The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1900-07-28
wILLIET NO ISLAND ESCAPE.

WIIIIET No ISLAND ESCAPE.
Washington. July 27.-A-rang~nents have
practically been completed for the purchase
from Spain by the United States OF ~"
Islands Of Cibitu and cagayen, which were
Ief: II. Spanish possession by the treaty OF
paris ALTHOUGH part q: the Philippine Arch
ipelagb The purchase price was not made
public.
Had H.. Peace Commissioners NJ Paris, IN
arranging for the REIMBURSEMENT 10 the
F-niteG States Of the Philippines, c1ntented
themselves with the phraseo!ogy the Phiiip-
pin. Archipelago" as descriptive IF the ter
ritory 70 II, ceIed 20 the United States by
Spain, no qurstoion. perhaps. would have
arisen over the possession OF Cibitu ana
Cagayen Islands. Bat. 10 avoid the least
chance OF loose definition. the Pence Com
miss;oners drew geographical boundary
line around the islands TO be transferred
The bounds were fixed by merid!ans ~ long
ttuds and parallels Of latitude.
Not until after the signature OF the treaty
Of Paris was II discovered that IN laying
down these boundaries the Commissioners
had excluded the islands OF tlbitu ana "a
gavan. Attention being attracted 10 thtt
quarter the spanish Government soon as
covered the defect In the boundary line. AMI
,hro,il,i, the Duke d'Arcos set up claim 10
the state Department for the possession OF
the islands The department took the
ground that the purpose Of the treaty oI
Paris in that section was 20 convey ,hv
entire Philippine Archipelago 10 the thit.d
states. and the genera! language Of The
act of ,ession vas sufficient 90 effect that
transfer. the defined boundary being an I'M
necessary description
spains Claim Recognized.
Negotiations lasting many months foi-
lowed. and each and every member OF tta
Peace Commission WAS called upon 10 give
his individual understanding Of The pro-
c..aings At Paris, SO far as they bore upon
this point. Finally ii appeared that an OK
act boundary would have to b" accepted
instead Of one laid down IN general 'rrfn.E-
oIocy according TO the fundamental! pm
cip!es Of common law. That being the
case II became necessary. IN the interest
OF sound policy and 20 prevent the existence
of n probable cause Of irritation In the
future 70 buy out SPANS nelchhoTiy rights
and continue the two Islands as part OF the
Philippine Archipelago A. announced from
Na,lrf! the cabinet. 10y which Is meant the
Suarish Cabinet, Is favoTably considering
the proposed transfer. and the negotiations
practically may h regarded as closed. on
the basis Of 4 cash payment TO spain ny
,h, United States Of A0n.co for the two
islands
Island. and Their People.
The two islands are Insignificant in area
ard thiflN lolulbl'Nl, bIpbdbiS i'lA'-''i''''9
from 6.op) to SEQ people In all. Cibiiu Is a
long, narrow island, fourteen miles IN
length by two ncross. II IS fiat and unin-
tc;estirg, save for one small conical NOUN
tain In the center. about 500 feet in height.
II Is surrounded by coral reefs, with no
anchorage to speak or. Ctbitu Hes Only
four miles outside OF the southern bound
arv fixe, By the treaty III Paris
C'agavan IS about the same area I'VE
miles by eight with mountains reaching n
h,lSht II Ilo' feet. II is the largest OF
half a dozen tiny islets known rs the "a
gayarl Sulu group. and owes allegiance 10
the Sultan Of Sulu. Its chief products are
tobacco, sugar and similar tropical prod
uc.s Both the islands are said 20 he
rlain!y valuable for their pearl and shell
fisheries which Il IS possible. may develop
some commercial Importance.
one important consideration which has
Influenced the United States Government
In these negotiations is the desirHbili;y If
excluding any European Power from the
possessiou OF the islands for naval sta
lion. which would constitute n constant
menace to the United States sovereignty
There, is reason To believe that schemes OF
that kind already have been put afiodt.
which are now to he thwarted.