The herald., 1898-11-01
DELIBERATE DECISION
Is Reached After Long and Careful
Consideration

WASHINGTON, Oct. 31.-The advices to
the effect that the American Commission
crs have determined to demand the cession
to the United States OF the entire Philip
pine group is in line with the instructions
that have been issued to the representa-
tives OF the United States. Up to very
recent date the United States Commission
ers had no precise Instructions on this very
Important point. Of course, before they
departed from Washington much consd-
Grafton had been given to this vital ques-
ton by the President, Secretary Day and
the other members of the commission. There
was, however, lack OF data as to the finan-
cial and political affairs Of the Philippines,
and so it happened that when the United
States Commissioners sailed they were not
committed beyond change to any line Of
policy. a majority of their number leaned
toward restriction of the demands to be
put forth as to the Philippines, varying all
the way from the retention of Manila Bay
And the immediate surrounding country, to
the acquisition of the whole island of Luzon.
lhe President Is now disposed to defer
to the evident sentiment Of the American
people in favor of retention of the entire
Philippine group. Besides, there is ground
to believe that in an unofficial manner
through informal communication with
Agoncillo, ;Aguinaldos agent in Paris; or,
perhaps through some direct dealing be-
tween that chieftain and Admiral Dewey,
the United States Commissioners have sat-
ished 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.
| II this be SO, then there has been removed
| as factor in the calculations one of the
most disturbing elements, for it could
scarcely be contemplated with equanimity
| that our government, after having expelled
| the Spaniards, should willingly be placed
| In the DOSltlOn of n 70
unwilling people.
1t cannot be learned definitely what
money consideration is to pass with the title
to the Philippines. Indeed, there is reason
to believe that even the United States Peace
Commissioners have not yet been able to fix
the amount exactly. Assuming that they are
to, repudlate all portions of the debt of the
islands which do not represent money spent
for the betterment of the islands, it will be
seen at once that the task presented to the
| commission of differentating this debt is
not an easy one, particularly in view of the
notoriously loose financial methods of the
Spanish colonial authorities That this debt
| should be assumed by the United States in
some proportion is said at the State Depart
ment to be inevitable if annexation is to
| follow. The conditions presented are entire
| ly unlike those in Cuba
In the latter case there was justification
in international law and precedent for our
refusal to be saddled with the debt when
we had received no tangible asset. But, in
the case of the Philippines, rich and well
populated, the United States would acquire
what in the eyes of the world is most val
liable possession and it is believed that the
holders of all government obligations, with
out regard to nationality. would insist that
the lien should pass with the property
Quite unofficially, but in a mann er to car
~ conviction as to the accuracy OF the in
formation, the Spanish commissioners some
days ago were allowed to know what the
United States purposed as to the Philip
pines, once the conclusion was arrived at.
prise by the demand presented today at
Paris.