Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-06-27
Spanish-Born Residents in Cuba and
Porto Rico.
MAY DECLARE THEMSELVES
VIII Decide for the Future on the
Treaty of Paris.
CON SULAR OFF G E r s

The Spanish government Is about to take
steps to determine how far the Spanish
born residents of Cuba, Porto Rico and the
Philippines intend to maintain their alle-
giance to the crown of Spain. Provision
for this was made in the treaty of Paris,
article TX allowing one year from the date
of exchanging Publications of the treaty
within which Spanish-born residents could
make known their wish to remain subjects
of Spain.
The newly appointed Spanish consul gen.
erals at Havana, Manila and San Juan will
now adopt means to carry out this pro-
vision Senior Segrario. consul general at
Havana, leaves for his new post on the
Spanish liner sailing from New York next
Friday. The consul G=Eeral at Manila,
Senior Marinas, arrived there yesterday.
The consul general for Porto Rico is al
ready on the ground. These officials will
open registers at their respective stations
ard at other points where Spanish-born
residents are most numerous. About nine
months remain within which the Spanish
residents may elect to continue their rela-
ttOns with Spain. The registries kept by
the consul generals will furnish a sort of
census of the Spanish population in these
colonies, but in addition to this, every Span
ISM resident Will have to make a declara-
ton before court of record of his inten-
ton to continue his allegiance to the crown
of Spain; otherwise his allegiance TO Spain
Is IoHOuHCSO, ana he becomes a citizen OF
the territory IN which he may reside
Provision of the Peace Treaty.
The provision of the peace treaty under
which this action is taken is as follows
Spanish subjects, natives of the peninsula,
residing in the territory over which Spain
relinquished or accedes her sovereignty,
may preserve their allegiance to the crown
of Spain by making, before a court of rec
ora, within year from the date of the
exchange of Publications of this treaty a
declara ton of their decision to preserve
such allegiance; in default of which decla-
ration they shall be held to have renourcad
1t and to have adopted the nationality of
the territory in which they may reside"
considerable interest attaches to this
registering of the Spanish population as it
Is a delicate task. bringing out to somo
extent the strong natural ties which exist
despite the political separation caused by
the war Those Spanish subjects who elect
TO retain their allegiance will be entitled
under the peace treaty, to retain their
rights or property and the right to carry
on their industry, commerce and profess
sion IN the same manner as other foreign
ers living in the new American possessions
They do not. however, secure any special
privileges by virtue of their Spanish nation
ahty, except In the Philippines, where, for
the term or ten years, Spanish ships and
merchandise are on the same terms as
ships and merchandise of the United States
No More Consular Appointments.
There will be no more Spanish consular
appointments for the present. the purpose
being to allow the new consul generals to
determine how far the service should be
extended in Cuba, Porto Rico and the Phil
ippines. Besides Mr.. Segrario at Havana,
there is a Spanish consul at Cienfuegos.
This Will be the extent of the service in
Cuba until Mr.. Segrario reports on what
further points require consular representa-
ton The appointees will then be drawn
from among the local Spanish residents,
and will have the honorary title of con-
sular agents. In that way the Spanish
authorities expect to secure an organiza-
ton in touch with the local Spanish
timent. The same policy will be applied
to Porto Rico and the Philippines. Only
a few of the leading consular officers will
be brought from Madrid, the others being
appointed from the local Spanish citizen
ship.
The Spanish minister. Duke of ARGOS,
leaves for Manchester-by-the-Se tomor-
row. where the Spanish legation will bs
located through the summer.