The Mena star., 1898-11-02
ANOTHER SAD DAY.
Spain Informed That Uncle Sam
Will Take All the Philippines.
We VIII As.ume NO Debts Incurred for
Military Operations = what tn. Acqut-
sitios Means tn tise United ststss--
Britirh Pau~r. Pleased.

sitios Mesas tn tise United ststss--
Bri,irh Pau~r. Pleased.
-
Paris, Nov. /. The American COM
missioners at yesterdays joint session
presented a written expression of the
purpose of the United States to take
the entire group OF Philippine islands
and to assume such proportion of the
Philippine debt as has been spent for
the benefit of the Islands or their in
habitants in public works, improve
rnentss and permanent betterments.
1t was also set forth that the United
States would not assume any part of
the Philippine debt which had been
incurred by Spain for the furtherance
of military or naval operations 70 quell
instructions Of the natives. The ses-
sion was adjourned until Friday, in
order to give the Spaniards time to
prepare reply. The session lasted
little over an hour.
The reading disclosed the fact that
the United States government had de-
termined to possess for itself certain
territory and parts of land bounded by
and lying within such parallels of lat
itnde and longitude ms mark the iim-
its of the Philippine archipelago. The
United States do not purpose assuming
the Philippine debt OF $40, 600. 600. but
they are willing to be responsible to
Spain for sum of money equal to the
actual expenditures by Spain in the
Philippines for the advantage of the
islands and for the good of their pc ople,
f<- \ a
provements, both physical and mental
The reading of the presentment
specifies that the United States will
reimburse Spain TO the extent of her
''pacific expenditures made in the
archipelago This phrase, pacific ex-
penditures," is employed to differen-
tiate the expenditures by Spain in
com mbatting insurrections in the Phil
ippines- The one is felt by the Amer
lean commissioners to be be fair bur-
den on the acquiring power, while the
other and latter class Of expenditures
is held to have been logically assumed
by Spain in the inevitable hazard to
a nation resorting to arms to enforce
order in its own territory.
| Officials who have looked into the
matter believe that the permanent
possession of the islands will result in
the development of the trade of the
| United States to an extraordinary de-
gree, not alone with the islands them
selves, but with all the countries of
the Orient, which will thus be brought
into close neighborhood with this
country.
With the Hawaiian islands, the La
drones and the PHILIPPINES in her
possession, the United States stands in
position to become the predominant
ing commercial and naval power of
the Pacific. That the islands can be
made to quickly repay to the United
! treasury the amount to be given
for them if il is made direct and
specific charge upon their revenues is
not for mement doubted by the
administration authorities Under
Spanish rule the revenues of the Phil
ippincs averaged about $iS,000,00 a
year, but the presidents friends think
the islands, if developed and honestly
governed, would yield $50, 900, 900 easily
after year or two.
1t Piea<es the Briti.h.
London, Nov. 1.-The Times, edi-
torially, this morning expresses its
frank satisfaction at the decision of
the United States commissioners to
take the Philippine islands. 1t says:
The arrangement is undoubtedly the best
that could be made for both the inhabitants
and for all interested in the trade and progress
OF the far east Upon this point, rs upon
others. Spain has no choice but to yield since
her warmest partsans no longer maintain that
she has either the means or the wish to renew
the war. The same irresistible logic OF facts
controls the question OF the Cuban debt The
United States can dictate their own terms At
the same time, we are bound to draw attention
to the serious consequences of the policy upon
which the American delegates have insisted.
The Usuai Feeling In Madrid.
Madrid, Nov. 1.-The news that the
Spanish peace commissioners at Paris
had referred to the government a
formal demand of the American COM
missioners for the absolute cession of
the entire Philippine group caused
the greatest surprise in Madrid. The
strongest feeling prevails that the
government should protest energet-
ically against what is regarded as a
| violation of the spirit of the protocol.