The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-11-10
NO NEW PROPOSITION MADE
ATTITUDE TAKEN BY THE UNITED
STATES LAST WEEK MAINTAINED.
Terms of the RejOinder Not Made
Pub1ic-NO Reservation by Spain
When the Protocol Was Signed.

Spanish colleagues the answer Of the United
States to the claims submitted on Friday
last in behalf of Spain. The document in
which the American answer was set forth
consisted of nearly fifty sheets of type
written matter. 1t was a refutation of the
Spanish allegation that because the words
possession, ownership" or "cession'' do
not occur in the protocol clause touching on
the Philippine islands the peace commits
sions have no right to discuss them here.
The Americans also answered Spain's claim
for the restitution to her of public money
and customs collections taken by United
States officials since the capitulation of
Manila and made reply to Spains claim for
an indemnity on account of the alleged i'm
prisonment by United States authorities of
Spanish troops of Manila and for their sub
sequent restraint from being of service to
Spain in the suppression of the instruction
and the preservation of property.
To these points the Americans had pre-
pared an exhaustive reply yesterday which,
though not fully typewriter at p. M, the
time fixed for the meeting of Tuesday,
would have been submitted to the Spaniards
at p. m. yesterday had it not been that
the commissioners of Spain refused to meet
at that hour, pleading other engagements
as an excuse for their refusal The Ameri-
cans are surprised that the Spaniards made
unalterable engagements in view of the
fact that the meeting, had it occurred,
might have been extended, as has frequently
happened, until past o'clock. The Ameri-
can commissioners held that there was justi-
fcation, under the terms of the protocol, for
the discussion of the future of the Philip
pine islands and they also claimed that the
occupation of Manila is military occupa-
ton which justifies the United States in col
Letting the revenues administering the gov
eminent and exercising all the functions of
possession.
WITHOUT FORMAL READING.
The joint session was short because Senior
Montero Rios and Judge Day concurred in
the service of the American rejoinder upon
the Spanish commissioners without 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 to say that the Americans
have made no new propositions regarding
the possession of the Philippines, but con-
fined themselves to a discussion of the pro-
posals and assertions made by Spain at the
previous meeting. Just what were the terms
of the American rejoinder cannot, of course
sertions here to the contrary, there is no
ground, as has already been cabled, for
the Spanish contention that the United
States acquiesced at the signing of the pro-
tocol in some reservation by Spain of her
Philippine sovereignty. This utterly I'M
founded rumor is now quite we'll understood
| to have come from a high source not in
sympathy with the United States. The
facts Of the case are these: On July 26 last
the Washington government received from
Spain an inquiry as to the basis on which
the war might be terminated. Four days
later or Whereabouts the information was
forthcoming in a response embodying the
terms of the protocol, save for the use in
the Philippine paragraph of the word pos
session" Before the response was formal
iy presented to NJ. Cambon, Spain's repre-
sentative in Washington, he suggested the
substitution of the word disposition The
UNITED States government acquiesced. The
substitution was made, the formal response
was delivered to NJ. Cambon, who for
warded it to Madrid, and on or about Aug
Z Spain forwarded her reply, which, as af-
fecting the Philippine question: was evasive
or ambiguous.
1.-THE terms relating to the Philippines"
said the Spanish government, seem to our
understanding quite indefinite. On the one
hand the ground on which the United States
believe themselves entitled to occupy the
bay harbor and city of Manila pending the
conclusion of a treaty of peace cannot be
that of conquest, since, in spite of the
blockade maintained on the sea by the
American fleet and in spite of the siege es-
tablished on, land by a native force sup
ported and provided for by an American adj
v,,tc
Spanish standard still waves over the city.
On the other hand, the whole archipelago
of the Philippines is in the power and I'M
der the sovereignty of Spain. Therefore
the government of Spain thinks that the
temporary occupation of Manila should con-
stitute a guaranty. 1t is asserted that the
treaty of peace shall determine the control
disposition and government of the Philip
pines, but as the intentions of the federal
government by repression remain yelled the
Spanish government must, therefore de-
clare that, while accepting the third condi-
ton, they do not a priori renounce the
sovereignty of Spain over the archipelago
leaving it TO the negotiators to agree as to
such reforms as the conditions of these pos
sessions and the level of the culture of their
natives may render desirable. The govern
ment of her Majesty accepts the third con-
dition with the above mentioned declara-
tons"
DEEMED UNSATISFAC Glory.
This part of Spain's note was deemed I'M
satisfactory at Washington as calculated to
breed misunderstanding. and, if left unchaI-
lenged, as holding exactly the possibilities
of dissension which it is now sought to in
troduce into the negotiations here The fed
eral authorities, therefore on or about Aug,
10 addressed to NJ. Cambon a communica-
ton pointing out that while the foregoiney
utterances from Madrid were understood by
him to convey SPANS acceptance of the
terms of peace, the acceptance was not en-
tirely explicit, and that the most direct
and certain way of avoiding misunderstand-
ings was to embody in a protocol the terms
on which the negotiations for peace were to
be undertaken.
Along with this note was sent to NJ. Cam
bon q protocol embodying the precise terms
rendered to Spain IN the American commune
cation of July 80, or thereabouts Imme-
diately upon receiving them NJ Cambon
transmitted the protocol TO Madrid accom-
panied with message from himself clearly
showing that the French ambassador knew
the United States government did not res
gard SPANS response to the peace terms as
satisfactory or acceptable.
NJ Cambon's message to Spain was as
follows: The federal government has de-
tocoi the basis upon which the peace nego-
tiations must in their judgment be entered