The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-02-02

| The President yesterday. in reply to a
resolution Of the Senate, transmitted a copy
| of the report of Brig Gen. John c. Bates
and all accompanying papers in connection
with the negotiation of the hreaty last Au-
| gust by General Bates with the Sultan of
! Sulu.
In reply TO the request for Information
as to the payments of money under the
| treaty. the President states that the pay
ments are to be made from the revenues
of the Philippine Islands until Congress
shall otherwise direct. such payments, :"
he adds. ARE not for specified services. but
are part Of the consideration to the Sulu
tribe or nation under the agreement. and
they have been stipulated for, subject to
the action of Congress. in conformity with
the practice Of this Government from the
earliest lines in its agreements with the
various Indian nations occupying and gov
erning portions OF the territory subject TO
the sovereignty OF the United States"
The accompanying papers include the
correspondence between the War Depart
ment and General Otis and General Bates.
In forwarding the treaty. General Otis
says that the attitude OF the Sulus had
been the subject OF apprehension for sew
erai months and by the agreement he be-
lieves the apprehended and pending diff
culties were happily adjusted.
In transmitting TO General Otis the
Presidents conditional approval of the
treaty. Secretary Root says il was con-
firmed with the understanding and reser-
walton that 1t was not to be deemed in
IN, auth erix- b, nri
the United States to the existence of slav-
cry in the Suit archipelago. He directs
the notification of the Sultan OF this reser-
vation, and orders an enquiry by General
Bates as 10 the number OF persons held In
slavery in the archipelago. and what ar
rangement it would be practicable to make !
for their emancipation. He suggests that :
in view of the low price OF slaves. COM |
paratively moderate sum. which Congress |
might be willing to appropriate for the !
purpose. would suffice to secure freedom |
for the whole number.
: mong the memoranda transmitted By !
General Bates are copies Of the stenog |
raphic reports OF his interviews Through |
interpreters) with ;he Sultan and other |
chiefs. including the negotiations which re-
suited in the treaty. The Sultan. in re-
spcnse TO the first treaty submitted by |
General Bates. proposed a treaty more TO |
that finally agreed to.
General Bates transmits copies both in !
English and Moro, of the agreement which /;
was fins - made. In the memo andum
accompanying the treaty, General Bates
says in regard to the slavery in the
Il fouEd that the institution of slavery |
exists in very mild form Gin fact. that
the word retainer expresses this condi-
tion better than 'slaveJ. the average pricc
Being about 800. gold l also found tha
the Noros were jealous of any inter er-
cnce with Ii: but it seemed proper tha;
steps should be at once taken looking to
the abolition OF the institution. 1t seemed
but fair that the owners should be remun- ,
Grated and I think that article 10 OF the
agreement provides a speedy means Of
doing away with slavery. | had proposed
a specific sum to be paid the owner. but
agreed to the Moros' suggestion Of the
usual market value instead
Slavery of every degree known to feu-
ial service exists. and the free men do rot
work for wages either in agriculture or
In the fisheries. Slavery might be con
idered and its remedy found in the free
birth of all children born after a certain
late. BY right and judicious conduct on
he part of the United States Government,
t might be possible to build up these ISL
.nds into nourishing and self-supporting
beneficial to the United
States and 10 the inhabitants OF the
stands.
"As far as the Philippine Islands are
oncerned, Spain has held them absolutely
or three centuries. and can cede all SOW
reign rights therein. But as regards the
oio archipelago, the case is different
jnder the capitulatiou of 1871 coupled
nth the purely nominal occupation on the
art OF Spain. the Spanish rights there
re rather those of suzerainty than SOW
reignty. Hence the Sultan's request for
and not for annexation is rea \
enable" !
Taking UP the historical side of the
rchipelago, General Bates refers to the
reaty of 1886 between Spain and the G
ultan Of Jolo. part of which regulates a
Ues to be paid by Spanish vessels. Tee I
tber terms Of that treaty, he states. were I
ct known, as no copy was secured. BY |
treaty Of april 10. 1851 the Sultan gave i
al adhesion 10 Spain and was to receive u
500 a year. In treaty Of July 90 1878. v
ne Sultan acknowledged Spanish soyer- {
ignty and was to receive S2.i00 yearly. o
pain endeavured to control the trade of L
,reign relations in the archipelago ara r
'ouble arose with Great Britain and Ger u
any. In 1877 protocol was signed c
yreeing - the complete freedom of trade ;
" all foreign vessels. In 1885 another =
rotocol was signed by above named gov
by the terms OF which the Soy
-eignty of Spain over the islands was
scognized.
In submitting the articles of agreement a
a