The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-08-27
SPAIN AND THE SULTANS.
GEN. OTIS SENDS A SUMMARY OF
HER TREA TIES WITH JOLO.

The Fret Was Made on Sept. ~, 1S36-Torms
of tho Contract - Notifications From
Time to Time-EnEland and Germany
and FREQ Commerce In tho Archipelago.
WASHINGTON. Aug. 26.-Secrctary Root has
received from Major-Gen. Otis complete
memoranda OF tho treaties between the Span
ish Government and the Sultans OF Jolo Tor
Sulu) The statement recites the history OF
the negotiations with the rulers Of Jolo. Begin
ming as far back as Sept. %. 1875. when the
first treaty was made. The statement says:
IT appears that treaty was made between
the Spanish Government and the Sultan OF
Jolo on Sept. %, 1896. The terms OF that treaty
are not known. as no copy has been secured
Another treaty between Spain and the Sultan
together with his Dattos. some eleven In num-
Der. was entered into on April 10. 1851. forty
eight years ago. A third treaty between the
same parties was entered into on July 20. 1878
twenty-one years ago.
I'm the treaty OF April 10. 1851. there were
seventeen articles The Sultan gave adhesion
to Spain. promised to assist in wiping out pi-
racy. to use the Spanish flag exclusively. agreed
not to build Notifications and not to buy or use
firearms without permission OF Spain.
Spain promised to respect the religion
and customs. to confer royalty upon and to
confirm rights OF succession upon reigning
families: also to secure the authority OF the
Sultan and to promote traffic between him and
the Spanish stations: allowed the Sultan to
give passports and agreed to pay him 81 800 q
year and 5000 to each Of his three Dattos
yearly.
In the treaty OF July 90 1873. the Sultan
and his Dattos ack nowlcdged Spanish sover-
eighty and promised to become loyal citizens.
Spain was to give to the Sultan yearly 50. 400
500 to one OF his Dattos ana $500 to four 9TH
ers. The Sultan was authorized TO collect
taxes from foreign commercial vessels doing
trafflc In ports occupied by Spain: also to COM
municate direct with the Captain General: also
to give licenses for portable muzzle- loading
guns: also to give passports and to promise
to do what he could to stop piracy. Spain
agreed that he and his people should be per-
mtted the free exercise Of their religion and
their customs. There was mutual agreement
that Catholic missionaries might reside in any
place in Jolo. and that the Moros would give up
all Christian prisoners. The Sultan agreed to
use the Spanish flag.
Spain endeavored to control the trade Of
foreign nations with the archipelago OF Sulu
esta blished a port at Zambeanga and issued a
decree that all vessels engaged In trade In tho
archipelago should first touch at Fam beanRa.
Under thfs decree trouble arose between Spain
Great Britain and Germany and the result was
that on March II. 1877. those governments
"
freedom OF trade for all foreign vessels in tho
archipelago OF Jolo. the vessels being % longer
required to touch at Zamboanga. or any other
designated point. for the purpose OF tax ing out
navigation permits: that is. free trade and
commerce were granted all nations with the
archipelago OF Jolo.
"On March Z. 1885. another protocol was en-
tered into by tho above-named governments
as the results OF negotiations carried on be-
tween these respective governments. This
protocol consisted OF six articles. under the
first OF which the governments OF Great Britain
and Germany recognized the sovereignty OF
Spain over the places effectively occupied. as
as we'll over the places not yet occupied, OF the
archipelago OF Jolo. In the second article the
archipelago OF Jolo 10 defined as COM
prisinR all the islands which are
found between the western extremity OF the
island Of Mindanao on the one side and the
continent Of Borneo and the island OF Paragua
on tho other SIDE with the exception of those
indicated in Article III. the protocol. These
excepted islands. as stated In Article Il l. are tho
islands OF Balanbangan. Banganey and Mala-
wall. as well as all those islands comprised
within q zone OF three maritime leagues
from the coast. and which formed part OF tho
territories administered by tho company styled
The British North Borneo Company" Article
that the islands Of Balabac and the Cayagan-
Jolo form part OF the archipelago"
In the fourth article the Spanish Government
engaged to carry out the stipulations OF Arti-
ces l.. II. and III. OF the protocol OF March IL.
1877 as follows:
First-That the commerce and the direct
traffic OF vessels OF tho subjects OF Great
Britain. Germany and other powers with the
archipelago OF Jolo and in all parts thereof are
declared as free. together with the rights of
fishing; that Spain could not prevent the sub
Jects OF Great Britain. Germany and other
powers from freely repairing to the arch-
pelago from one point OF II to an
other Unfortunately or thence to any
other part OF the world. touching at pleas
ure at any point in the archipelago
or elsewhere that Spain could not require any
dues to be paid or permission to be obtained
but must permit q free importation OF all kinds
OF merchandise without exception. except at
such places as are occupied by Spain and
that In all places not effectively occupied by
her. neither the vessels nor the subjects OF the
above-named powers nor their merchandise
shall be submitted to any tax duties
or payments whatever. nor to any regu-
lations. sanitary or otherwise. that In
those places in the archipelago occupied
by Spain. she shall be able to estab llsh taxes
effective operation. she engd. ing to maintain
In those places tho establishments and en-
ployees necessary for the needs Of commerce
and for the application OF regulations which
she might make: that In tho places occupied
Spain will not introduce taxes or duties
greater than those fixed by the Spanish
tariffs between Spain and any other
power nor shall Spain In these places
put In force any exceptional regulations.
Should Spain occupy other places in Jolo. then
there would be no objection to the application
OF the same rules In force at places already
occupied, these regulations not to take effect
until after period OF six months. dating from
an Official publication in tho journals ofMadrid
and Manila.
Under Article 8 OF this treaty Great Britain
promised entire freedom OF commerce and
navigation without distinction OF flag In the
territory Of North Borneo"
Government Receipts in tho Philippines.