New-York tribune., 1900-05-21
CAST OFF BY SPAIN
PLIGHT OF THE COLONIAL BORN RESI-
DENTS OF THE PHILIPPINES.

Manila. April T1.-Ths the last day upon which
Spanish residents OF the Philippines may register
their intention OF remaining Spaniards and the
office in Manila where such declarations
corded is crowded with those who have procrasti-
mated Article TX of the Paris Treaty of Peace pro-
vided that Spanish residents of former Spanish col
onies should have years time in which TO de-
clare their adhesion Spain, failing which they
will adopt the nationality Of the country where they
reside. Some twenty-five hundred Spaniards have
registered in Manila. and there are still several
hundred who would like 70 register but cannot do
so because OF a statement in the Peace Treaty.
The Spanish Commissioners in Paris last year
introduced clause in the treaty which practically
amounts TO the reputation Of Spanish colonists
This clause says that Spaniards born in Spain and
residing in her colonies shall have the right 10
main Spanish subjects Consequently. a man born
of Spanish parents IN the colonies has no right TO
Spanish nationality. and hundreds of Spaniards of
this latter category have been denied permission
to remain subjects of Spain, and are to-day FIJI
pnos and nothing more
SAVED MONEY TO THE CROWN
This ruling of the Spanish Commissioners that to
be Spaniard must be born in Spain is in
direct contradiction TO the Spanish Civil Code
which says. in Article XVII. Clause .: The off
spring OF Spanish father and mother born outside
of Spain is a Spaniard' Why Spain wanted to re-
pudiate Spaniards born in her colonies is hard 10
understand. unless It be that by doing she has
cleared her skirts Of number of future pension
ers and this Interpretation of her action is
ally accepted by the spaniards themselves.
AS instance, there are men in Manila born of
Spanish parents in Porto Rico, Cuba and out here
who have been long in the Spanish army and Civil
Service Some Of them are drawing pensions; 9TH
ers would do so; but for these men this
help and hope gone because they are no longer
Spaniards, but Filipinos. Under the Spanish law
a is OF the nationality her husband
here a Spanish born who has married
Philippine born husband is a Filipino and
Spaniard. This results in the loss TO a good many
Spanish out here of certain small pensions
from Spain which UP TO the present time they
have enjoyed. II is asserted that the number OF
Government pensioners which Spain gets rid OF in
her former colonies by this action is considerable
and that the yearly saved to the Crown there
by is large.
The United States Government has supplied the
printed blanks upon which those Spaniards regis
tered their allegiance and the records have been
made under American supervision Blanks have
but less than fifty have been used outside Of
Manila.
ATTITUDE OF THE RELIGIOUS ORDERS.
In Manila all the priests have registered. like
wise all the Dominican. Recolleto Franciscan and
Augustnian friars; the Jesuts have registered.
contending that they without nationality The
Spanish nuns and Sisters of Charity in and about
remaining spanish 4 large number Of coastwise
sailormen and steamboat officers have made a
In order that this registration may become bind
ing and legal IT must be reported at the office OF
ords that to be returned 70 Spain. while those
taken under American supervision remain on file
here.
Among the colonial born spaniards who have
been denied Spanish citizenship are many promi-
nent and some wealthy men. One whose wife
and children were all born in Spain, is about to
take his family from here to Paris. and he has
asked the United States military authorities If he
and his family Filpinos. would be accorded the
protection Of the United States, should occasion
arise while they are upon foreign soil.
There many Spaniards who have failed to
register. and the matter OF extending the time 10
do has been taken UP bv the proper authorities
who will soon render a decision. zs,,