The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1898-09-30
SPANS ARTFULNESS
Bait to Draw Out the Views Of the
American Commissioners.
EUROPEAN INTERFERENCE INVITED.
The Spanish Peace Commissioners Directed
to Make . Firm Stand Regarding thu
Cuban Debt and the Philip
pine Loan.

Washington, Sept. 28-The freedom
with which the Spanish minister for
foreign affairs, the Duke AImodovaT
del Rio, has given publicity to the in
structions to the Spanish peace com
missiOners as to the disposition of the
Philippines has given rise to the sus-
pieion among the officials here that
there is behind It a deliberate purpose
to draw out in advance the position of
the American commissioners on this
most important point. It's noted now
that heretofore the Spanish govern
ment has waited upon the United
States to make each of the steps to-
ward final peace before making a move
on their side, so that this sudden
change in policy is accounted for only
On the ground stated.
There is, besides this apparent pur-
pose, a yelled threat in the last in
struction 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, that Spain may
see fit to make. This is believed to be
an invitation to some of the CONT
mental powers to step forward in sup
port Of Spain in this extremity, in the
hope Of receiving. as a guild pro quo,
some one Of the Philippines as a coal
ing or naval station
Although the American peace com
missiOners have so far successfully re-
sisted all attempts to ascertain the
exact nature of their instructions,
something is known of their general
character and it may be stated on this
= ~ H. L
the Philippines as are not held by the
United States that, while the president
has nowhere directly admitted any
obligation to the insurgents, yet so
long as they carry out their part and
avoid a rupture at Manila, he feels
that in any arrangement that shall
be made by the peace commission for
the final disposition Of the islands,
the insurgents shall not be placed at
the mercy Of the Spanish government
without guarantees for their proper
treatment By an extension of this
same view it IS unlikely that he would
care to allow them to be turned over
70 another power that might oppres-
sively treat them and especially with
out the consent Of the natives
1t is noted at the state department
that the Spanish minister for foreign
affairs is reported to have directed the
Spanish peace commissioners ito make
a firm stand regarding the Cnban debt
and the Philippine loan Of 1896, If
LuzOn is ceded TO America" So far as
the Philippine loan is concerned, that
subject might properly come before
2 the peace commission But Judge
Day, the president Of the American
commission, just before his departure,
IN answer to a question as to whether
any matters relative to Cuba would
come before the commission, pointed
to the language Of the protocol to show
that the proper function of the COM
mission was to be found IN the dispo-
sitiOn Of the future Of the Philippine
islands, intimating that no question
touching Cuba in any phrase would be
considered By the commission. The
understanding was conveyed, cOnse-
Quently, that the Cuban debt would
figure in no fashion before the COM
mission, If the American commission
ers could prevent it, although it was
fully expected that the Spanish com
missioners would make an effort to
bring that subject into the delibera-
tiOns Of the body.