The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-11-01
DONS NOTIFIED
ALL THE PHILIPPINES TO BE RE-
TANNED BY THE UNITED STATES.
Formal Announcement Made by
Americans Yesterday at the joint
Meeting OF Peace Commissions.
PART OF DEBT TO BE ASSUMED
ONLY THAT PORTION INCURRED FOR
BENEFIT OF THE ISLANDS.
Money Spent in Military or Naval OPP
erations Against the Natives VIII
Not he Reimbursed.
REPLY EXPECTED FRIDAY
WHEN THE COMMISSIONS WILL MEET
IN JOINT SESSION AGAIN.
Annexation Probably Favored by
AguinaIdO and His FOIIOwers-Sur-
Money Spent in Military or Naval OPP
erations Against the Natives VIII
Not he Reimbursed.
REPLY EXPECTED FRIDAY
WHEN THE COMMISSIONS WILL MEET
IN JOINT SESSION AGAIN.
Annexation Probably Favored by
AguinaIdO and His FOIIOwers-Sur-
prise Expressed at Madrid.

PARIS, Oct. S1.-It was officially made
known to-day that the United States in
tends to retain all the Philippine islands.
At the joint meeting of the peace commits
sions this afternoon the American members
presented written expression OF the pur-
pose Of the United States to take the entire
group and ASSUME such proportion of the
Philippine debt as has been spent for the
benefit of the islands or their inhabitants,
in public works, Improvements and perma-
nent betterments. 1t was also set forth that
the United States would not assume any
part of the Philippine debt which had been
incurred by Spain for the furtherance of
military or naval operations to quell insur-
rection of the natives.
The american commissioners, each carry
ing a portfolio containing records and per-
sonal memoranda, left their headquarters
in the Continental Hotel for the meeting
with the Spanish commissioners at the
Foreign Office shortly before 2 o'clock this
afternoon. The president of the Spanish
commission, Senior Montero Rios, whose
health at one time was so precarious as to
threaten indefinite adjournment Of the
sessions of the commissions, had improved
to the extent of enabling him to attend to-
days meeting. He arrived at the Foreign
Office in closed carriage with his col
leagues. shortly after the Americans
reached the place. Shortly after 2 o'clock
the ten commissioners confronted each 9TH
er across the table on which. in 1888, Benja-
min Franklin and his colleagues signed the
treaty Of Independence of the United States
Secretary Moore, upon the request of
Judge Day, passed to Mr.. Ferguson, the in
terpreter the formulated demands of the
United States regarding the Philippines,
which We're read to the Spaniards in their
own tongue by a rapid rendering from the
English, in which they were written. AL
though the Spanish commissioners did not
betray anxiety, their attention to the read
ing was keen. They had anticipated that
the United States would take over the ISL
ands but the terms and details of the trans
fer had all along been a subject of specula-
tion.
DEMANDS OF AMERICANS.
The reading disclosed the fact 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 archipela-
go. The United States does not propose as
suming the Philippine debt of $4OOOO,OOO, but
it is willing, as previously stated, to be re-
sponsible to Spain for a sum of money
equal to the actual expenditures by Spain
in the Philippines for the advantage of the
islands and for the good of their people,
for permanent betterments and for improve
ments, both physical and mental. The read
ing of the presentment specifies that the
United States will reimburse Spain to the
extent of her pacific expenditures" made
in the. archipelago This phrase pacific ex-
penditures'' is employed to differentiate the
expenditures of Spain in combating insur-
rections 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 nation
resorting to arms to enforce order in its
own territory
Such is the vital portion of the present.
ment made by the American commissioners
to-day, and it is to be observed that, while
the main proposition as to possession and
financial responsibility is clear and definite.
many details have been left to the develop-
ments OF the discussion between the two
commissions. Thus, while the Spaniards are
tonight quite certain that the United States
intends to reimburse them for "pacitic ex
penditures,'' they remark that they are not
enlightened as to whether the Americans
expect to indorse the Spanish obligations
to the extent of pacific expenditures in the
archipelago, or whether they will hand
Spain lump sum of gold large enough to
cover Spains outlay designated Posi-
bly, the American commissioners themselves
are not at this moment fully determined on
this point III is unlikely, however that the
Americans win care 20 become identified in
the slightest degree with Spain in her re-
sponsibiAty to her creditors The clearer
method seems to be to hand to Spain SPOT
cash. or something as good, and bid her
apply it on her debts by whatever name
known or put it in her wallet for whatever
use she may select.
PACIFIC EXPENDITURES.
While the United States has DESIGNATED
pacihc expenditures as those it will re-
imburse TO Spain. the presentment of the
American commissioners to-day did not de-
mand either a schedule or an inventory of
the same from the Spaniards. But the sug-
gestion naturally raises an inquiry as to the
kind and quantity of Spains pacific ex-
penditures" in the Philippines and some
light may be given on that matter now.
There is considerable traffic between the ISL
ands and some time ago a system of light
houses became necessary Spain set out 10
supply this and projected forty-eight light
stations. OF these she has already con-
structed seventeen of ...e first class and six
teen Of the second. What they cost is not
yet known here, but in American waters
those of the first class cost from 81, 900 to
$4,000 each so that. on an average basis
OF the minimum cost in the United States
6pain's thirty-three lighthouses may repre-
sent an outlay OF $4,000