Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1898-11-04

GARDING THE PHILIPPINES. NOR
WILL THEY GIVE AN UNEQUIVO-
CAL REJECTION = B E L K z d
THEY WILL OFFER COUNTER
PROPOSITION, WHICH WILL Car
RjY WITH IT A PLEA FOR A LARG-
Err FINANCIAL CONSIDERATION
ON THE PART OF THE UNITED
STATES-THIS WILL OPEN THE
WAY FOR FURTHER NEGOTIA-
TIONS.
Washington, November By way
of preparation for what may happen
at the meeting of the peace comin.s~
sioners in Paris tomorrow, it may re
said that the officials here have nc
idea that the Spanish reply will be-
unconditional acceptance of our last
proposition relating to the acquisition
Of the Philippines. On the other hand
they do not expect an equivocal rejec
ton. What is likely to occur is tnat
the Spanish commissioners will come
in with a counter proposition, the
basis of which probably will be con-
siderable increase in the sum o.
money to be paid to the Spanish gov
eminent for the Philippines. This
will open way to negotiations on that
subject, and inasmuch as the commits
SiOnerS spent about six weeks con5iG
dealing with Cuba and Porto Rico, it
is reasonable to believe that at !eas;
few days may be properly allowed
for the discussion of the Philippines
In short, it may be said that the OIL
Gals here do not expect a final breach
of relations between the commission
ers to occur tomorrow, notwithstan3-
Ing the comments of unfriendly Euro
pean newspapers in that line.
Paris, November 3.-The Echo de
Paris to-day expresses strong APPROX
al of the speech delivered at Worcester,
Mass, by Senator HOar, in which he
denounced the SO-called policy of
American extension. The paper men
toned quotes the speech fully and re-
marks that all American political men
apparently do not agree with the pol
icy of conquest.
The Figaro says: The peace nego-
tiations have reached a very critical
point. Up to yesterday the Spanish
delegates had received no definite in
structions from Madrid. Will the
Spanish government accept the Ameri-
can proposition? We doubt it.
y.ly
admit in looking beneath the surface
that the late war has completely
changed the American character. Out
side of being anxious merely for com
mercial supremacy and playing small
political part, save regarding the South
American Republics, the United States
felt no desire to interfere in European
politics. But everything changed very
suddenly. After the success against
Spain the American government felt
itself capable of taking part in Euro
pean politics and advances of Great
Britain showed the American minis
tiers they could speak up. This popu-
lar feeling has induced the American
government to demand the whole of
the archipelago when at the outset a
part of the Philippines was all that
was demanded.
This new demand exceeds a war in
demnity and this is the weak point
which American diplomacy has en-,
countered. The Spanish government
is at the end of its resources and hope
les as it is for her to attempt TO mas
ter the instruction in the Philippine
islands, even if they were handed over
to her tomorrow, it is evident that if
instead of using the word abandon
ment, 'cession" against a cash in
demnity is spoken OF the Spanish and
American delegates may come to
terms.
The American delegates have made
several offers and have at the present
time proposed the sum OF SAC, 1000 900
The Spaniards want more and have
demanded 500, 100000.
The Spanish delegates, for whose
sad condition one must feel pity, had
for a moment the illusion that Europe
would intervene and defend the inter
ests of Spain. They must have lost
this illusion by now. American diplo-
macy has played it's part with great
cleverness and has from the outset
gained an extraordinary position At
the present moment the United States
is taking advantage of the hatred
against England which is growing up
on the continent and offers it's neu-
trality if Europe will leave the United
States a free hand with Spain.
Besides, Europe really has no inter-
est to interfere. The various Euro
pean governments foresee what will
inevitably come if the United States
restores the Philippine islands to
Spain. AS soon as Spain had proved
her inability to quash the revolt, Ger
many would offer her interested as
sistance and Immediately the covet-
BUSINESS of French, English and Rus
sian diplomacy would provoke inter-
national intervention which would
raise a quarrel of exceptional gravity.
At the present moment it is because
something of the sort might happen
that the attitude of Europe in general
towards the Spaniards and Americans
is as follows:
Come to some agreement about the
price of the Philippines, make eonces-
sions on either side; but, whatever you
do, be quick about it. There are
plenty Of troubles floating round just
now upon the political horizon without
a prolongation of these dangerous ne
gotiations Of yours
Madrid, November 3.-The announce
ment of the intentions of the United