The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-06-12
DUST OF COLONIAL EMPIRE.
LONDON OPINION OF TIE ISLANDS
SPAIN SOLD TO GIgRMiNY.

IbNboh, june 3.--IeetefuhyH news from
Madrid that spain had sold har remaining col
onies IN tho Pacific to Germany took London
by surprise, Last March Mr. BrodrIck. Under
Secretary for Foreign Affairs, told a questIoner
In the House OF Commons that tho Govern
men. knew OF no negotiations on the subject.
IL Is assumed to-day that Germany has
learned the views of other Governm ents since
then aud that they are not opposed to tho
transaction. The chief Conservative organ, il
Ii significant, makes no comment rs yet hut
the Times takes the viow that there cnn 10
no objection on tho part OF this country to Ger
many's acquisition OF these Islands, which lie
well apart from the ocean routes In which We
are interested. Had the United States thought
then, a desirable possession they would. no
doubt, have taken measures to obtain the whole
OF them at the close OF the war, instead OF con-
tentng themselves with the one island OF Qua m
In tho 1.adrones group, and there does not seem
TO be any other power that can feel itsef In any
way aggrieved by the transfer now proposed"
The other morning supporter OF tho Govern
ment Ii even more comrlacent toward Ger
many. Its efru4lveness Is put in rather re-
markabe words:
This 10 historically happy choice for there
Is no doubt that in point OF spirit OF intelli-
gence and OF will the German nation. the Or
ganiEed political community that the German
people has produced, Is in advance OF her ri.
walls, No other modern State has the same
unity of purpose, But II the choice OF Germany
az the inhcritor Of an archipelago on the other
side OF tn" world seems In harmony with good
augurics for her future, 1t ia at the same
time q gracious recognition OF what may
be called n claim on Spain In 1883 the Caro-
line Islands were regarded as n sort OF No
Mans Land they had onoo been under Spanish
jurisdiction, but Span seemed to have forgot
20, i.,., t..Alr .t~ - -
islands, Thereupon Spain remembered her
rights and made protest that sha was the law
ful owner. Prince bismarck without difficulty
persuaded the Emperor William l. not to
press the German claim. and the question
was by agreement between the two powers
referred to the Pope whose judgment was
that the islands were q Spanish posses
sion This treatment Of Spain by Germany
was considorate, and 1t Is only right and proper
that it should now have been remembered
Tho islands to be cedel are more than those
claimed fourteen years ago. Germany is TO
have not only the Caroline Islands. but the Pc
lew Islands and the Ladrone Islands. except
Guam. which has been ceded to the United
States, We congratulate Germany without re-
serve on this acquisition. to which she Is
morally entitled both by her conduct OF the ne
gotations OF 1885 and by the previous sner-
giles Of her subjects"
The Tory evening papers here take prac-
tica!ly the same view. Ono says: 1T is
not the worst feature Of this bargain that it
affords nobody else the slightest ground OF
complaint. The Pelews. Caroline and Ladrone
islands, which Spain now proposes to sell TO
Germany, form what has been called mere
imralpable dust OF colonial empire. They are
scattered over the Pacific In great curve,
from the southwest corner Of the Philippines
round toward Japan, much in the shape and
order OF a small handful OF grain thrown out
on farmyard. Like Mr.. Traili's island OF Por-
colongo they are on the road TO nowhere.
md are much used by vessels following that
route. We cannot say that the possession OF
them BY Garmany would hamper our Chinese
trade. or the route from Australasia 10 North
America in the least. Neither does the trans
fer Of them to Germany constitute fair grew
ance to the United States. Nobody else is con-
cernsd at all. But we may DO telarabiy sure
that the Foreign Onice In Berlin. which is COM
monty not wanting in foresight and thorough
ness. has taken good care 70 find out whether
It's purchase will be made ground OF com
plant by other powers. 1t would not have run
tho risk OF a serious quarrel with great power
merely in order to acquire possession OF n
number OF scattered islands. none OF which
Is OF much value in itself. and which arc al
ready pretty well occupied by German traders"
The final charge Of tn. Y,encb ,ndioi,, M.
thorites that Esterhazy committed the crime
for ghieh Dreyfus is sufeFihg has drawn at
tention once more tn the nyscioue scorrdroI
who Is stilI at Iaros and in Jondo, uo oo,'
fsssss. az courss and nos,ures a. q ,no.,vr a.,
France and her army. He knows no cannot be
sx,radi,ed and In b;s own wo-J. n. 49,,
Abe, in the inability ard orsnd.v, ~ Tho, r..
land which sIons of the comntrI.. -, ,ha-nnI1
has learned 10 units respect for o,dsr N ,ho
practice Of truo IiLortv" WIN mnch roI,tna
ef his .y.s md m.Iod,sm.tic nu,,ar,,a. 49,
"a day will come .nb a told hIs s,osv
last ,i0bt in these wo,ds.
The dav when wa. n,se.d n, III. ,.,,..,
list by most illegal mnthods wae to- 80
wantsd 10 male n clo.n br.,s, =, nate. 49,.
the most fnrvcnt n,,var. snL on,ron,toa ,ro',,
slI au,rters Including D.nnt,.s ,r,.nd. ~, ,ha
Fiat -Nn,or induced me 10 t..n .,l.,.. ua.o
ar, m, nroo,s " and M.ior Ps,.rh..w rr,,,
a pack.t NJ lat,,rs from hir nort,nI,, rh.n
yer, ~ a nature which would ho aid !, n,.S.
publc eonynIse E.rono snd nh.a,,,.,. aa.,
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