the Philip
pines
With these, the United States would
have complete chain of islands To-
Gated at convenient distances more
than half way across the Pacific.
Moreover, the vast bulk of trade in
that quarter of the world passes di-
rectly through the natural channel be-
tween the Ladrones and the CaroInes,
OF which the United States would have
command.
If Germany is able to outbid the
United States for these islands, she
may obtain them but a. suspicion is
entertained that the naming of $1,000,
600 was inspired by a friendly desire
to get the best possible terms for Spain
from the United States by raising the
price of the goods.
One pledge which is almost as good
as a treaty obligation in its force even
now, is that the United States, in re-
turn for the release of the political
prisoners from Cuba and Porto Rico
held by Spain, will secure the release
of the Spanish prisoners held by Aguin-
aldo, and to this matter attention is
being devoted here
There has been an almost daily dis
patch from General Otis announcing
the arrival of a transport there, loaded
with United States troops, and the war
department is fairly confident of its
ability now to undertake the full con-
troll of the islands, with the assist
ance of the naval contingent under
Admiral Dewey. 1t is realized that the
task of inducing Aguinaldo to surren-
der the captives for whom he has de-
manded such an extravagant ransom
81 500 900, under penalty Of cutting their
,hroats- is going to be a difficult one
but after all the United States COM
missioners in Paris have only under
taken that the United States govern
ment shall use its best efforts to secure
the release of the prisoners; they have
not pledged the government to perform
the impossible.