The Portland daily press., 1898-11-21
THE QUESTION.
1t is Said to be Spot Peace for Spot
Cash.

1t is Said to be Spot Peace for Spot
Cash.
a .naricans Will Offer Not Over Twenty
Millions-spain Must Make Up Her
Mind at Once.
Psris. November 10. There was no
meeting Of the joint peace commission
today. The first proposition here from
the United States commission to the
Spaniards regarding the Philippines, was
not demand. To bring the subJeot IN
dsr discussion the Americans merely sub.
mitted a proposal to take over the Philip
pine islands and reimburse Spain the
amount spent there for permanent bet
terments.
Spain declined the terms and the pro
posal itself. Had she stopped there the
United States would have been compelled
to repeat the proposal as an ultimatum or
to tender new terms. Spain, however,
put OF any consideration of terms by de-
olaring that the United States had no
right to impugn her sovereignty in the
Philippines, that if her sovereignty there
should pass the mortgages she had placed
on the Philippine revenues must be I'M
derwritten and that her dignity forbade
her to heed any questions as to how she
had spent the loans SO secured.
The Americans patiently replied that
the peace conference was charged with
the disposition of the Philippines and
the sovereignty there. They laid down
the broad principle that expenses incurred
in futile attempt at subjugation shall
not be loaded upon the colony seeking
freedom.
Finally thsy affirmed their right to in
ouire as to the destination OF moneys
raised by pledging the Philippine reve-
nues
All this postponed discussion of the
main question, but in their next memo.
randum the American commissioners will
90 to the vital matter. Definite notice
will be given that the United States will
take over all the Philippines and Spain
will unquestionably learn the terms from
which there will be no deviation. 1t Is
more than likely that the Americans will
fatty summon Spain to effect immediate
amicable adjustment. Shouldsssshe re-
fuse to make treaty ceding the Philip
pines to the United States, the instant
alternative for America will be the con
quest of that territory, at an increased
cost to Spain in the final settlement, and.
possibly with the loss of Spanish life.
I 1t may be held that the Philippines if
ceded without any terms would be
an inadequate indemnity to the United
States for their wal expenses already in :
Cured and that Spain cannot expect. as
legal or moral right, any monetary con-
alterations. Philippine acquisition by
conquest. however, would entail waste
| of treasure far greater than a sum that
Spain may accept now as the basis OF
peaceful cession.
The question is this, lis spot peace
worth spot cash?'
L. 1t is believed that the American COM
missioners have been celebrating along
/ This line and that they are inclined to
answer the question afirmatively. What
the amount may be must obviously bs
unknown outside the ommisslon-possl-
bly, 50 {, ZOO, 600, probably less.
In any tender to Spain care will be tax
en- doubtless to convince the Spanish
commissioners that the offer OF what may
seem to them small amount Is not to
be construed IS indicating that the Ame-
ricans might be jookeyed into paying
larger sums. Neither Spanish debts,
bonds or mortgages of any description
will be considered, the transaction be-
ing cleared upon the spot probably, if at
all.
RUSH ORDERS AT CHARLESToWN
I Boston, November 19.-Rush orders for
the several war vessels now being repaired
at the Charlestown navy yard were re-
ceived at that place this morning.
WITH AN IMPORTANT MESSAGE.
New York. November l9.-Captain 4.
| B. Bradford, naval attache to the Ame-
rican peace commission, arrived here
/ this afternoon on tho American
liner Paris from Southampton.
Captain Bradford is believed to be the
rearer of an important message and some
of the papers IN connection with the
peace commission. He said that he would
proceed to Washington at once.