The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-07-28

WASHINGTON. July T.-Arrangements
have practically been completed for the
purchase from Spain by the United States
OF the islands of Cibitu and Casayan,
which were left in Spanish possession by
the treaty of Paris. although part OF the
Philippine archipelago. Had the peace
commissioners at Paris. in arranging for
the REIMBURSEMENT TO the United States
of the Philippine islands. contented them
selves with the phraseoiogy THE Philip
pine archipelago" as descriptive of the
territory to be ceded TO the United States
by Spain, no question. perhaps. would
have arisen over the publication OF these
two islands. But TO avoid the least
chance of loose definition. the peace
commissioners drew geographical
boundary line around the islands to be
transferred. The bounds were fixed BY
meridians of longitude and parallels OF
latitude. The lines generally described
parailelogram. but at the southwestern
corner, for some reason. there was an
insert, excluding some OF the islands on
the coast OF Borneo. BY the terms OF the
treaty, the .outhern boundary line OF the
archipelago started at the eastern end
at the i27th meridian. and ran along the
parallel Of 70 degrees IS minutes west
ward TO the meridian OF iis degrees %
minutes. At that point the line ran d.
rectly northward to latitude degrees 70
minutes and thence was reflected west
ward to tho 116th meridian. forming the
small insert above referred 10.
Error Discovered Too Late.
II was year after tho signature OF the
treaty OF Paris hefofe the tart Wna ois-
~ecvcseA <lywty~3UNuytN8 AUwH teseser bounsl-'
aries, the commissioners had excluded
the islands of Cibitu and Cagayan. II
was disclosed by the visit to that part OF
the archipelago OF the United States ship
Concord. The commander of the vessel
landed on C1bitu and was cordially re-
ceived by the reigning datto, who prompt
iy hoisted the Stars and Stripes and an
nounced himself under the protection of
the United States. Attention being at
tracted to that quarter. the spanish gov-
srnment soon discovered the defect in the
Hounaary line and. through the Duke
d'Arcos, set up a claim to the state de-
partment for the possession OF the is
lhnds.
The department took the ground that
the purpose OF the treaty OF Paris In that
section was to convey tho entire Philip
pine archipelago 10 the United States, and
the general language of the act OF eessfon
was sufficient To effect the transfer the
defined boundary being an unnecessary
one Negotiations lasting many months
followed and each and every member OF
tho peace commission was called upon
20 give his individual understanding of
the proceedings at Paris 40 tar as they
bore unon this point. Finally II appeared
that nm exact boundary would have 10 be
accepted Instead OF the one laid down I'm
general terminolosy. according to fInda-
mental principles Of common law. That
being the case. IL became necessary, IN
the interest OF sound policy and TO prevent
the existence cf a probable cause of irri-
tation IN the future. 70 buy out spain's
neighboriy rights and continue the Two
islands as part of the Philippine archi-
psiaEo. As announced from Madrid the
Spanish cabinet Is favorahiy conwiacrsa,
the proposed transfer and the ncEotia-
uons practically may be regarded as
closed ON the basis % a eansf pavtnent ~
spain BY the United States OF ycoeo
for the two islands
Isisad. Are sman.
The two islands are insignificant In
area and thiniy populated. probably con.
tanning from ssa 20 5000 psopla in All
cibita Is a narrow island. four miles In
length by two acroSs. II Is tist and m
Interesting, with one small mountain ia
the center, about sa feat IN height 4, fs
saf rounded BY coral reefs, with no an.
ehoFtng to speak Of Ctestu lies eniy four
miles outside of the southern boundary u
the Paris treaty
The island % Cagsyan Is five By eight
miles. VITA a mountain reaching a hetxht
of l.le0 feet II Is the largest % hall a
dosen tiny islets kuosa a. the Caxayan
suiu group. and Qwiag allegiance TO taa
sultan ~ Suia Its pTnfucts are tabaera.
SUGAR and similar tr0plcal products The
islands are said 20 be mainly valuable for
ieeig pear and sheli fisheries which !, l.
possible may develop some Commercial i'm
pertancc An important consideration
Which has inauencoi the United states
government IN these neK0tsat&ons l. the
aesiEaAllny of excluding auy European
power frvm possession ~ the Islands A.
naval station, which wouia constitute a
constant mensre 10 the United States.
1hcre Is reason 70 beleve gha, schemes
o. that Kind have already been pat ano&L