The record-union., 1898-11-01

val Operation.
PARIS, Oct. 31.-The American
Peace Commissioners, each carrying
portfolio containing records and per-
sonaI memoranda left their headquar-
ters in the Continental Hotel for the
meeting with the Spanish Commission
ers at the Foreign Office, shortly be-
fore o'clock this afternoon
The President of the Spanish Com
mission, Senior Montero Rios, whose
health at one time was so precarious
as to threaten an indefinite adjourn
ment of the sessions of the commission,
had improved to the extent of enabling
him to attend to-day's meeting. He
arrived at the Foreign Office in a
closed carriage with his colleagues.
Shortly after 2 O'Clock the Commits
sioners confronted each other across
the table on which, in 177S, Benjamin
Franklin and his colleagues signed the
Treaty of Independence of the United
States.
The Americans were removing their
wraps when the Spaniards entered the
ante-room, and polite and cordial
greetings were exchanged as the two
groups, co-mingling, passed through
the grand salon, where a buffet was
spread, and entered the conference
chamber, in which, before leaving, the
Spaniards would learn the attitude of
the United States toward the Philip
pines.
The Spanish Commissioners took
their accustomed places at the historic
table, the afternoon light full in their
faces, while the Americans ranged
themselves opposite, with their backs
to the light, and with the interpreter
standing at the end of the table. on
the right of Judge Day and the left
of Senor Montero Rios, and between
the two Secretaries, Mr.. Moore and
Senor- Ojeda-
Upon the request of Judge Day,
Secretary Moore passed to Mr. Fergu-
son, the interpreter, the formulated de-
ms ids of the United States regardins 5
the Philippines, which were read to
the SDaniards in their own tongue by
a rapid rendering from the English,
in which they were written. Although
the Spanish commissioners did not be-
tray their anxiety, their attention to
the reading was keen. They had an
ticipated that the United States would
take over the islands, but the terms
and details of the transfer had all
along been a subject of speculation.
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
latitude and longitude as mark the
limits of the Philippine archipelago.
The United States do not purpose as
suming the Philippine debt of $4,000
600, but they are willing to be response
bic to Spain for a sum of money equal
to the actual expenditures by Spain
II the Philippines for the advantage
of the islands and for the good of their
people, for permanent betterments,
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-
peLditures' is employed to differentiate
the expenditures by Spain in combat
ing instructions in the Philippines.
The one is felt by the Commissioners
to be a fair burden on the acquiring
of 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 re-
sorting TO arms to enforce orders in
its own territory.
Such is the vital portion of the pre-
sentiment made by the American Com
missioners to-day, and it is to be OBJ
served that while the main PROPOSE
tion as to possession and financial re-
sponsibility is clear and definite, many
details have been left to the develop
ments of the discussions between the
two commissions. Thus, while the
Spaniards are tonight quite certain
that the United States intend to re-
imburse them for pacific expendi-
lures" they remark that they are not
enlightened as to whether the Ameri-
cans expect to indorse the Spanish OBJ
legations TO the extent of e.paCific eA-
penditures" in the archipelago, ol
whether they will hand Spain a lumI
sum of gold large enough to cover the
Spanish outlay so designated.
Possibly the American Commission.
efs themselves are not at this moment
fully determined on this point. It is
unlikely, however, that the Americans
will care to become identified in tbs
sponsibility to her creditors This
clearer method seems to be to hand tt
Spain spot cash, or something as good
and to bid her apply it on her debt.
by whatever name known, or to put i
in her wallet for whatever use she may
elect.
While the United States have desig
mated pacific expenditures" as thos'
they will reimburse to Spain, the pre-
sentiment Of the american Commission
ers to-day did aot demand either
schedule or an inventory of the sam'
from the Spaniards. But the sugges
ton naturally raises an inquiry as t,
the kind and quantity of Spain's pa
cific expenditures in the Philippines
and some light may be given on tina
matter now.
- There is considerable traffic betweel
the islands, and some time ago a sys
tenn of lighthouses became necessary
Spain set out to supply this, and pro
jected forty-eight light stations. Q
these she has already constructe'
seventeen of the first and sixteen of tn