Thread by @indiohistorian

#TodayinHistory in 1899, the Kiram-Bates Treaty was signed, promising mutual peace bet. the Sultanate of Sulu & the United States. The treaty was initiated by US forces in #PH only to buy time for full American engagement in the Philippine-American War.
THREAD. #kasaysayan

Fresh from the acquisition of its newest possessions—all the Spanish Pacific colonies, #PH included—the U.S. intended to enforce its control on PH by militarizing it until all resistance cease. This, despite efforts of 1st PH Republic to be recognized.

https://twitter.com/indiohistorian/status/1336997376947494917?s=20

W/ the outbreak of the Philippine-American War in Feb 1899, the U.S. had its hands full. It could not afford another conflict w/ the Islamized ethnic groups in Mindanao, as the PH-US war, while tagged as "insurrection," was indeed nationwide in scale.

https://twitter.com/indiohistorian/status/1357277707323678720?s=20

The Sultanate of Sulu, w/c for more than 3 centuries have had its own sovereignty, along w/ other sultans/datus in the region, could unite & mount a formidable resistance. As such, U.S. Brig. Gen. John C. Bates entered into a formal agreement w/ Sultan Jamalul Kiram II of Sulu.

The treaty stipulated:
▫️ The 🇺🇸 flag would be flown
▫️ The U.S. would respect Sulu autonomy, its rulers, religion, & customs
▫️ The Sultan & datus would receive payments, continuing the transactions made by Spain from prev dispensation
▫️ Trade shall be free & unlimited

There was a deliberate mistranslation in the Treaty.

Tausug version: "The support, aid, and protection of the Jolo Island and Archipelago are in the American nation."

English version: "The sovereignty of the US over the whole Archipelago of Jolo ... is declared & acknowledged."

The U.S. saw the signed document as a mere agreement instead of a formal treaty requiring U.S. Senate ratification. Five years later, the U.S. would abrogate it altogether, citing the inability of the Sultan to quell "insurrection." In truth, it was never intended to be enforced.

Bates would soon divulge that it was only a temporary expedient to stall conflict in Mindanao until the Filipino forces in Luzon & Panay were defeated. The treaty would be used as further U.S. justification for the incorporation of the Moro peoples into colonial jurisdiction.

A.Mabini, 17 Oct 1899:
"The [colonial] policy, if we examine the Treaty of Paris... is a policy of deception. All [they] want is to know what we want... They will avoid making any promises or commitments to us so that they may skillfully use all advantages [it] will bring them."

Photos:
- Sulu Sultan Jamalul Kiram II (seated, center), w/ U.S. Army & other guests, from Arnaldo Dumindin collection
- Portrait of amalul Kiram II, from SuluSultan.blogspot
- Gen. John C. Bates, @ArlingtonNatl
- Kiram-Bates Treaty of 1899 (Tausug Version), from Abe Books

- Maj. Hugh Scott, Sultan Jamalul Kiram II, interpreter Charles Schuck, and local gov officials & hadjis, c. 1905, from @librarycongress

For @subselfie.
@jmnualla
@tonitiemsin