The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-09-28

PEACE TERMS
OF SPAIN
One Considered Bid to
European Power.
NO DICKERING TOLERATED
NO DICKERING TOLERATED
Guarantees For Proper Treatment
OF Philippines.
THE CUBAN DEBT QUESTION.

Washington. Sept. eS.--The freedom
with which the Spanish minister Tor
foreign affairs has given publicity to
the instructions to the Spanish peace
commissioners as to the disposition OF
the Philippines has given rise TO the
suspicion that there Is behind 1t de-
liberate purpose to draw out In ad-
vance the position OF the American com
missioners on this point.
There is beside this apparent purpose.
a yelled threat in the last instructions,
not under any circumstances TO allow
the United States to interfere with any
disposition OF the islands outside of
those retained by the United States.
such rs LuZon. that Spain may see III
TO make. This is believed to be an in
vitation to some continental power To
step forward in support OF Spain In this
extremity I'm the hope OF receiving as
quid pro quo one of the Philippines as
coaling or naval station.
Although the American commission
ers have successfully resisted all at
tcmpts to ascertain the exact nature OF
their instructions. something Is known
OF their general character. and IL may
be stated on this point OF the final dis
position Of such OF the Philippine islands
as are not held by the United States
that. while the president has nowhere
directly admitted any obligation TO the
insurgents, yet, so long as they carry
out their part and avoid rupture with
our forces in Manila, he feels that any
arrangement that shall be made by the
commission for the final disposition Of
the islands, the insurgents shall not De
placed at the mercy Of the Spanish gov
ernment without guarantee for their
proper treatment. BY an extension OF
this same view, II is unlikely that he
would care to allow them 10 be turned
over To another power that might OPP
pressively treat them, especially with
out the consent Of the natives.
Then there are strong strategic rea-
sons why the United States should re-
fuse to sanction the cession OF any of
the Philippine islands TO any other ma
tion to serve as a naval base. 1t has
been explained 10 the American commits
sioners that ty the possession OF the
island of LuZon on the north and the
island of Palawan on the south, the
United States would control the great
gateway for the large traffic that passes
between China and Australia, as well
as the myriad islands OF the south Pa
cilc.
1t is noted at the state department
that the Spanish minister is reported to
have directed the Spanish commission
-rs to make firm stand regardisg the
Cuban debt and the Philippine loan Of
1886, II Luzon is ceded to the United
States. So far as the Philippine loan
10 concerned, that subject might prop
erly come before the peace commission,
but Judge Day just before his depar-
ture, IN answer TO a question as to
whether any matters relative TO Cuba
would come before the commission,
pointed To the language OF the protocol
TO show that the proper function of the
commission was TO be found in the dis
p0sal OF the future of the Philippine
Islands, intimatinc that no question
touching Cuba in any phase would be
considered ty the commission.