The age-herald., 1898-11-20
In Spot Cash the Amountof Pa- cifc Expenditures onIsland.
SHOULD SPAIN REFUSE THE OFFER
The Only Alternative for the United States is to Withdraw from the Negotiations and Resume the
 War in the Archipelago.

Paris, November 19-The American peace commission today have been closely en- gagged in formulating the terms of the im- portant communication to be made to the Spanish commissioners next week.
 It is impossible at present, however, to determine whether the work will be com pleted for presentation on Monday or Tues day, although 1t is believed the Americans will be ready on Monday.
 While the Americans fully appreciate the necessity of making progress, they are also under the necessity of taking great care in the preparation of what may possibly be the conclusive record of these negotiat ations
 The Spanish commissioners consumed week in the preparation of their last mem- orandum, but the Americans will not re- quire solong a time to complete the work in hand, and any present delay will ult- mately prove to be advantageous.
 The first proposition here from the United States commission to the Spaniards regarding the Philippine islands was not demand Being the subject under discus sion, the Americans merely submitted pro- posais to take over the Philippine islands and reimburse Spain for the amount spent by her thereon for the betterments
 Declined the Proposal
 opoih uctiiHcu tie leIIilS ana the proposal itself. Had she stopped there the United States would have been compelled to repeat the proposal as an ultimatum or to tender new terms. She, however, put off any con- sderation of terms by declaring that the United States had no right to impugne her sovereignty in the Philippines, her sover- eighty should pass the mortgages she had placed on the Philippine revenues, which must be underwritten, and that her dignity 1orbade her to heed any questions as to how. she had spent the loans so secured.
 The Anericans patiently replied that the peace conference wasycnarged with the dis position of the Philippines, and the sov- ereignty there. They laid down the broad principle that the expenses incurred in a 1utle attempt at subjuSating< shall not be loaded upon the colony seeking freedom.
 This postponed a discussion of the main question, but in their next memorandum the American commissioners will go to the vii tai point. Definite notice will be given that the United States will take over all the Philippines, and Spain will unauestionabiy learn the terms, from which there will be no deviation.
 It is more than likely that the Americans will fiatly summon Spain to effect immedi- ately amcable adjustments
 Should she refuse to make a treaty ced- ing the Philippines to the United States. the instant alternative for America will be the conquest of that territory at an in- creased cost to Spain in the final settle ment, and possibly with loss of Spanish life. It may be held that the Philippines. If ceded now without any terms, would be an inadequate indemnity to the United States for their war expenses already in- cured, and that Spain cannot expect as legal any monetary concessions.
 Barren of Territory
 Spain being barren of territory or cash to indemnify the United States fully even at this juncture she would be still less able to meet an additional expense to the Amer jeans in further operations in the Philip pines. Moreover, speedy adjustment of local Philippine conditions is demanded spain conid not in any circumstances effect this. The Americans have assumed re- sponsibility and they feel that delay here prevents them discharging it. It is fully realized that business interests in the United States are more less in a condi- tion of unrest pending definite peace con clusions, whether now or after renewed hostilities.
 Moreover although Spain affects to be- lieve otherwise, the quality of mercy is not absent from the situation. The American commissioners cannot fail to see with certain amount of pity the fading away of a once proud power. bereft of her colonies in the east and west. While Spain has no legal or moral right to ask the United States to be a partner in her losses, all here must recognize her territorial shrink -age, her lessened resources, her empty treasury and her debt bur6ened people They have of course, no power to express any such feeling of sympathy through the United States treasury but always assum- ing the interests of humanity to be concur rentlly served, qualification on the part of the Americans would follow relief to Spain.
 Spain must confront Philippine surren- der. May she not prefer acquiescence and some of the financial relief to protracted opposition and greater loss in the end? If she acquiesces, then peace will follow irn- mediately;<ff she does not, then the war will continue The question is simply this: Is spot peace worth spot cash?
 It is believed the American commissioners have been deliberating along this line, and that they are inclined to answer the ques- tion affirmatively. What the amount may be must obviously be unknown outside that ommssion-possibly s2O,00o,o0O probably less.
 FIRST WEEK'S SESSf0N lR THE