The Portland daily press., 1898-11-01

Philippines and SO it happened that when
the United States commissioners sailed
they were not committed beyond change
to any line Of policy.
A majority of their number leaned to-
wards restriction of the demands to be
put forth as to the Philippines. VARYING
all the way from the retention of Manila
Bay and the Immediate surrounding
country to the acquisition of the whole
island of Luzon. That represented about
the extreme demand that was in mind
when th5 commission loft But since
that time the President has become con-
ginced that there is a great popular de-
mand for the annexation to the United
States OF the whole Philippine group and
he is disposed to defer to the sentiment.
Assuming that they are to repudSate all
portions of the debt Of the islands, which
does not represent money spent for actual
betterments, it will be seen at once, that
rhe task presented to the commissioners
of differentiating this debt. is not an easy
one, particularly in view of the enormous
y loose financial methods of the Spanish
colonial authorities.
That this debt should be assumed by
the United States in some portions, is
said at the State Department to be in
eyitable if annexation is to follow. Quite
unofficially but in manner to carry COM
viction as to the accuracy of the inforIna-
tion the Spanish commissioners some
days ago were allowed to know what the
United States purpose as to the Philip.
pines was.
LONDON PAPERS PLEASED.
London, November 1.-The Times. edf-
torially. this morning, expresses its frank
satisfaction at the decision Of ths United
States commissioners to take the Philip.
pines. 1t says:
"The arrangement is undoubtedly the.
best that could be made both for the in~s
habitantS, for all interested in the trnd8i
and progress of the far East. Upon this
point,as upon others, Spain n has no choices
but to yield, as her warInest partisans MOI
longer maintain that she has eithsr tbs
means or the wish to- renew the war. I"
The Daily News edftorialIy, echoes thst
views of the Times regarding the PhiEpiS
pines, and says:
For Great Britain the American re~
tention of tie archipelago should be notn-s
ing but a gain. In saying this We as%g
sumo that the United States will not ext
tend their exclusive tariff law to the
colonies, but will allow the manufacturers
of the world free access"
MINOR GROUPS LEFT OUT.
London, November 1.-The Paris CORES
spondent of the Standard says. Tbs
american commissioners today (MondayD
demanded the cession of the PhilippinesF
~ tlG bcuWoon CoIU6ln QoSIOCS "a AnpAUdAo
and longitude, including Luzon ana the
best islands, but leaving out the mines
groups. They indicated their willingness
to assume portion Of the Philippine debt;
and this limitation does not seem to ex-
cl1de other compensations.
MADRID GREATLY SURPRISED.
Madrid, October 31.-The news that ths
Spanish peace commissioners at Paris
had referred to the government formal
demand of the Amerioan commissioners
for the absolute cession of the entire
Philippine group, caused the greatest sur
prise in Madrid. The strongest feeling
prevails that the government should pro-
test sneI getically against what is re-
garded as violation of the spirit of the
protocol.