The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1898-09-29
MK|NLEY S|NS1RUCN0NS
Peace Commissioner Are Going to
Paris Under Orders to Be Firm
with Spain.
NO DsvIATlONs FROM THE PROTOCOL.
and the Acquisition of Luzon Means the
whole Archipelago-The President Has
Absolute Confidence In the Men He
Chose for the Task.

Washington, Sept II. The members
of the peace commission were yester-
day fully informed of the presidents
policy as TO the Philippines. At the
| conclusion of the conference the mem
bers of the commission all refused, of
course, to discuss what occurred. 1t
can be said, however, that the presi-
dent went over the whole subject with
the commissioners and made his views
so clear that there is no possibility of
a misunderstanding of his position.
The presidents intention is to make a
demand for Luzon. The president is
convinced from the advice he has had
that demand for Luzon will be
all that will be necessary to secure for
the United States the whole archipel-
ago. Spain's power is all in Luzon.
1t is not believed that Spain will de-
sire, or be able in the present condi.
tion of her finances, to undertake to
secure establishment of her sovereignty
in the other islands of the group. If
the United States sticks to its demand
for Luzon, Spain, 1t is confidently be-
lieved by those who understand the
situation best will willingly surren-
der the group, BY making a demand
for Buzon only, when we might insist
upon having the whole group, the ap-
pearance at least of a war of conquest
will be avoided.
1t is said that the president in his in.
structions to the commission, specified
that the demand for the cession of Lu.
zon was to be made in writing, not
81 s,l. IL.
sioners would be asked to reply in the
same way. In the event that any un-
anticipated points should come up
during the progress of negotiations
the president will be cabled for advice
1t Is not to be understood from
this that the commissioners go un.
der ironclad and unchangeable in.
structions at all points, for there
is certain amount of heXibility
in the instructions Otherwise,
as one of the cabinet members
put it, the president might
just as well have reduced his wishes
to paper, in the form of an ultimatum,
and have sent that to Paris by messen.
gers. The peace commissioners are in
no sense mere mouthpieces, but, having
chosen with the greatest care and con.
sideration five men in whom he puts
the most implicit confidence, the pres.
ident feels that they are to be trusted
with the interests of the United States.
1t is not expected that they will have
a free rein in the larger questions of
policy, but with ample opportunities
for consultation by cable and other.
wise, there is no reason why the com.
missioners should not be able to carry
out the desires of the administration,
and, at the same, time, have the op'
portunity to shape those desires
somewhat by conveying information
they may acquire. For instance, il is
expected that at Paris the commits.
sioners will meet Gen. Merritt fresh
from Manila, and in addition they will
have the benefit of special report
from Admiral Dewey. These will &c
of the greatest value, for the commits.
sioners are not acquainted with the
Philippine question in detail, and even
the information that is to be acquired
from the Spanish peace commissioners
is not to be despised when it takes
such an official form that it can be re-
lied upon as to accuracy.
At the very outset, it will be made
clear to the Spanish commissioners
that, as in case of the preliminary pro-
tocol, there can be no deviation from
or modification of the demands made
by the United States. The decision
arrived at by the president, after q
full consultation with the members OF
the commission, subsequently received
the cordial and unanimous approval OF
the cabinet. AS previously announced
the commission sails from New York
on the Campania at two o'clock Satur
| day afternoon.