Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1899-11-01
SULU AGREEMENT.
THE SULTAN rs DISPOSED TO By.
FRIENDLY TO THE UNITED
STATES.

WASHINGTON, NOV. lin view or the
current discussion of the military agree
ment betwean General Bates and the sui
tan of Slllu the views of President Sclur-
mann of the Philippine commission on
this subject are interesting. Mr.. Schur-
mann was one of the first Americans to
visit Jolo and had an extended interview
with the sultan before the arrival of Cen
eral Bates. The arrangement enters"
into between General Rates and the sui
Tan was considerably Influenced by this
meeting.
Although the full text of the agreement
with the sultan has not been made PUP
lie by the Washington authorities II IS
stated that it practically conforms to the
previous traaty existing between Spain
and the sultan. In this agreement Spain
never claimed more than an external pro-
tectcrate in the Sulu group the lgAt to
ppr piracy in it's waters and prevent
the periodic mierations OF oath bound
Mohammedans who Went to the north
ern islands under oath to Kill CHRISTIANS
and thus secure an entrance lhto para
disc.
Prof. schurnaan said today, when
questioned about the probable contin-
nance of polyg3my ana lavery in the
Islands after they came under the Amer
lean - minion, that this was a subject
Wi1ich would nave TO ne ueill WITH III
she most careful fashion to bring an
ultimately satisfactory solution.
TT seems to me-" said he. that were
IT not for the ignorance displayed, the
present hue and cry about polySamy and
slavery in these islands would be abso-
lutely criminal. In taking over the sulu
eroup we have acquired no rights OF any
! sort there except those b~equeatneI us
by Spain. She was bous4d by her agree
ment with the sultan not to interfere
with the religion or customs OF the
islands, and it would he most unWise
for US to tempt this by force when it
can be done ultimately by the slower
method of civilization and education.
TIL Sulu group proper contains about
100, 600 inhabitants. They ara all Mo-
hammmdans, as are about $50. 600 Of the
residents of Mindanao directly east. To
! attempt to interfere with the religion of
these people would precipftate one Of the
bloodiest wars in which this country
has ever been engaged. They are a diff
ferent race physically and mentally
from the residents of the .NiZaya.
islands, powerful men and religious
fanatics of the most pronounced type,
who care nothing for death and believe
that the road to heaven can be attained
by killing Christians. Poiysamy is a
part of their religion, and STA very, about
which so much is being said just now, is
a mild type of feudal bondage.
THE sultan believes from what he
has seen of Americans that they are
ready. to be friendly n deal honestly
with him. Our soldiers and officers al
ready travel into the interior of Jolo
with perfect impunity where Spaniards
have never dared to set foot. 1t has
been suggested indirectly to the sultan
thai he should maintain IN American or
good standing as a confidential adviser
at his court to aid him in the work OF
material development for which the baau-
ii full group of islands IS ready, and which
is bound to come when they are thrown in
touch with the civilized world. ! believe
that he will take kindly 10 this sugges-.,a
and the leaven of civilization introduced
in this way ultimately VIII do the work
which armed interference With immoral
plish. We nave before us IN this case the
sessions and of the Dutch in Java, where
a remarkable work of civilization Il
prograss has been accomplished. We
should take a leaf out of their book which
shows us nat ~semi-barbarous people
frequently can be led where they could
NOT be driven.
Il have been already harshly criticised
for taking this stand in REGARD to the
Sulu islands since I returned to the Unit
ed States, but it is my honest belief thai
what I have just stated is the truth and
that any attempt to interfere b. force
in the Sulu islands at this time Will bring
on a bloody and wholly unnecessary
war;"