Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1898-11-10
REPLY TO THE DONS.
United States Commissioners
Rejoinder to Last Weeks
Spanish Presentment.
ALL MAIN TISSUES ooNTRovERFED.

Discussion of the Disposition of the Phil
ippines Involving Spain's Sovereignty
Insisted Coming Within the Terms of
the ProtocoI-Rather Thin Spanish Ex-
cuse Explaining the Failure of Tues
days Meeting War Investigators Leave
Chicago for Detroit.
Paris, Nov. 10.-Yesterday's session OF
the peace commissions began at 2:15 p.
m, and ended at p. m. When the
meeting opened the Americans pre-
scented to their Spanish colleagues the
reply of the United States to the claims
submitted on Friday last in behalf of
Spain. The document in which the
American reply was set forth consisted
of nearly fifty sheets of typewriter
matter. 1t denies the Spanish allega-
ton that because the words posses
sion," ownership" or ''cession," do not
occur in the protocol clause touching
upon the Philippine islands the peace
commissions have no right to discuss
them here; and that even if they did so
it must be in the light of the alleged
fact of an exterior agreement that
SpaiI's sovereignty should not be i'm
paired.
Restitution of Public Money.
The Americans also replied TO SPANS
claim for the restitution to her of public
money. and customs collections taken
by United States officials since the
capitulation of Manila, and also to
SPANS claim for an indemnity on ac-
count of the alleged Imprisonment by
United States authorities of Spanish
troops at Manila, and for their subse-
quent restrG4nt from being of service
to Spain in the suppression of the in
surrection and the preservation of prop
erty. To these points the Americans
had prepared an exhaustive reply Tues
day. which though not fully typewriter
at p. m, the time fixed for the meet
ing that day, would have been submit
ted to the Spaniards at .. m, had it
not been that .the commissioners of
Spain refused to meet at that hour
pleading other engagements as an e2-
cuse for their refusal.
Was RATHER Curious Proceedings.
The Americans are surprised that the
Spaniards made unalterable engage
r1ents for 4 o'clock, in. view of the fact
that the meeting, had it occurred, might
have extended, as has frequently hap
pened, until past 4 o'clock. The Ameri-
can commissioners held that there was
justification, under the terms of the
protocol, for the discussion of the flu
ture of the Philippine islands, and they
also claimed that the occupation of Ma
Mia is a military occupation. which
justifies the United States in collecting
the revenues, administering the govern
ment, anG exercising all the functions
of possession.
Session Adjourned to Saturday.
The joint session was short because
Senior Montero Rios and Judge Day con-
CURED in the service of the American
rejoinder upon the Spanish commits
sioners without formal reading of the
paper. which would occupy many col
umns in an ordinary newspaper, and an
adjournment was taken until Satur-
day. 1t is quite safe to say that the
Americans have made no new PROPOSE
tions regarding the possession of the
Philippines, but confined themselves to
a discussion of the proposals and as
sertions made by Spain at the previous
meeting.