The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1898-11-12
THE PEACE COMMISSION.
spnniards Are Presented with An
ssver az Americans 10 Their
Latest Claims.

Paris, Nov. lO.-~N ednesday = session
of the peace commission began at 2:15
p. IN. and ended at three p. IN. When
the meeting opened the Americans pre-
scented TO their Spanish colleagues the
answer of the United States TO the
claims submitted on Friday last in be-
half Of Spain. The document in which
the American answer was set forth con-
sisted Of nearly so sheets Of typewriter
matter. IL was REPUTATION OF the Span
ish allegation that because the words
possession" Ownership" or "cession"
do not occur in the protocol clause
touching upon the Philippine islands,
the peace commissions have no right to
discuss them here. and that even II they
did so il must be i'm the light of the al
legged fact of an exterior agreement that
SPANS sovereignty should not be inn
paired.
The Americans also answered SPANS
claim for the restitution 10 her of pub
lie money and customs collections taken
by United States officials since the
capitulation of Manila and made reply
to SPANS claim for an indemnity on
account OF the alleged imprisonment
by United States authorities OF Spanish
troops of Manila and for their subse-
quent restraint from being of service
TO Spain in the suppression of the i'm
surrection and the preservation of
property.
The American commissioners held
that there was justification. under tho
terms of the protocol, for the discussion
Of the future OF the Philippine islands
and they also claim that the occupation
Of Manila is military occupation,
which iustiiies the United States in col
lecting the revenues. administering the
government and exercising all the
functions OF possession.
The Joint session was short because
SSnor Mcntero Rios and Judge Day
concurred in the services Of the Amer
lean rejoinder upon the Spanish com
missioners without a formal reading OF
the paper, which would occupy many
columns in an ordinary newspaper. and
an adjournment was taken until Satur-
day
1t is quite safe 10 say that the Amer
leans have made no new propositions re-
Rarding the possession of the Philip
pines. but confined themselves TO dis
cussion OF the proposals and assertions
made by Spain at the previous meet
ing. lust what were the terms OF the
American rejoinder cannot. OF course.
be ascertained. But despite persistent
assertions here 10 the contrary. there is
no ground, us has already been cabled.
for the Spanish contention that the
United States acquiesced at the sign
ing Of the protocol in some reservation
by Spain OF her Philippine sovereignty.
This utterly unfounded rumor Is now
quite well understood TO have come
from a high source not in sympathy
with the United States.
The Spaniards here are not satisfied
by the results OF the elections though
there is no reason 10 believe the attitude
of the American peace commissioners
has been changed by the elections.
Paris, Nov. 1O.---The Gaulos says: IL
Is certain that the Spanish peace com
mission will maintain the contention
that all the clauses of the protocol must
be faithfully observed 10y the Ameri-
cans, as they have been by the Span
iards regarding Cuba and Porto Rico.
The Spanish commission holds that no
discussion on the Philippines can be
tolerated and that the sovereignty Of
Spain over these islands will be main
tnined. The rumors relative 10 com
Tcnsaton are only simple hypothesis az
present. The attitude OF Spain in the
matter is quite simple. Namely. before
admitting the possibility OF any agree
inent in regard to the archipelago. she
cxacts that the United States recognize
that her rights in the Philippines are
unassailable.
London. Nov. 1O.-The Madrid CORE
spondent OF the Daily Mail says: A
Belgian syndicate. under the presi-
dency Of King Leopold Of Belgium has
offered TO lease the Philippines. under
Spanish sovereignty, paying Spain
large rent.