The San Francisco call., 1899-08-14
YET NEGOTIATES
WITH THE SULU SULTAN

special Cable to The Call and the New YORK YORK
Herald. Copyrighted 1899 by James "o'
don Bennett
ILOILO, Philippine Islands, Aug. 10
have Just returned to llollo aIter d
trip to Jolo, NIindanaO and Cebu. zen
eral Bates is still negotiating for d
treaty. with the Sultan of the Sulu
Islands. The Sultan is as yet unWllIlhS
to accept the terms offered py the
Americans He says that the Spai1aIuS
risrepresented to the world the nature
of the treaty which he made with theIh'
and he wishes to limit the Americans
to the occupation of the town OIL JOlo
alone He claims the island of Slassl
and the town as his own. Ihe oultdh
seems not to have the support OF MS
chiefs. many of whom express IrlehuIy
sentiments toward the Americans o
kanine. the most powerful chief IN the
Srlu Islands. said in an interview that
he was willing to force the sultan 70
terms if he refused the American prop
ositi0ns. All the chiefs complain Oh the
had treatment the Sultan has gwen
them. CO...
The Chinese population of Slassl,
which was formerly held by the span
iards. but was given over by them TO
the Sultan'S men, are being squeeZeu
financially by duty OF per cent on
exports and imports. In an interview
the Chiese said it would be most eX-
cnIIent change if the Americans were
substituted for their present rulers. Ihe
SuItan's flag is now hoaung over
Siassi The Sultan recently added
eighty rifles and large store OF am
munition to his previous stock OF three
hundred rifles
among the MOros is more likely than is
a war with the Americans, provided we
do not interfere with their religion ana
customs.
For. the first time in it's history white
people can travel about Sulu Island and
among the Moros safely. l crossed tne
island without guard, through Wild
country to interview the Sultan at
NAHUM. He received me with courtesy
and gave me this signed statement:
This certifies that his Highness Sui
tan Hadgi Mohamad Womolol klram,
is like brother to the nation of Amer
leans and wants to know II they are
the same to him"
General Bates has shown great skill
in conciliating the native chiefs. Moro
chiefs of the island of Mindanao do not
acknowledge allegiance to the Sultan OF
Sulu. Dato, the chief mand1 OF MIN
danao, came to visit General Bates in
JOIO TO assure MIN OL MS lIleilullllC99
toward the Americans.
On my trip to MindanaO l found the
Moros friendly, but the towns of Zam-
goango and Mercedes are held by insur-
gents They number 500 men and are
armed with rifles under their leader,
Alvarez, who stated to the commander
of the Castine that he desired to be
neutral until the difficulty with Agui-
naIdo in Luzon was settled. If the lat
ter were beaten he would surrender.
In Cebu the insurgents still hold their
strong positions in the mountains The
majority of the population do not want
to fight, but are hostile in spirit.
native servant of an American officer
was caught by the insurgents and
branded on the forehead with the word
traitor"
In the case of Iloilo the insurgents
are intrenched about the nearby towns
Jaro and Molo The rainy season pre-
vents an active campaign, but consider
able fighting may be expected in the
fall. The rich natives have not returned
to their homes.
The island of Negros is still unsettled.
General Hughes has sent extra troops
to suppress the uprising. The richer
class of natives are gradually return
ing to their homes.