Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-05-29
LEASE OF PALAWAN ISLAND.
Government Notified of an Agreement
With Sultan of Sulu.

Government Notified of an Agreement
With Sultan of Sulu.
Formal notice was given the United
States government today. through Secre-
tary Root that the Island of Palawan, Of
the Sulu group, had been leased from the
Sultan of Sulu by the Pacific Commercial
Company an organization recently formed
under the laws of the state of New York.
This notice was given by John R. Dos
Passos, an attorney Of New York, who
called on Secretary Root in company with
Mr. Alfred Bowler of San Francisco. who
represents Prince Poniatowsky Of that city.
who is financing the enterprise.
After his interview with Secretary Root
Mr.. Dos Passos was seen by a Star re-
porter. He said that after he had eX-
planned the enterprise to the Secretary he
was assured that the matter would be
given immediate attention. The Secretary,
however, remarked that there were serious
questions involved, and that he should
refer the matter to both the Secretary of
State and to the Taft commission in the
Philippines, with request for full re-
port
The history Of the enterprise was given
by Mr.. Dos Passos as follows:
ION the I'D of January, 1900 the Sultan
of Sulu entered into a written contract
with Prince Poniatowsky. by which he
granted to the prince and his assigns
concession covering the Island Of Palawan,
which belongs to the Sultan of Sulu. This
island is about three times as large as
Porto Rico. being go miles in length and
about average Of eighteen miles in
width. This concession was made for fifty
years, and gave the prince and his assigns
all commercial. manufacturing. agricul
tural and mining rights for a space Of
fifty years. in consideration of which the
concessonaire bound himself to pay a large
sum of money to the sultan. This conces-
sion is signed by the sultan and his prin-
cipal dattos.
THE Sultan Of Sulu owns a number Of
islands in the archipelago of Jolo, and
while he, in a treaty with General Bates
of the United States army on the 10th of
August, 1899, acknowledged the sover-
eighty Of the United States, he has actual
control of his own properties and the man
agement of the internal, political, judicial
and civil affairs Of his own domains.
LAS counsel for Prince Poniatowsky I
called the attention Of the Secretary Of
War to this concession in the month Of
February last, and this morning formally
filed with the Secretary copy Of the con-
cesson and held an interview with him,
accompanied by the agent Of Prince Ponta-
towsky, Mr.. Alfred Bowler of San Fran
cisco. where the prince resides. This con-
cession is not embraced within the mean
ing. letter or spirit Of the Spooner act,
which was passed by Congress March 2
1901, and which looms up now into great
Importance since the decisions of the SUI
preme Court in the insular cases.
The Sultan Of Sulu is the absolute pro-
prietor Of all his own dominion. subject to
the sovereignty Of the United States, which
he has acknowledged. The Pacific Com
mercial Company. which is to succeed to
the rights Of Prince Ponatowsky, will
build and operate a line of steamers for
island and various eastern and American
ports"