The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-11-06
SPANISH STRONG POINT.
Relates to Taking of Manila After
Protocol Was Signed.

ErOIocol w as signed.
washington, Nov. 5.-The reports the
state department has received from the
peace commissioners in Paris indicate
that that body has proceeded in exact
ly the line anticipated, consequently
the action of yesterday was not dis
appointment. 1t was fully expected
that the Spanish commissioners would
endeavor to make better terms than
those offered by the United States COM
miSsioners. It was not expected that
they would close with the American
proposition. While they have not in
exact terms submitted a counter pro-
position, the Spaniards, by entering
upon the argument Of the American
proposition, have shown a disposition
to negotiate relative to the Philippines
that has shown 10 be erroneous the
prediction that they would Indignantly
spuTn any proposition that contem-
plated REIMBURSEMENT of Spanish
sovereignty over the archipelago. 1t is
quite probable the way is now open to
a compromise between the two sides,
and that a monetary difference will be
found to be the only one of substance.
This, it is believed, is represented by
the difference between about $40, 600, 600,
probably the maximum allowance
which the United States will be willing
to pay to Spain for the improvements
in the Philippines, and $500, 000,0
which represents about the minimum
of the Spanish claim for compensation
Oh account Of the ceSsion Of the entire
group. With about S150,000.000 at stake
in this issue it viii be seen that there
is fair reason to expect that the nego-
tiations at Paris between the two par
ties viii not be speedily terminated. 1t
is freely admitted here that the pre-
sentation of the Spanish objections to
the last American proposal yesterday
was admirable in many respects, and
evidenced the possession of keen legal
tasent by the Spanish side. Yet the OBJ
jections and points made were not new
and in most cases were taken into con-
sideration by the persons who made
up the United States case before leav-
ing Washington and were duly pre-
pared for.
The strongest point made by the
Spanish side relates to the taking of
Manila two days after the signing of
the peace protocol in Washington. on
which they base their assumption that
the United States was not in possess
sion OF any part OF The Philippines out
side of the Insignificant station at Ca
Vite at the time h0stilities ceased and
were estopped legally from extending
our possessions. But as against this
contention it can be shown by the
Americans that regardless of the ex-
act date of the surrender of Manila
Admiral Dewey lay for two months be-
fore the city while for most of the time
the United States troops We're ashore
near the Spanish positions and that
the town might have been taken at any
moment during that period. The only
restraining influence was a desire to
make sure before taking possession that
the lives and property of the inhabit-
ants of the city should be Safeguarded
to the utmost, and in reality the Amer
lean forces were as much in possession
of the place then as now. This is only
one illustration of the arguments that
have been prepared to rebut the Span
ISL contention and it may be stated
that there are many other strong points
in reserve.