The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-06-03
ISLANDS CEDED TO
GERMANY BY SPAIN
Marks the REIMBURSEMENT of
Spanish Possessions in
the Far East.

Madrid, June 2.-In a speech from the
throne at the opening of the cortes today,
it was announced that the Marianne, Caro-
line and Paaois islands were ceded to Ger
many by the late cabinet.
Washington, June 2.-The announcement
at Madrid in the speech from the throne
to the cortez that Spain had ceded the
Caroline Islands and Palaos and the Mar
iannes to Germany was received with sur
prise here The cession marks the relin-
quishment of Spanish possessions in the
far east save the Island of Fernando Po
and dependencies on the African coast.
The news was shown to the German en-
bassy officials, but Ambass Won Holle-
ben said that he had no comments to
make He had received no instructions,
he said, as to the cession and the German
officers had not communicated the facts
to him. Reports have been current from
time to time that Spain was figuring on a
transfer of sovereignty of the Carolines,
and that Germany had made overtures
looking to their acquisition in the extern
sion of her colonial possessions. Sovereign
ty over the CaroineS was formally adjudg-
ed by the pope in 1885 to be in Spain and
was admitted by Germany and Great Bril-
tain. This was after another prolonged
dispute opened up by Germany raising her
flag over the Island of zap. Portugal first
acquired the Caroline Islands, but Spain
soon wrested the group from her, but in
the eighties had paid little attention to the
islands. German interests in the Carolines
are relatively extensive and have been
fostered by a provision of the pope's
award, he, as arbitrator, awarding sover-
eighty to Spain, but reserved to the Ger
man government special trade facilities.
The Marianne Islands, which go with the
Caroines and PalaoS in the cession, of
course, don't include Guam, over which the
American flag now flies. Including Guam,
the MarianneS, the Carolines and Palaos
have a total are of 1000 English sqaure
miles and combined population of about
5000 people. Over ell this, save the Amer
lean acquired island of Guam, the German
flag is to be hoisted.
While this government has been unad-
vised o fthe ceSsion of the groups of is
lands, the colonial policy of Emperor Will
liam has led the administration to expect
that the German government would lose no
opportunity to stretch out its domain in the
Pacific Administration officials regard the
movement as not requiring any special
cognizance by the United States. One men,
ber of the cabinet tonight said the United
States has already acquired all it wants
in that quarter. While Guam is in the
midst of other islands of the Ladrones that
are cedeu tnat IacJ lS giving Ho cohSeiH
here and this government is not disposed
to raise any question on even further ex-
tension of German sovereignty in that Sec
ton of the globe, should Germany follow
up the present cession with other efforts.
The islands. have been in the past infested
with pirates, the very name of Ladrones
Indicating the former hot bed of piracy,
and there are not few islands yet where
the black flag is common.
State department officials have been
aware for some time that the German gov
ernment has been treating with Spain for
the cession of the islands referred to In the
Queens speech in the cortes. The fact that
this has been accomplished. however, has
not been communicated to the authorities
and the announcement from Madrid there
fore was news to them.
Secretary Hay said tonight that the
question of cession was not one which con-
cerned the United States.