Evening star., 1898-11-18
Message From the American Peace
Commissioners.
EXPECT SPhNIhRDS TO RECEDE
Little Discussion at Today's Cabi-
net Meeting.
w HITE HOUSE MATTER

y
net meeting Secretary Hay announced that
there had been discussion over the Phil
ippine question before the peace commits
sion for the reason that nothing official
had come to lay before the President and
his advisers. He added, however, that
report from the American commissioners
was then on the wires on its way to the
State Department. This report is the Span
ish answer delivered Wednesday, ac-
companied, it is thought, by the opinion
of the commission to Spanish motives
and intentions. The report is long one
and probably in cipher. This will have to
be deciphered at this end and laid before
the President. He will not know officially
the detailed Spanish position before tonight
or tomorrow When the cabinet adjouI ned
today there was no intimation that another
meeting of the Presidents advisers would
be held before the regular time next Ties
DAY, but the cabinet could be called to
gether with ease if the President desires
consultation on any phase of the question
Expect Spain to Rccede.
CABINET members today, contrary to their
opinion four days ago, believe that there
Will be peaceful settlement at Paris and
that the Spaniards will gradually recede
from their position. The Spanish commits
sloners, it is thought, feeling that their
country will never be able to pay the
Phll1ppine debt, are doing all they can to
make their creditors believe that they
fought to the last for their interests. When
they have succeeded in thus easing their
minds they Will gradually accept the Amer
lcan position and then play hard for all
the money they can get. The President
and mis- advisers have studied Spanish
character since the beginning of the war
Just before backing down from any posi-
uon the administration has noticed fore
runners OF this action in the positions taken
by the Spanish newspapers. They have
there seen evidences of the Spanish cab
met preparing the people for what was to
come. In the present case the dispatches
from Madrid show that the Spanish news
papers are beginning to advise the govern
ment to give in to the American demands
and to turn the attention of the Spanish
people to building up their own nation
In addition to these straws it is believed
that Judge Day has been able to catch the
drift in Paris and to venture an opinion to
the President. Therefore the feeling today
is exceedingly hopeful.
Report the Philippines.
Secretary Long has received long let
ter from naval officer who was on one of
the ships sent by Admiral Dswey to make
an investigation of the various islands in
the Philippine group. The officer and his
ship visited, all the principal islands. The
letter gives the incidents met with, and
ut5tlIDSS tllc peOpo anu tHS country. Inc
Secretary read the letter to the cabinet
today.
There is still said to be nothing from any
of the American officials at the islands
portenGing trouble with he insurgen
when they learn that this country has
taken possession. The admins ration has
long ceased to give much consideration to
this subject despite reports from men re-
turning to this country from the Philip
pines.
1t has been found that there are difficult
ties in the way of making an open port Of
Cienfuegos, Cuba. as decided at a former
something like 10000 Spanish soldiers at
this point They are to be transported to
spain among the last of the Spanish troops
on the islands. Even the soldiers al Ha-
vana will probably go away before these
1t is thought that the advisability of some
other port will b. looked into. The cabinet
wants a. pert whore agricultural inpie-
ments and machinery can BE- admitted free
for the benefit CT thosa who are going to
start UP industries again.
Our Attitude Not Changed.
The two new points laid down by the
Spanish peace commissioners in the answer
p1 esented by them at Wednesdays session
of the joint commission will not be per-
mitted to change the attitude of the United
States commissioners. These points were
in substance that the Spaniards could not
permit any question to be raised as to the
authority or uhe spanish government 10
pledge the resources of the Philippines to
meet the Philippine loan, and, that they
could not permit an accounting of the
method in which the proceeds of this loan
had been expended. There is reason to
believe that the Spanish purpose is to con-
ceal enormous defalcations by the Spanish
officials who have governed the Philippines
since the issue of the loan. The ostensible /
purpose is to be able to plead inability to
state what the pacific expenditures have
been on account of the Philippines, which
was all that the United States proposed to
reimburse them for. Our government. how
ever, has in anticipation of some such eva
sive dealings, prepared the American com
mssioners with instructions which exactly
meet this case.
They kn DIV approximately just about The
value of the betterments in the Philippine
ISa andS having aScertained that from pri |
vale, bnt thoroughly reliable, sources.
Knowing this they can afford to ignore en-
tirely the efforts of the SpaniardS to be- |
cloud the facts, and will adopt the simple |
expedient Of proffering a lump sum, rs |
many million dollars as it is deemed fair |
and just to tenden for the Spanish prop
critics. requiring and rendering no state |
ment or calculation as basis for the offer. |
Thus there will be avoided the danger of a !
lcng wrangle over complex statements of
figures and the issue will be made with |
Eerfect cielrIeSS.
Will Accept Lump sum.
1t is not doubted that the Spanish COM
lump sum, though it is fully expected that
oLce the commission reaches the point of |
naming sums of money, and has left be- |
hind it all Of the irrelevant discussions |
touching sovereignty, the Spanish comnis- |
sicners may make a determined effort to !
secure a larger allowance than the Pres |
ident has sanctioned. Judging, however by i
the conduct of the American commissioners
up to this point, there will be very little I!
latitude allowed the Spaniards in this mat |
ter, and it is believed that they have al |
ready come to appreciate the fact that the |
American proposition is, in the end Just |
about what it at the beginning and /
that the American diplomacy is straight
forward at. all points.
Presidential Appointments.
The President made the following an |
pointmeuts today:
Charles E. Snallcy of Massa chusetts COL |
lector of customs for the district of Nan |
tucket, Mass.
VIM. L. Bell of California, assistant sur
geon in the navy. |
Second Lieut.. John H. Russell to a frs, |
lieutenant in The marine corps
Acting Boatswain Patrick Deery to he a
boatswain in the navy.