Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1898-11-01
DEAL IN REAL ESTATE
Proposed to the Spaniards by the
United States Peace Com.
missioners at Paris.
INVOLVES ALL OF THEPHILIPPINEs

| Consideration the Only Thing Left To Be
Discussed - President Decided in His
Course by the Voice of the People for
| Expansion-U Uncle Sam to Pay Only the
Value OF Spain's Pacific Expenditure
siaso's Address to the Cubans.
Washington Nov l. - The advices
from Paris to the effect that the United
| States commissioners have demanded
the cession to the United States of the
| entire Philippine group are in line with
| the instructions that have been issued to
the representatives of the United States.
Up to a very recent date the United
States commissioners had no precise in
structions on this vital point. There
was lack of data to the financial
and political affairs of the Philippines,
and so it happened that when the COM
missioners sailed they We're not COM
mitted beyond change to any line of
policy. A majority of the numbers
leaned towards a restriction of the de-
mands to be put forth as to the Philip
pines. varying all the way from the re-
tention of Manila bay and the immedi-
ate surrounding country to the ac-
4uisition of the whole island of Luzon-
Listened TO the Popular Demand
That represented about the extreme
demand that was in mind when the
commission left. But since that time
the president has become convinced that
there is a great popular demand for the
annexation to the United States of the
whole Philippine group, and he is dis
posed to defer to that sentiment. Be
sides. there is ground to believe that in
an unofficial manner, possibly through
informal communication with Aguin-
aldo's agent in Paris, or perhaps
through some direct dealing between
that chieftain and Admiral Dewey, the
United States commissioners have salts
fed themselves that the difficulties in
the way of annexation, so far as they
might be expected to depend upon the
will of the natives, have been very much
exaggerated.
Proposition Read at Paris.
The question of money consideration
is the one upon which the difficulty is
expected. Dispatches from Paris yes
tercay stated that the commissions held
a joint meeting of two hours duration
at which the American commission pre-
sented its proposition regarding the
Philippines. The United States PROPOSE
tion was to the effect that the United
States government had determined to
possess for itself certain territory and
parts of land bound by and lying within
such parallels of latitude and longitude |
as mark the limits of the Philippine |
archipelago The United States do not |
purpose assuming the Philippine debt |
of $4,000. 600. but they are willing to be |
responsible to Spain for a sum of money |
equal to the actual expenditures by |
Spain in the Philippines for the ad- |
vantage of the islands and for the good |
of their people, for permanent better |
ments and for improvements, both ply !
sical and mental.
Reimbursement of Pacific Expenses"
The presentment specifies that the |
United States will reimburse Spain to |
the extent of her pacific expenditures
made in the archipelago This phrase
pacific expenditures" is employed to /
differentiate the expenditures by
Spain in combating Instructions in |
the Philippines. The one is felt by the
American commissioners to be a fair
burden 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 or
der in its own territory. What are
pacific expenditures" will cause con-
troversy, as they were not defined. But
it may be accepted that they include
money expended forlighthouses, schools.
breakwaters. and perhaps the naval
station at Cavite.
The Spanish commissioners listened |
attentively, though not without some
evidences of impatience and surprise at
the financial suggestions in the Amer
lean presentment, and finally asked un-
til Friday to consult the Madrid gov
ernment and make reply. Adjournment
was then taken to that day. After the
conference was dissolved. the Spanish |
expressed the opinion
that the American demand vyOuid create !
in Spain. as it had upon her commits
an exceedingly grave impress
sion. Were the Spanish commissioners
pushed to a final determination now
they would reject the American de-
mands. but the changing tone of the
Spanish press recently urges the con-
summation OF a treaty of peace. how
ever rigorous, the argument being that
the Spaniards bow to the
American demands the commissioners
do not acknowledge the justice or admit
the legality of them