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In the 1898-1899 period, the United States Government and Germany discussed the idea of exchanging islands in the Pacific during the broader negotiations over Samoa. The Germans were up for giving up an island in the Marshall islands in exchange for an island in the Sulu Archipelago.
The German offer of Taongi was rejected, the second offer of Eniwetok was contemplated over but also rejected.
Let's say the Germans go a bit further. The US will get all of Samoa and the Marshall Islands if the Germans are allowed the whole of the Sulu Archipelago (hence to be referred to as the Sulu Protectorate). Britain still gets Tonga as per OTL.
I imagine down the line Japan will grab up the Sulu islands during WWI.