The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1898-09-28
ATTITUDE OF SPAIN.
Duke Amodavar dc Rio Has Put
America on Notice.
DISPOSITION or HE PHILIPPINES
Az Effort to Draw Out the Policy
Of the Uniled States.
A YELLED THREAT is MADE.
Efforts Will BE Made TO Involve
Some 0iher row.r.
HE AMERICANS Will REMAIN FIRM
Foreign Interference VIII Not lie
TOIcrntcd-Thc Cuban Debt WIN
Not Even He Considered.
Efforts Mill BE Made TO Involve
Some Oiher puw:r.
He AMERICANS Will REMAIN FIRM

Washington. September 27.-The frce
dom with which the Spanish minister for
foreign affairs, the Duke Alnoda>ar de
Rio. has given publicity to the instTuc-
tons to the Spanish peace commissioners
as to the disposition of The Philippines has
given rise to the suspicioa among the OFF,
cials here that there is bohlud it deiber
position OF TIE American commissioners 10
this most important point. 1t is uotel now
that the Spanish government has waited
on the United States to make each of the
steps toward fnal peace before making n
move on their side. so that there should
be some change in policy, which is ac-
counted for on the ground stated. There Is
besides this apparent purpose yelled
threat in the last instruction not under
any circumstances to allow the United
States to interfere with any disposition OF
the islands outside OF those retained by
the United States, such as Luzon thst
Spain may see At to make. This is be-
lieved to be an invitation to some OF the
continental powers to step forward In sup
port of Spain in this extremity in the hope
OF receiving as a ''quid pro quo" some OF
the Philippines as coaling or naval sta
ton.
Although the American peace commits
sioners have so far successfully resisted all
| attempts to ascertain the exact nature of
their instructions, something is known of
their general character and 1t may be
stated on this point that the final DISPOSE
ton OF such of the Philippines as are not
held by the United States. while the presi-
dent has nowhere recently admitted any
| obligation to the insurgents, yet so long as
! they carry out their part ar,i avoid a rup-
ture with our forces at Manila, nc feels
| that in any arrangement that shall be
| made by the peace commission for the final
| dlsI ositon OF the Islands the insurgents
| shall not be placed at the mercy q the
| Spanish government without guarantee for
their proper treatment BY an extsnsion of
this same view It is unlikely that he would
| care to allow them to Re turned over to
| another power that might oppressively
ueat them. aud especially without the
consent OF the natives. Then there are, as
the naval experts have pointed out, strong
strategic reasons why the United States
should refuse TO sanction the cession OF
any of the Philippine islands to any other
| nation to serve as naval base
| 1t has been explained to the American
peace commissioners that by the posses
sion OF the island OF Luzon on the north
and the island OF Palawan on the south
the Unitei States would control the great
gateway for the large traffic that passes
between China and Australia. II is noted
at the state department that the Spanish
minister for foreign affairs Is reported TO
have directed the Spanish peace commits
sioners ito make q firm stand regarding
the Cuban debt and tire Philippine loan of
1896, II Luzon is coded to America"
So far as the Philippine loan is con-
cerned that subject might properly come
before the peace commission. But Judge
Day, the president Of the American COM
mission, just before his departure in an
| swer to a question as TO whether any mat
tens relstive to Cuba would come before
the commission, pointed to the language
| OF the protocol 10 show that the proper
| function Of the commission was to be found
| in the disposal OF the future OF the Philip
pines intimsting that no question touch
| Ing Cuba in any phase would be considered
by the commission. The understanding
was conveyed correctly that the Cuban
| debt would figure in no fashion before the
! commission II the American commission