Evening star., 1900-02-02
AGREEMENT WITH SULU
Reports Of the Negotiations Sent to the
Senate.
The sultan Was Eager to Obtain the
Slavery Question.

| In compliance with a resolution Of in
quiry, the President has sent to the Senate
| Il copy of the report and all accompanying
papers of Brig. Gen. ]. c. Bates in relation
| to the negotiation Of a treaty or agreement
| made by him with the Sultan of Sulu last
| August.
The President says: "The payments of
money provided for by the agreement will
! be made from the revenues of the Philip
pine Islands unless Congress shall other
wise direct. Such payments are not for
specific services, but are a part of the con-
| sideration moving to the Sulu tribe or ma
| tion under the agreement, and they have
| been stipulated for, subject to the action
of Congress, in conformity with the prac-
tice of this government from the earliest
times in Its agreements with the various
Indian nations occupying and governing
portions of territory subject to the sover-
eighty of the United States'
Among the papers sent in Is a letter of
transmittal from Gen. Otis. dated August
q. in whicl he says: THE attitude of
these people has been the subject of ap-
prehension for several months, and by this
agreement believe that the appreciated
pending difficulties are happily adjusted"
There is also reply from Secretary Root
dated October q, in which he tells Gen.
Otis that the agreement is confirmed and
approved by the President, subject to the
action of Congress, and with the under
standing and reservation, which should be
distinctly communicated to the Sultan of
Sulu, that this agreement is not to be
deemed in any way to authorize or give
the consent of the United. States to the
existence OF slavery in the Sulu archipela-
go. which is made impossible by the thir-
teenth amendment to the Constitution OF
the United States. At the same time when
yoG communicate to the sultan the above
| mentioned understanding the President de-
sires that you should make inquiry to
the number of persons held in slavery in
the archipelago and what arrangements it
may be practica Bile to make for their eman-
cipation."
In his instructions to Gen. Bates, un-
der this direction, Gen. Otis says: 1T is
believed that the market price of slaves in
the archipelago is Insignificant ranging
from $50 to 500 Mexican, and that in some
instances owners will be pleased to grant
freedom to their slaves if they can escape
the burden Of supporting them
Gen. Otis continues to the effect that the
character Of domestic slavery existing in
the archipelago differs greatly from the
former slavery institutions Of the United
States, the slaves becoming members of
the owners family
Gen. Bates, in his report. states that
when he first asked to see the sultan the
latter sent his greetings, saying he could
not come to see the general because he
had boils on his neck, and could not put
on his coat, but that he woulI recognize
the protection of the United States, request
ing as favor that he might hoist his own
flag alongside that of the United States
The sultans brother went to Jolo to meet
Gen. Bates, and the sultan afterward joined
him.
Gen. Bates states in this connection that
the Sulus are very jealous of their institu-
ton of slavery.
In his original instructions to Gen. Bates
Gen. Otis instructed him to push to the
front the question of sovereignty. and told
him he could promise for the United States
not to interfere with but to protect the
Moros IN the free exercise of their religion
and customs, social and domestic and to
respect the rights and dignties of the sui
tan and his admirers. In return they must
acknowledge the sovereignty of the United
states He also instructed Gen. Bates that
it was important that the United States
should occupy the principal distributing CEN
ters Of trade and that Siassi, the capital
should be occupied by our troops at no
distant day.