The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-06-04
'GERMANY'S NEW ISLANDS.
THIS GOVERNMENT INDIFFERENT TO
HER LCCEssIoNS FROM SPAIN.

"hh AOOhobAONS D"OHe o. @s"'
That Gormany's Pressure on Spain Pre-
vented tho Transfer of y Cable station
IN tho CaroIines to the United statos.
WARRINGTON. June 3.-The authoritative
statement was made to-day that this Govern
ment would take no official NOTICE Of the trans
Ter OF the Caroline. Ladrone and Pelew Islands
by SPAIN to Germany. Even were they dis
posed to do so tho United States would mako
no protest or take any other action In the
matter. for the reason, that no ground exists
that would serve for an excuse to prevent tho
transfer While nations have intorfered with
the transfer OF sovereiapty over territory by
one country to another on the plea that 1t
would be detrimental to the interests OF tho
Director. the United States have never been
party TO any such precedent and 1t 10 not In
tended to break the rule now.
1t was said on excellent authority to- day that
the Government had known for a long time
that Germany was attempting to secure pos
session OF the Spanish islands in the Pacific.
When tho span ish American Peace Confer
ence was being held In Paris last year. the
United States learned that Germany WINS en-
deavorinR to secure the Carolines from Span
by purchase. As the Carollnes had not been
mentioned in the protocol to the Treaty OF
Peace. tho United States Com missiouers were
without tho right to Insist on the transfer OF
any part OF the Carollnes to this Government.
An effort was made. however. to secure one OF
theee Islands by purchasefor use as a cable
landing station. but Spain wanted higher
price than was offered and declined to sell un
less certain tariff concessions were secured
In Cuba and Porto Rico.
II has been apparent to the Government for
q long time that Germany's unfrienlly atti-
tude. as expressed by tho actions Of her naval
officers at Manila and through the columns OF
her newspapers. was due to jealousy ove- the
attainment by the United States Of possessions
in the Pacific which Germany wanted. and 1t
ia now regarded as certain that Germany's
pressure on Spain prevented the transfer OF q
cable station In the Carolines to the United
States.
According to the Duke DArcos. the Span
lsh Minister. no surprise should be occastoned
by the transfer OF Spain's interests In the Pa
cifc to Germany Without the Philippines
Spain no longer had any cause to keep tho
Caroline. or the Ladrones. which would sim
ply be a source OF expense. No moral obliga-
ton was attached to the treaty Of peace be-
tween Spain and the United States. he said.
which would prevent Spain from disposing OF
tho islands as she pleased. but the neRotia-
tions were not conducted In so secret man
ner as to preclude the possibility OF the StH;e
Department being fully informed OF their
rrogress and result. After losing the Philip
pIues Spain decided to rid herself OF the re-
malnder OF her Pacific possessions as speedily
as POSSIBLE and under as advantageous terms
as possible. Germany was strong nation
and could protect her possessions. and as she
already had large interests In the Carolines IL
was natural that she would be the nation most
DESTROYS OF acquiring them. These Islands
we're SO remote from the Philippines that no
danger to the American possessions could be
anticipated from their transfer to Germany
or to any other country.
Sovereignty over the Carolines was formally
adiudsed by the Pope in 1898 to be In Srain.
and this was admitted by GeramnY AMI Great
Britain. This was after rather prolonged
dispute opened up by Germany raising her
flag over the island OF Yap Portugal first ac-
quired tho Caroline Islands. but Spain soon
wrested the group from her. but until the
eighties had paid little attention to the islands.
German interests in the Carolnes are rela-
lively extensive and have been fostered by a
provision Of the Popes award. he as arbitrator
awarding sovereignty to Spain. but reserving
- the German Government special trade facili-
ties. Including Guam. the Marannes. the
Carollnes and Pecv have total area OF almost
1000 English square miles and combined
population OF about $4,000 people Over all
this save the island OF Guam tho Geramn flag
rs to be hoisted.
The officials OF the State Department were
very much interested In the press accounts OF
the character OF the agreement between Ger
many and Spain. That Germany has paid a
big price in obiEating herself to defend the
three coaling stations which Spain will retain
in the transferred islands was generally ad-
mitted and caused surprise. By this compact
what amounts to n limited defensive alliance
between Germany and Spain has been formed
with all the advantage on the side OF Spain. 1t
was pointed out to-day that had the arrange
ment been made before the Spanish American
war, Germany would have been Obliged to en-
gage in h"stiities with the United States had
this country ATTEMPTED to take any OF SpaIn's
roaling stations In the islands transferred
Just what Germany can do with the Ladrones
everybody in authority here is at a loss to I'M
derstand. The United States possess the
best island OF the group. Guam. which Ia con-
sidered to be the only place In the archipelaRo
capable Of being properly defended. and con-
tanning the only harbor that would servo as q
H.