Evening star., 1898-11-05
WAS NOT DISAPPOINTING
SPANS Reply to Our Proposition Regard
ing the Philippines.
The Way Now Open to a Compromise
Between the Two Sides-A
Large Sum in Dispute.

The reports which the State Department
has received from the peace commission
ers in Paris indicate that that body has
preceded in exactly the line anticipated
consequently the action of yesterday was
not disappointment. II was fully ex-
pected that the Spanish commissioners
would endeavor to make better terms than
these offered by the American commits
sionefs. 1t was not expected that they
would close at once with the American
proposition. While they have not in exact
terms submitted a counter proposition. the
Spaniards, by entering upon the argument
of the American proposition have shown a
disposition to negotiate relative to the
philippines that has at once shown To be
erroneous The prediction that they would
Indignantly spurn any proposition that con-
templated REIMBURSEMENT of Spanish SOW
er7lSnty over the archipelago 1t is quite
pfobable that the way is now open to a
cen promise between the two sides and
that a monetary difference will be found TO
be the only one of substance.
The Money in Dispute.
This. it is believed. is represented by the
difference between about S40,U0u,Ol0 prob
ably the maximum allowance which the
United States will be willing 10 nav IN
Spain for the improvements IN the PhiIip-
pines. and s20o.ooo0oo which Represents
about the minimum of the Spanish claim
LOT compensation on account of the ces-
sion OF the entire group. With about SI59.-
oooco0 at stake in this issue. il will l,e
seen that there is fair reason tC eSpect
that the negotiations at Paris between The
two parties will not BE- speedily terminated
1t is freely admitted here that the presen-
tation of The Spanish objections to the
latest American proposal yesterday was
admirable in many respects. and evidenced
the possession of the keenest legal talent
by the Spanish siGe. Yet the objections
and points made were not new and were
IN most cases taken into consideration by
the persons who made up the United States
case before leaving Washington and duly
prepared for
The Occupation of Manila
The strongest point made by the Spanish
side relates to the taking of Manila two
days after the signing of the protocol in
this city, on which they base their assump
ton that the United States was not in
possession of any part of the Philippines
outside of the insignificant station at Ca
vite at the time hostilities ceased and we
were estopped legally from extending our
possessions But as against this conten-
ton 1t can be shown by the Americans
that, regardless of the exact date of the
surrender of Manila, Admiral Dewey afloat
lay for two months before the CITY while
for most of the time United States troops
were ashore near the Spanish positions,
anu tiide the toWh hHsfit nave Deen taken
at any moment during that period The
only restraining influence was a desire to
make sure before taking possession shat
the lives and property of the inhabitants
of the city should be safeguarded to the
utmost, and in reality the American forces
were much in possession of the place
then now.
This is only one illustration of the aryu-
ments that have been prepared to rebut
the Spanish contentious. and ii may be
stated that there are many other strong
points in reserve.
Secretary Hay visited tha White House
this afternoon. He said that the American
commissioners had not then telngraDheG
the text of the Spanish answer :o the de-
mands of this country. lie thcugnt 5hat
the delay was due to the translation of
the reply into English. This wouid have
to be done with great care.