The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-07-28
ISLANDS FOR AMERICA.
Spain Decides TO Sell sibutu and
kaEnyan SuIu


A cable message was received In wash
ington from Madrid yesterday announcing
that the Spanish Cabinet had under con-
sideration negotiations for tie cession to
the United States for consideration OF
$4,000 the Islands OF Sibutu and KaEayan
Sulu, in the SGlu archipelago The sum
mentioned is said to be satisfactory to
Spain. When this despatch became public
it was announced at the State Department
that negotiations OF the character indicated
have been Ing pending.
despatch received later said the Cabi-
net had agreed to the sale.
1t was nearly year ago that Spain in
formed the American Government that
Sibutu and Ksgayan Sulu wee rot included
within the terms Of the Treaty OF Paris. and
the news was then published that Ger
many desired possession of them. This
Government was not then positive that the
claim OF Spain was accurate, but all the
| maps and other data at the State ard Navy
Departments show that the islands name d
! are not within the treaty boundaries
When the State Department became as
sured OF this an understanding was reach ID
with Spain that in the event OF the ces-
sion OF the islands the claims of the United
States should have preference.
| The discovery thai Sibutu was not with
in the boundary described in Article III CT
! the Treaty Of Peace between the United
| States and Spain was made when the
United States ship Concord called at 81
| butu. The reigning datO, owiEg allegiance
to the Sultan of Suiu, saluted the American
ensign and acknowledged the sovereignty
of this Government. BY astronomical OBJ
servations the latitude and longitude of
the island were determined. In reply to
the proposition presented by The Duke
/ d'Arcos that the United States pay for the
| islands the Secretary Of State set up the
claim that the intent of the Treaty OF
| Paris was that under its terms all the ISL
ands of the Philippine and Sulu archipela-
goes should be ceded to the United States
in consideration Of $40 000. 600, and that the
Peace Commissioners who framed the in
strument believed that all the islands were
conveyed.
The contention Of Spain was that the
| Peace Commissioners had not contented
themselves with the use Of the phrase.
the Philippine archipelago" as descrip-
tive Of the territory to be coded by Spain
to the United States. but had drawn a
boundary around the territory to be coded.
By any construction, then, of the treaty.
it could under its terms transfer only the
territory lying within the boundary SO laid
| down. -
| The State Department believes that in
consideration of 100000 Sibutu and Kaga-
yam Sulu will be ceded to the United
| States.
The Island of sibutu is the most south
westerly island of the Sulu Archipelago
1t lies south of the fifth degree Of north
latitude and west of the 120th parallel OF
| longitude. being about eight degrees south
west of the nearest point on Mindanao. 1t
/ lies close against the east coast Of British
| North BorReo and to the east of Darvel
Bay. Sibutu Pass is to the northwest of
/ island The area is about fifty square
miles The land is low and wooded
! It is long, narrow island, surrounded
| by reefs and keys. There is a large blight
| in the northern end. but this, It is said
! affords 70 cafe anchorage. The adjacent
| isla6Is, as shown by late maps at tine
| State and Navy Departments, are Manuk-
Manka, Pongoa. Tawi-Tawi, and Tataan.
These are within the treaty boundaries.
! kagayan Suiu lies under the seventh de-
! gree OF north latitude AMI in rs degrees 30
/ minutes east longitude. 1t contains about
/ fifteen square miles.
The population OF both islands is COM
puted at about six thousand persons, who
are for the most part engaged in the grow
| ing CT tobacco and sugar, and in pearl and
shell fishing.
| The commercial value of the islands is
small. Their strategic value to the United
| States is said to be of no account. but it
! Is otherwise with regard to European ma
| tioEs
| The desire OF this Government is to ex-
| clude any European nation from these ISL
ands upon which a military base might be
| established. a few months ago It was re-
| ported that Germany was negotiating for
| them, but the State Department had an I'M
| derstanding with Spain that the American
proposition should be considered first. The
| United States, it is said, cannot rest as
4
| possession of a European power until the
! treaty for their cessicn to the United States
| shall have been ratified. SPANS conten-
! ton that the islands belong to her has been
| admitted by the offer to purchase. and she
| Is at liberty 10 sell them 10 whatever Gov
| errment she may elect. 1t is said that the
amount offered by the United States being
known. some other nation might be will
| ing to pay little more. There is some
fear at the State Department that the
strategic value of the islands may be
| worth to Germany more than S100, 600.
Article III. of the Treaty Of Peace be-
j tween the United States and Spain. which
establishes the boundary of the islands
coded by the latter country TO 7te former,
fellows:
Spain cedes to the United States the
| archipelago known as the Philippine ISL
ands. end comprehenGing the islands lying
| within the following line:
"A line running from west to east along
or near the twentieth parallel Of north
latitude. and through the middle Of the
navigable channel of Bachti. from the
| 18th to the Firth degree meridian of lon
| gitude east OF Greenwich. thence along
the I27th degree meridian Of longitude east
OF Greenwich to the parallel Of degrees
| - minutes north latitude. thence along
| the parallel of degrees and 45 minutes
north latitude to It's intersection with the
meridian of longitude 119 degrees and 30
minutes east Of Greenwich. thence along
| the meridian of longitude 119 degrees and
30 minutes east of Greenwich to the par
allel OF latitude degrees and 10 min
| utes north thence along the parallel OF
| latitude degrees and 40 minutes north
| to its intersection with the Hath degree
meridian of longitude east of Greenwich,
| thence by a direct line to the intersection
OF the tenth degree parallel of north lati-
| tude with the 18th degree meridian OF
| longitude east of Greenwich and thence
| along the 1ISth degree meridian OF lnngi-
tude east of Greenwich to the point OF be-
| ginning.
The United States will pay to Spain
| the sum Of $50. 900, 600 within three months
after the exchange of the Publications of
| the present treaty"
| Squelchei. But Not EGectualIy.
| (Erou, the PbiIadeluhia North American