The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-11-17
DONS HOLD POSITION
AGAINST DISCUSSION THERE OF
PHILIPPINE SOVEREIGNTY.
THEY AGAIN PROPOSE ARBITRATION
On Construction Of Words Control, DispOsi-
tion and Government Of Philippines "
Or Commissioners will Discuss
RelIt 10. daY.

RefiJ 10 day.
Paris Nov. 16-The meeting today
Of the Spanish-American commissions
began at 2:15 p. IN and ended at p
M The Spanish commissioners pre-
sented long document in answer to
the American argument which was sub
mitcd last week. by mutual consent,
the memorandum Of today was handed
to the Americans without being read
and the meeting adjourned to Saturday
next The Spanish communication viii
be translated this evening and its con
tents will be discussed by the United
States commissioners tomorrow at their
daily session.
The Spaniards. in their c0mmunica-
tion today. reaffirmed the position which
they have assumed against the discus
sion here Of Spains Philippine SOW
ereignty. They insist that the words
''shall determine the control. disposi-
tion and government Of the Philippines"
as Article 3 of the peace protocol did
not warrant anv reference to Spains
withdrawal from the Philippines except
on her own terms. and therefore the
SpaniardS propose arbitration on the
construction 10 be placed on the words
the control, disposition and govern
ment"
4 DEFINITE OFFER TO SPAIN.
Washington. Nov. 16-Up to this
point the discussion at Paris having
touched on principle. there has
been no attemnt To name exact
figures in relation te the amount
OF money that might be paid to
Spain by the United States ON account
If the Philippines. Such, for instance
was the statement thar the United
States would reimburse Spain 'sfor the
Pacific expenditures" made on account
Of the Philippines. for no one here at
the time had an exact knowledge of
what these expenditures amounted to
n tbs aggregate.
This has been aSeertained however.
20 the satisfaction of the American
commissioners, at least. and they will
name the exact amount of money which
the United States is willing to pay over
to Spain on this account What il
pr0posed is cash payment to the
Spanish Government. for the United
States does not propose 10 enter into
any relations whatever with any ~ the
holders of any Of the bonds issued hv
Spain. Notwithstanding the efforts ~
some OF the European powers to bring
this result about. As 10 the amount
which will be- offered to Spain, the Off
Gals here are mute, bat it il believed
to lie somewhere between $4,000. .000
and S4O00000O.
Our commissioners do not look for nm
unconditional rejection of aur offer. hut
believe there will he an attempt on the
part OF the Spanish commissioners to
secure a liberal Increase of the anl0uht
named. The American commissioners
are under instructions 60 inform the
spanish commissioners that there can
be M further DELAY ia the final con.
CiuSion Of the work Of the commission
50 thar il is expected conclusion. one
way or the other, viii be- reached be
fore long 10 the peace negotiations
Paris, Nov. I6.--In Signifvmg their
Willingness 10 submit the Philinnine ar.
t1cle OF the protocol to third party for
construction. the Spanish commissioners
urged that, as there il obviously t}if-
Terence of opinion regarding the phrase
the control. disposition aud government
ot the Philippines, possibly the result
Of misunderstanding. the Standards
should no more he asked 10 surrender
their view than the Amgericans ia snr-
render theirs The memorandum painfS
out that a deadlock exists which might
De broken by arbitration on the contend
lng views. t0 which the Spanish com,
nlissionerS are quite ready IL submit
The latter declare that they have no
idea Of suggesting arbitration as to the
main issue, which touches national hon
on on both sides, bat they are willing to
accept exterior aid to clear the path for
further negotiations. Ii Il safe a. SAY
that the American commissioners viii
not consent to invoke exterior aid tn
constrne the terms of their own protocol
Another part of to-day'S Spanish
memorandum tlatly asserts, upon the
authority Of NJ Camhon's reports of the
protocol negotiations between Washing
ton and Madrid through him. that rresi-
dent Mckinley at NJ time objected 10
Spain's reservation ar her sovcrcignty in
the Philippines. This allegation is a.
reetly opposed 60 the American record
on the same subject The American
commissioners now hold that the protocol
itself was born 0f SPANS attempt 90
reserve herr Philippines sovereignty.
though the Spanish memorandum to-day
squarely challenges the contention.
Moreover the Spanish commissioners
to-day have alleged that President Me-
kinley's objection TO Spain's phrase0l0gy
in accepting the peace terms was based
solely, SO FAR as was made upon this
sentence IN the Spanish acceptance!
'Frhey accept the prolfered tcrms sub.
tCuntlnued on Second rage.l