Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1903-09-02
The DISPUTED ISLANDS


want them. And, anyway, they belong
TO u.s.
These seven islands lying so close
% British North Borneo, came to us
along with the sultan OF Sulu. But we
lay claim to them, not because this
Sulu sultan has spiritual power over
The Mohammedans in some islands
without the Sulu group, and even over
MOhammedans residing in British
North BOrneo, but because of two trea-
ties; the first. a treaty between Great
Britain, Germany and Spain, wherein
Spain was given title to all the islands
outside marine leagues distance of
the BOrneo coast; the second treaty
referred TO the one between the United
States government and the sultan Of
Jolo. in which agreement was made
chat all the islands coded to Spain by
he treaty of 1885 should belong to the
United States.
The seven islands recently visited by
the United States gunboat are unQues-
tionably out Of the marine league limit
Of this treaty, and authorities declare
he British have not a shadow of claim
20 them. They are uninh abited and
reputed uninhabitable; all lie close to-
sether and are spread over an area of
about 40 miles. The largest of the
seven. Boaani and Tagenac, command
the harbor of Sandakam. the capital
Of British North Borneo Rear Ad-
miral Evans, recognizing their value
from strategic point of view. sent
one of the Philippine gunboats to the
islands to survey them, hoist the
American flag and erect American tab
cts
The island of Borneo is the largest
If the East India islands The Dutch
possessions comprise by far the major
cart of the territory the British terri.
tory (31. LOG square miles, occupying
| he extreme northern portion of the
,sland. British North Borneo has Q
coast line of about 900 miles. noun
famous interior, and much jungle
and; the population is 100000; on the
coast are MOhammedan settlers. some
Chinese traders and artisans. and in
and dwell the aboriginal tribes Bri.
cries, were placed under British pro
ection in 1883. British EJrth BorneC
| S under the jurisdiction of the Brit
sh North Borneo company. held unde'
grants from the sultans of Sulu and 0
Brunei. The territory is administered
oy governor (English) in Bornet
and court of directors in London
Our friend the sultan of Sulu. seem.
o have been considerable of a person
lge in the past-and may yet be. TO
all we know; both Great Britain apt
spain treating him with consideration
Spain used to pay him an annual trib
tie, and the North Borneo Tradins
company still hands over to him
searly tribute of 5000 Mexican dol
ars. And yet in his own land the DO
:entate has welded but an uncertain
authority: where each man is more
| II less of a free lance. and his author
ty is measured largely by the number
IF rifles he possesses
Following the word Of out putting
land to the seven tiny islands off the
coast of Borneo comes the report that
france is going to turn over to us her
nsular possessions in the eastern Pa
:ific. A cynical writer. commenting
IN the reported transfer. says: THE
correspondent fails to tell whether
We are to pay for theL.. or be paid for
aking them" Certainly their reye-
lues are not such as to make us eager.
The local budgets OF all for last year
amounted to not more than $500, 900;
he islands altogether have an area OF
lbout 1890 square miles. and popu-
alton of $4,000