The record-union., 1899-06-22
Baron Won Bue,ow Speaks Of the Spanish
Islands.
Defends Their Acquisition and
Says It Has Long Been In Con-
temptation and Would Tend to
the Development Of Germany's
Other Possessions Disclaims
Any Thought of Opposition to
Americans in the South Pacific.

BERLIN, June 21.-The Reichstag
to-day passed the third reading of the
bill providing for the promulgatlon OF
the Anglo American commercial treaty.
Baron Heyly du Herrensheim, Ma
tional Liberal, previously withdrew the
amendment of which he had given no
tice June 18th, that the most favored
treatment shall apply only to those
parts of the British Empire which
grant to the subjects and products OF
Germany the same rights as are grant
ed to the subjects and products of the
most favored nations
During the discussion of the supple
mentary credits for the protectorates
and the loan therefor, the Minister of
Foreign Affairs, Baron Won BueloW,
again defended the acquisition of the
Spanish islands, which, he said, the
Government had long entertained, as
it would tend to the development Of
Germany's other possessions He added
that he was no builder of castles in
the air, but had proceeded quietly, So
.berly and advsedly, as in the case OF
Kiao Chou and asserted he was justi-
fled in assuming that the new posses
IsionS would prove most valuab COM
imercially, for German industry and
enterprise in those regions, which
henceforth would be able to advance
under much more favorable conditions.
The islands, he explained, were ad-
mirably suited for cultivation. and
might in time to come be bases for
commercial intercourse between Asia,
South America and Germany. From
4 hp CT 1cn
many could dispense with the costly
military establishments of Spain.
The Reichstag subsequently passed
the second reading of the credit for the
purchase of the islands, with the loan
bill and the commercial convention
with Spain attached.
During the course of his remarks,
Baron Won Buelow said:
We hold it to be our first duty to
see that our relations with other Pow
ers are undisturbed by the new ac
quisition, and hope that our relations
with the immediate neighbors of the
islands, namely. the Americans and
japanese, will only become more inti-
mate We have not thought of plac
ing ourselves in opposition to the
Americans in the South Pacific, and we
as little wish to prejudice American
interests as America contemplates in
juring us without cause or reason. We
shall meet the active and talented Jap
anese with sincere sympathy. There
is no reason why, on the basis of mu-
tual fairness and respect, the Powers
interested in these regions should not
live side by side, forward the works
of peace and civilization We hope,
through the treaty which harmoniously
ends the political and economic diff
erences, that the relations between the
Germans and Spaniards will become
of the friendhest description. The busi-
ness concluded with Spain is an hon.
CRADLE transaction in which neither has
bested the other For Spain the ISL
ands We're only the remnants of a ru-
ined building. To us they are the
pillars of an arch of a new fabric
with great future, please Cod
During the course of the debate Herr
Liebknecht. Socialist, was called to or
der for declaring the Government
would be much better employed in re-
moving the terrible evils existing at
home and for declaring the. colonial
policy of the Ministers was ridiculous
and despicable.'