The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-07-02

why German diDloLnHEy ana Spanl$1 Inln-
listers deemed such secrecy necessary. as
they had nothing Il fear from pubic
| opinion or Of the prese in Spain. consider
| ing that for eight months the majority Of
Span.ards had show4 decided inelina-
ton for parting with distant possessions
which they looked upon as Improbable,
uselessly expensive. and fraught with
fresh periis Of foreigA complications. AS
long as the Islands did not go to England
| or the United States. Spaniards cared
naUght who undertook TO be their success
| scrs. On the other hand, both German
and Spanish governments knew perfect
| " that neither Japan nor any European
power would object to the sale OF these
! arch.peiagoes II is supposed in Madrid
political and diplomatic circles that the
real motive of this secrecy was the fear
that the government and public opinion
in the United States might view this ces-
sion with displeasure. and that France,
too, might take umbare at the improve
ment in every aspect OF the relations be-
! tV cen Spain and Germany
AS the German parliament's session
closes IN June. the Berlin government in
structed the ambassador at Madrid to ask
Senior Silevla 10 get the session treaty
approved rapidly enough in the cortes TO
enable the German government 70 ask the
imperial parliament to vote the convention
before the long summer recess. Then
Herr RadowitZ pointed out that IL this
were done Spain would get the purchase
money very much sooner, and would also
avoid the expense Of keeping her land
and sea forces several months in the arch
ipeIagoes. let alone the advantages of an
early execution of the commercial agree
ment also.
Senior Silvela did his best TO show that
he wished to satisfy the German govern
ment. He consulted the presidents Of the
senate and congress. the leaders OF all the
opposition groups, and he insisted so en-
ergetically that they all consented for once
10 waive presidents and cortes rules, and
to give precedence TO the German traty
even over the debates on the address. a
thing quite unprecedented The opposi-
ton also agreed to devote one sitting only
in each house TO the treaty, and to let It
pass almost without discussion. Nobody
outside the cOrtes has protested at this
swift procedure, as Spaniards are at pres
ent almost entirely absorbed in their do
which Will take up the greater part Of the
time Of the cortes until the summer recess
in August. Political questions are virtu-
ally cast into the background by the gem
eral anxiety for a thorough and sincere re-
organization Of finance and taxation This
Is why people really are Mt very much in
terested In the Germany treaty. not even
in the renewal OF relations with the United
States. which is even more unnoticed than
the cession Of the Caroliness, MarIanas
and Pelew Islands
Here is the text Of the treaty and of its
preamble. which is curious:
To the Cortes:
The government which preceded the one
which has the honor OF ADDRESSING the
cortes signed oTYFebruary OF the pres
ent year an agreement with the German
ambassador. ceding 10 the German en-
pire the Caroline islands. with the Pelews
and Marianas. except Guam
The burden for the treasury which was
implied By the islands still possessed by
the crown Of Spain in the Pacific: the re-
sp5nsibilities and expenses that would be
the consequence of the defense Of such
distant possessions; the lack of moral and
and the difficulties lying in the way of
creating any in the future without in
curing expenditure out Of all proportion
with the results that gould be hoped for,
were the reasons that prompted that gov
eminent to ask the cortes in a project of |
law. already drawn up and that IL was |
found impossible to place before them, |
for an authorization under the rules Of |
the fifty-ffth article Of the constitution Of |
the monarchy to enable il to ratify the in /
ternationai agreement duly contracted.
TINS project Of law contains besides |
stipuiations altering the commercial re-
gime in force between Spain and Germany.
The engagement which Spain now takes
IS the same as the one placed on record |
In the law of July 70, 1894. which extended |
to several nations. including Germany. the
tariff advantages granted by the treaties
Of commerce with Switzerland. Sweden
and Norway and Holland. In exchange |
for these advantages. Germany under
takes 10 grant Spain the most favored ma
ton treatment, ceasing TO lnfiict upon
Spanish products differential duties. The
present government, asserting to the
aforementioned reasons and duly re-
iiecting the engagements entered upon in
he name OF Spain. has the honor Of sub
hitting 10 the cortes the following project
u law:
Articu.o Cnico: The government is au-
horized 10 cede 70 the emperor OF Ger
many the Caroline Islands, with the Pew
ews. and the Marianas with the excep-
ION of the island OF Guam. subject to the
stipulations:
!. The German empire will grant IN
hose those islands q the Spanish religious
riers the same rights and the same Her {
les a. viii BE- granted 10 the German
MISSIONS and religious orders.
> The German empire will grant 70 the {
0umerce and agricultural establishments I
Z Spauiarris the same treatment and the :
anne facilities that II will give in the said
r -hipelaeoe> 70 the agricultural estab- {
shments and commerce Of German sub =
.cts
5. Spain will establish and keep. even in
zee Of war, a coal depot for her navA
nd for her trade in ire archipelago of
arolnes. ore in the Pe!ews and another
! the Mariauas.
4 The German empire viii give az n
sm-ity for the cezsior Of the ABOVE ter
tory the sum % = o.. 40 pesetas. which
z, 20 paid = Spain.
Besides the government II his majesty {!
nd the imperial government have agreed 9
at the latter viii ask the federal coun- j
4 ard tee German parliament tn nee 9
sSar authorization 70 grant Spanish i'm q
o-tS IL Germany TaOsj-favored-naii1n &
at!eS. on the UNDERSTANDING that this al :
i--izati,-a wiU ba given before the -stiii- ?
alton OF the age ne1t o. transfer the SOW i
-siE1ty u ne islands 4 the Pacific :
BY wavg ~ -ec.gTyr.yy Ms uaissty's q