Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-07-27
Omitted by Peace Commi.sioners.

idly.
Omitted by Peace Commissioners.
Had the peace commissioners at Paris, in
arranging for the REIMBURSEMENT to the
United States of the Philippines, contented
themselves with the phraseology "the Phil
ippine archipelago as descriptive of the
territory to be ceded to the United States
by Spain no question, perhaps, would have
arisen over the possession of Cibitu and
Cagayen islands. But to avoid the least
chance of loose definition the peace COM
mssioners drew a geographical boundary
line around the islands to be transferred.
The bounds were fixed by meridans of
longitude and parallels of latitude. The
lines generally described parallelo-
gram but at the southwestern corner, for
some reason, there was an inset excluding
some of the islands off the coast of Borneo.
BY the terms of the treaty the southern
boundary line Of the archipelago started
at the eastern end of the 121th meridian
and ran along the parallel of degrees 40
minutes westward to the meridian of 1l9
degrees % minutes. At that point the line
ran directly northward to latitude of I de-
srees 40 minutes. and thence was DETECTED
westward to the 116th meridian, forming
the small inset above referred to.
Discovery of the Omission.
1t was a year after the signature of the
treaty of Paris before the fact was discov-
cred that in laying down these boundaries
the commissioners had excluded the Islands
of Cibitu and Cagayen. 1t was disclosed by
the visit to that part of the archipelago OF
the L. S. s. Concord. The commander of
the vessel landed on Cibitu and was cor
daily received by the reigning dato, who
bot tod ha Star frinpS
announced himself under the protection Of
tie United States.
Attention being attracted to that quarter,
the Spanish government soon discovered
the defect In the boundary line. and
through the Duke de ARGOS. its minister
here, set up claim to the State Depart
ment for the possession of the islands.
The department took the ground that the
purpose of the treaty of Paris In that sec
ton was to convey the entire Philippine
archipelago to the United States and the
general lang Iage of the act Of cession was
sufficient to effect that transfer. the defined
boundary being unnecessary description.
Ensuing Negotiations.
Negotiations lasting many months fol-
lowed, and each and every member of the
peace commission was called upon to give
his individual understanding Of the pro-
ceedings at Paris SO far as they bore upon
that point. Finally it appeared that an ex-
act boundary would have to be accepted,
instead of one laid down in general termi-
nology, according to the fundamental prin-
ciple of common law. That being the case,
it became necessary, in the interest Of
sound policy. and to prevent the existence
of a probable cause of irritation in the fu-
ture to buy out Spain's neighborly rights
,.-l,,
Philippine archipelago.
AS announced from Paris, the Spanish
cabinet is favorably considering the pro-
posed transfer, and the negotiations may
be practicall.. regarded as closed, on the
basis of a cash payment to Spain by the
United States of 100000 for the two ISL
andS.
The Two Islands.
The two islands are insignificant in area
and thinly populated, probably containing
from 5000 to 5000 people in all. Cibtu is
a long, narrow island, fourteen miles in
length by two across. 1t is fiat and unin-
teresting, save for one small conical noun
tain in the center about 800 feet in height.
1t is surrounded by coral reefs, with no
anchorage to speak of. Cibitu lies only
four miles outside of the southern bound
ary fixed by the treaty of Paris.
Caeayen Is ABOUT the same area, nVe
miles by eight, with mountains reaching a
height of LOO feet. 1t is the largest of
half dozen tiny islets known as the Ca
gayen Sulu group. and owning allegiance
to the Sultan of Sulu. Its chief products
are tobacco, sugar and similar tropical
products, while both the islands are said
to be mainly valuable for their pearl and
shell fisheries, which, 1t is possible, may
develop some commercial inheritance
One important consideration which has
influenced the United States government
in these negotiations is the desirability of
excluding any European power from the
possession of the Islands for use asa naval
station, which would constitute constant
menace to the United States sovereignty.
There is reason to believe that schemes of
that kind have already been put afioat.
which q To hs