The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1900-08-14

Gencral BatCs's Deal With the Sultan of
suiu-He l. Very Canny Young AIau
"A Moro Victory in DipIomacy-A
Thrilling Moment in the Negotiations.
~ SCAR KING DAVIS writes
as follows in Ainslee's Maya
zine: The Sultan of Sulu is
young man, but he gives
the impression OF knowing what me Is
about and just what he wants. His
head is rather large aud we'll shaped.
His skin Is the color of old copper
that has been polished. His ewes are
well apart, hut he has trick of
dropping the lids that makes him look
sleepy and Indifferent. He has good
firm jaw and chin, with n Medium
sized straight nose. He wore ON his
head a fez which started red, butafter
a while ne took Oft an outer covering
and it was white. As far as waistcoat
and trousers were concerned. he was
IN correct evening dress. His coat
was gorgeous creation I'M corn yellow
silk that came clear to his heels and
had long flowing sleeves. His feet
were shod with patert feathers Two
of the three Datos were in regulation
rs big as Il woman g, and blue and
white checked flannel blazer. All the
Datos carried large knives and chcwed
betcl nut.
- Business began Immediately with
the reading of the draft OF the agree
ment proposed by the Americans. 1t
was modelled on the old Spanish treaty
-as 1t was called-and guaranteed the
Moros all the usual rights and relig-
ious freedom, except that General
Bates made it very distinct that iura-
mcntadoism would not be tolerated.
1t provided also that our flag must be
flown, that we should occupy such
places as we saw fit for military pur-
poses, that we would continue the
Sultan's pay for ruling his people and
that we would not sell or dispose Of
the islands without the knowledge and
consent Of the Sultan. The agree
ment had been done into their Ian
guagc by Mr.. Schuck, the Interpreter.
and the secretary read it, whilo the
Sultan turned his back on his follow
ers and looked bored to death.
Objection arose at once, when dis
cussion began, to the provision that
our flag should be flown. In 1898.
when the Spanish were too busy with
us to pay attention to the Sultan. he
went to Mecca flying his own flag.
contrary to his agreement with the
Spanish, and nothing derogatory
happened TO him. Therefore he could
not see why he should not fly his own
flag whenever he went abroad. The
fact that that was a practical denial
OF .our sovereignty and forfeited our
protection did not appeal to him. in
view OF his experience. The argument
went around in ring for q few min
Utes, and then the General suggested
that as they were not reaching a CON
clusion they should go on TO some.
thing else. The Moros objected to
the occupation for military purposes
without specific permission OF the
Sultan. 1t developed that that was
because they thought the land was to
be taken without payment. when he
found ont that he would get money
for it he yielded so readily as to ere
ate the impression that be wished we
would occupy his whole dominion at
once
There was q provision about slavery
which had given the General some
anxiety. He was afraid that the Mo-
ros would object 60 his plan for the
purchase o., freedom on the ground
that it would terminate slavery, which
was exactly what he was aiming to do.
They did object TO the clause. but not
on that ground. He had fixed am up
set price which they thought was too
high With great show of delibcra-
tion the General consented that b.
should be reduced. IL was q great
victory for Moro diplomacy.
The secretary did most of the talk
ing for tho Moros but the sleepy and
bored Sultan knew very we'll what he
was saying Two or three times
when the Sultan looked rs if he were
about to ing, There is green hill
far away, ~ he cut into the discussion
with q sudden dircctncss that showed
how closely hc followed eyerythirg
that was said. The three Datos made
% few speeches which am those who
understood them received with obso-
lutte impassiyiiy. Twice they asked
hBlvi for his opinion. Ue volunteered
nothing, but when asked he maie "a
talk which evidently did not suit.
Mono of The discussion among flcu-
selves was interpreted, so Chat tho
Americans could tell only by appear
anccs what was going on.
Tho followers of the Datos got tired
OF all the talk aitcra while, aul tlolleU
out into tho yard TO look ot the guard
aud talk 1t all over. Kalvi'8 men
went, too and finally KaiYi went.
Soon aftcrward there was connection
iu the yard The instant th0ueht of
every American there was the same
The bad blood between Kllyi and tho
Sultan had found expression in a fight
Il their mon. Tho three Datos with
tne Sultan jumped out of their chairs
and rushed ont of the roQu, clutc4ing
at their big knives as they went ft
was nervous minute. aud we wished
that we had not given such remark
able evidence of our confidence iu1f.e
af9ros ms TO bring the four ladies with
az. But whatever me thought. uo
American gave any sign tb1t he was
IN tlc least disturbed. General Bates
gave one sharp look down lho lire et
his little party, and saw everybody at
least abtTardIycalm ladies' were
1g cool aStbo men. The general 81 ewes
........... u 1911 IN.