The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1898-11-10

The Spaniards FIntly Reject Our PROPOSE
| tions in Regard to the Philippines, but in-
innate They VIII Give Them Up for Sui-
ficient Consideration.
Last Friday the Spanish Commits
sioncrs presented their reply to the Amer1-
can proposition in regard to the Philip
! pines. This answer comprised 40 pages
or more OF closely-written manuscript IN
| the Spanish language, which OF course,
| had to be translated and considered by
the American Commissioners in eXecu-
tive session. Therefore, after formal
session of two hours, and the reading OF
this paper, the Joint Commission, at the
request of the Americans, adjourned until
the following Tuesday.
| The salient points of the answer are
| that the Spaniards refuse any conditions
not embraced in the protocol of Aug. IL.
They claim that when the French Am
bassadof invoked peace, and when the
| initial agreement was signed no idea was
entertained by the United States OF hold
| ing the Philippines; that If the President
| had so intended he would have made
/ known the fact in the instrument in un-
mistakable language, as he did the ces-
sion Of Porto Rico and an island IN the
Ladrones. Spain viii, however, abandon
| the Philippine archipelago under cOndi-
| tions. These conditions are, OF course,
| none taTy.
! The important points raised by the
SDaniards, and insisted upon with great
| emphasis are that~inasmuch as the TAX
! ing of Manila occurred on Aug. IA, two
! DAYS after the signing of the protocol in
Washington, this cannot be considered
! a conquest of war and is in fact invalid.
| They claim further that the Spanish Min
! ister for Foreign Affairs, the Duke Al
modovar de Rio, sent telegram to Am
| baSsador Cambon before the signing Of
the protocol in Washington, in which he
! lt1,I ,4f to In rfnll fG of IN
the Philippines, and her desire to retain
her sovereignty, and Secretary Day at
| that time made no objection.
| They also remind the Americans that
when Cuba and it's debt were being con-
| sidered the Americans intrenched them
| selves behind the protocol and would con-
| slider no proposition not embraced IN 1t.
| Now that the shoe is on the other foot
| they are using the argument OF Judge
| Day to show that the demands of the
| Americans cannot be considered, because
the ownership of the Philippine Islands
| by the United States was not claimed in
| that instrument.
| The Spaniards have decided to refuse
all propositions which involve the pay
ment alone OF the Philippine debt by the
| United States. They say that If the
/ Americans will not consider their we'll
founded rights, they should at least offer
sum commensurate with the value OF
L
The Americans have sufficient replies
to most of the allegations. They will cite
the fact that originally the protocol con-
tanned the word possess" instead OF
disposition, " the latter having been sub
stituted at NJ. CambOn's request and in
Difference to Spanish sensibilities. The
original reading will unquestionably be
REQUIRED to now as indicating the mental
attitude of the American signers of the
protocol toward American possession OF
the Philippines.
They may cite as an offset to the tariff
duties collected, their own expenditure in
administering the Government of Manila
and enforcing order. They may also ask
If Spain wishes the inSurgent Gordon OF
the city and the insurgent control of the
waterwOrks re-established as a step to-
ward the restoration of the status quo
ante, which the Spaniards declare was
broken by the Americans.
Finally, Spain may be asked to consider
whether, instead of being prisoners of the
United States, the Spanish troops at
Manila were not more exactly refugees
within American protection.
| The Parisian press is very hostile to the
| American claim. The German papers, OF
course, are sneering and denunciatOry.