Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1898-11-01
WILL TAKE ALL THE Stands.
American Peace Commission Presents
a Written Demand

q WllttCu OUuUuu
TO THE SPANISH COMMISSION FOR
THE CESSION OF THE ENTIRE
PHILIPPINE ARICHPELAGO-TH
JOINT MEETING LASTED ONLY
ABOUT AN HOUR, AND AID
JOURNMENT WAS TAKEN TILL
FRIDAY TO GIVE THE SPANISH
COMMISSIONERS TIME TO THINK
IT OvER-AMERICA TO ASSUME
ALL PARTS OF THE PHILIPPINE
DEBT WHICH REPRESENT
MONEY SPENT ON INTERNAL
IMPROVEMENTS
Paris, October 31.-The American
peace commissioners, eacn carrying
portfolio containing records and per-
sonal memoranda, left their headquarters
in the Continental Hotel for the meet
ing with the Spanish commissioners. al
the foreign office, shortly before one
O'Clock this afternoon. The president
OF the Spanish commission, Senior
Montero Rios. whose health at one tine
was so precariOuS as to threaten All IN
definite adjournment Of the sessions
the extent of enabling him TO attend
to-day's meeting. He arrived at the
foreign office in a closed carriage WIN
his colleagues shortly after the Amerl-
cans reached the meeting place.
Shortly after 2 o'clock the ten COM
missiolers frCnted each other across the
table on which. in 1888. benjamin
Franklin and his colleagues signed the
treaty of independence of the United
States.
With flying clouds. f1tful sunshine,
whirling leaves and raw air, the Amer
leans were removing their wraps Wnen
the Spariards entered the ante-room
and polite and cordial greetings were
exchanged as the two groups, com
mingling, passed through the grand
salon, where buffet was spread, and
entered the conference chamber, IN
which, before leaving, the Spaiards
would learn the attitude of the United
States
TOWARD THE PHILIPPINES.
Secretary Moore, upon the request
of Judge Day, passed to Mr.. Ferguson,
the interpreter, the formulated de-
mands of the United States regarding
the Philippines, which were read to
the Spaniards in their own tongue by
rapid rendering from the English in
which they were written. Although
the Spanish commissioners did not be-
tray anxiety, their attention to the
reading was keen. They had antlclpa-
ted that the United States would take
over the islands. but the terms and
details of the transfer had all along
been a subject of speculation.
Reading disclosed the fact that the
United States government had deter
mined to possess for itself certain ter
ritory and parts of land bound by and
lying within parallels of latitude and
longitude as mark the limits of the
Philippine archipelago The United
States do not purpose assuming the
Philippine debt of S40,000000 but they
are willing to be responsible to Spain
for a sum of money equal to the actual
expenditures by Spain in the Philip
pines for the advantage of the Islands
and for the good of the people, for per-
manent betterments and for improve
ments, both physical and mental.
The reading of the presentment spec
ifies that the United States Will rTGPa-
burse Spain to the matte nate in the arch
| c.ific4 ga6I. This phrase pacific expendi-
lures" Is employed to differentiate the
expenditures by Spain in combating
instructions in the Philippines.
Such is the vital portion Of the pre-
sentiment made by the American COM
missioners to-day and it is to be OBJ
served that while the main PROPOSE
ton as to possession and
FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
is clear and definite many details have
been left to the development of the
discussion between the two commits
sions. Thus, while the Spaniards are
tonight quite certain that the United
States intend to reimburse them for
Pacific expenditures" they remark
that they are not enlightened as to
whether the Americans expect to in
dorse the Spanish obligations to the
extent of 'tPacific exnenditures' in the
archipelago. or whether they will hand
Spain a sum of gold large enough to
cover SPANS outlay so designated.
Possibly the American commissioners
themselves are not at this moment fully
determined on this point. It is unlike
". however, that the Americans will
care to become identified in the slight
est degree with Snain in her respon-
sibility to her creditors. The clearer
method seems to be hand to Spain some
SPOT cash or something as good and to
bid her apply it on her debts by what
ever name known or to put it in her
wallet for whatever use she may elect
While the United tSates have desig-
mated Pacific expenditures as those
they will reimburse to Spain. the pre-
sentiment of the American commits
sioners to-day did not demand either
a schedule or an inventory of ne
same from the Spaniards. But re
suggestion naturally raises an inqr,1y
as to the kind nd quantity Of Spain s
pacific expenditures" in the Philip
pines and some light may be given on
that tomorrow.
There is considerable traffic between
the islands and some time ago a sys-
tenn of lighthouses became necessary.
Spain set out to supply this and pro-
iected AZ light stations. OF these she
has already constructed II of the first
class and 16 Of the second.
WHAT THEY COST
is not vet known here, but in Ameri- |
can waters those Of the frst-class cost
from go. 5000 to s250,000 each. so that
on an average basis if the minimum
cost in the United States, SPANS thir-
ty-three lighthouses may represent an