The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1898-11-23

pletely freed from these engagements,
which fall upon the nation exercising
sovereignty and collecting taxes ia Cuba
PARIS, November 3O-The Spanish
peace commissioners have been notified
that the United States commissioner will
be ready to treal with them in joint ses-
sion tomorrow afternoon. Unless the
Spaniards have an adequate reason for
further delay, the two commissions will
join in the most important meeting thus
far held.
The American commissioners, in writ
ten communication. win declare that the
third article of the protocol. regarding
the Philippines, is capable of only one
fair con truction, that no arbitration is
needed 70 elucidate its terms. and the
United States cannot admit any other
power TO figure here purely as lexicolo-
gist. They will maintain that the two
commissions ace charged to determine
whether Spain or .he United States shall
in future own the Philippines.
This will be accompanied by clear
sclaration that the United States will
possess the Philippines.
Following this declaration thea merican
commissioners viii lay before the Span
iards two alternatives.
First, TO aeceEt a sum of money from
the United States and 10 eede and evac-
uate the Philippines.
Second. TO lose the Philippines to the
United States by conquest, with the pos
sioility of other territorial losses to in
,mnify the United States for the added
expense of conquest.
This communication may not form
ally be designated as an ultimatum, but it
will lack nAnght of the conelusiveness
in Heated by tl,st word This will be so
pain that the Spanish commissioners
will scai cely haggle for more money on
ths first alternative nor cherish any
d)ubt Of American action under the sec
oad, should the first be declined
No one here, except the American com
missioners, knows how much will be
rendered Spain as the cheapest aud 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 an
alysis of that debt, which consists of Si0,-
10000 in bonds, on which she realized
$36 O00, 600. OF the latter amount she is
believed to have expended some $40 900.
O0) or sIl,OOO0OO in fighting the United
States, and part in attempting to quell
the Philippine insurrection.
A reasonable guess at the sum for tender
would be $4,000, 900, though it may fall
bslow that.
The Cuban question may come up again
Tomorrow. The American commission
ers had thought the decision on that point
finished, but the Spanish commissioners
are reported to have declared that tire
mortgages imposed by Spsin on the
Cubln, as well as on the Philippine reve-
nues, must not be impaired or question
ed. This would compel the American
commissioners scon-and probably to-
morrow to demand whether Spain
means to repudiate the plain compact Of
the protocol to relinquish sovereignty
over aud title to Cuba. Three weeks ago
the Spanish commissioners accepted the
ca ban article in the protocol without con-
ditions. save that its embodiment in the
treaty should depend only upon an agree
ment here on all the articles in the pro-
tocol.
Recently, however, Spain's representa-
tives have said that the Cuban matter
had veen only temporarily passed, and
was still in allegiance.