The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1899-06-05
sPAIN's SALE TO GERMANY.

Spain has sold to Germany the Caro-
line, Pelew and Ladrone Islands in the
mdd-Pacific, retaining only a few coal
ing stations and right of entry into har-
bors Of refuge in certain cases. She
gets good price for the last of her
possessions in the Western Hemisphere
indeed, amy price would have been
a good price, for the simple reason that
Spain has neither the military strength
nor financial resources to longer main
tain control of these distant possessions.
They had, in her present condition,
proved to her source of irritation and
heavy. cost. AS long as she held the
Philippines she could afford to dominate
the lesser groups, but with the loss of
her greater holdings these lesser ones
became burdens
In the Ladrone group we have one
island, Guam-the largest and probably
the most valuable. It lies at the ex-
IRENE southern extremity Of the group,
and over against it on the southwest is
the northernmost Of the Caroline archi-
Guam is concerned, then, it is thanked
north and south by the islands Of Ger
many. Just how this will affect us re-
mains to be seen. We have, happily, on
the east and north the greatest and
most valuable of all mid-Pacific pos
sessions, Hawaii - the nearness of
which gives US a high class base for
operat ions in case Of trouble of the
very greatest value and Importance On
the far southeast we have the Philip
pines, the chief island of which we GER
taSnly will fortify and maintain as a
base also. SO it would seem that we
Deed never have fear Of trouble with
Germany on account Of her purchase
because Of any new strength they Will
give her.
None Of the Carolines, the Pelews or
Ladrones can afford support independ-
emily to any large military body, nor,
indeed. for any great naval force. At
best they afford safe harbors, coal
stocked: but none Of them produce to
the extent that will render them inde-
pendent OF the home government in
great military operations. But it is
very different in our case. Both Ha-
wall and Luzon are sufficient as terri
tories to enable US to operate from them
quite Independently of the continent for
a very long period of years.
These conditions, therefore, tell for
amity rather than for trouble between
the German empire and the United
States Indeed, Germany may be said
to be more exposed to US by reason of
her acquisitions, since in case of war
her new groups would be easily open to
assault and possible seizure by our
naval forces. But Germany gains by
having two new mid Pacific stations of
large extent, though on scattered ISL
ands. She becomes now an important
factor in International questions relat-
ing to the mid and South Pacific Ocean.
She is more closely related to us in
waters which wash our shores and
those of South America.
We will. therefore, have closer rela-
tions with her both governmental and
commercial, but there is nothing to in
dictate that such relations will be broken
by war because of the new transfer by
Spain to Germany. In the case OF
Spain, she Is rid Of territory that had
become burdensome to her. She puts
neat sum into her treasury. which
sagely needed it. and she is free to give
more attention to the quickening of the
resources and industries Of the PENN
sular home.