The daily morning journal and courier., 1898-11-21
CRUCIAL POINT IS REACHED
SPAIN MUST CEDE EPHILIPPINES OR
 DEFEND THEM.
Joint Meeting Fixed for TO-day-The Communication VIII Lack Naught of the Conc1usivencss Of an Ultimatum- Money Consideration to be Allowed.


 Paris, Nov. 2O.-The Spanish peace commissioners have been notified that the United States commissioners VIII be ready to treat with them in joint ses- sion tomorrow. Unless the Seaniards have an adequate reason for further delay, the two commissions will join in the most important meeting thus Tar held. The American commissioners m 8 written communication will declare that the third article of the protoc9i, regarding the Philippines, is capable of only one fair construction, that no ar btration is needed to elucidate it's terms and that the United States cannot ad- init any other power to figure here pure ly as a lexicologist. They will maintain that the two commissioners are charged to determine whether Spain or the United States shall in future own the Philippines. This will be accompanied by clear declaration that the United States will possess the Philippines. Fol lowing this declaration the American commissioners will lay before the Span- iards two alternatives:
 First, to accept a sum of money from the United States and to cede and evac- uate the Philippines.
 Second, to lose the Philippines to the United States by conquest, with the possibility of other territorial losses to indemnify the United States for the added expense of conquest.
 This communication may not be for mally designated as an ultimatum, but it will lack naught of the conclusiveness indicated by that word. This will be so plain that the Spanish commissioners will scarcely haggle for more money on the first alternative nor cherish any doubt of American action under the second, should the first be declined. No one here, except the American commits sioners knows how much will be ten- dered Spain as the cheapest and most humane way of settling the difficulty. She is exceedingly anxious to escape the Philippine debt and possibly the sum to be offered may be determined by an analysis of that debt, which consists of $40, GOO, 900 in bonds, on which she real ized $36, GOO, 900. Of the latter amount she is believed to have expended some $10 900, 900 or $11, 100000 in fighting the United States and in attempting to quell the Philippine instruction. A reasonable guess at the sum for tender would be s2o0oo,oOo, though it may fall below that.
 The Cuban question may come up again tomorrow The American com nissioners had thought the discussion on that point finished, but the Spanish commissioners are reported to have de- clared last week that the mortgages im- posed by Spain on the Cuban as well as on the Philippine revenues, must not be impaired or questioned This would compel the American commissioners scon-and probably tomorrow to de- mand whether Spain means to repudiate the present compact of the protocol to Cuba Three weeks ago the Spanish commissioners accepted the Cuban ar ticle in the protocol without conditions, save that it's embodiment in the treaty should depend only upon an agreement here on all the articles in the protocol Recently, however, Spain's representa- tives have said that the Cuban matter had been only temporarily passed and was still in abeyance.