Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1898-11-01

racks and naval stations are necessary
to the United tates as the owner OF the
Philippines and are deemed worth
fair price.
Spain has also built some school
houses, which the Americans are VIII
ling to take over at cost.
The Spanish commissioners listened
attentively, though not without some
evidence of impotence and surprise
at the financial suggestions in the
American presentment, and finally
asked until Friday to consult the
Madrid government and make reply.
Adjournment was then taken until
that day.
AFTER THE CONFERENCE
was dissolved, the Spanish commits
sioners expressed the opinion that the
American demand would create IN
Spain as they had upon her
commissioners an exceedingly grave
impression Were the Spanish COM
missioners pushed to final de-
termination tonight they would re-
ject the American demands, but the
changing tone of the Spanish press
recently urges the contamination or
a treaty of peace, however rigorous.
the argument being that although the
Spaniards bow to the American de-
mands, the commissioners do not &C
knowledge the justice or admit the
legality of them.
To-niyht the Spanish commissioners
feel that the United States, to all in
tents and purposes have not offered
any financial inducement to Spain to
cede by treaty any part of the Phillip
pines. Had the American commits
soners even offered to take over the
entire Philippine debt OF about $iO,-
100000, the Spaniards affect to feel
that it would have been as nothing
and they regard to-day's position so
meagre as not to warrant even a
schedule of SPANS Pacific expendi-
lures" in the archipelago.
Washington, October 31.-The adj
vices from Paris to the effect that the
United States peace commissioners
have demanded the cesgion to the Uni
ted States of the entire Philippine
group is in line with the instructions
that have been issued to the represen-
tatives of the United States Up to
very recent date the United States
commissioners had no precise instruc-
tons on this vital point. OF course
before they departed from Washington
much consideration had been given to
this important subject by the Presi-
dent, Secretary Day Assistant Secre-
tary Moore and the members OF the
commission But there was a lack OF
data as to the financial and political
affairs of the Philippines and so 1t
| happened that when the United States
commissioners sailed they were not
committed beyond change to any line
| of policy.
| But since that time the President has
| become convinced that there is great
popular demand for the annexation to
the United States of the whole Philip
| pine group and he is disposed to defer
| to that sentiment.
| 1t cannot be learned definitely what
money consideration is to pass with
the title to the Philippines. Indeed
there is reason to believe that even the
United States peace commissioners
have not vet been able to fix the
| amount exactly. Assuming that they
are to repudiate all portions of the debt
of the islands, which does not repre-
sent money spent for actual better
ments. it will be seen at once that the
task masses to the commissioners OF
S;sa,aw,ino ,.s.fs debt is not an easy
ono III tIcularly in view Of the noto-
I flously loose financial methods Of the
| Spanish colonial authorities. That this
| debt should be assumed by the United
States in some proportion is said at
the State department to be inevitah'~
if annexation is to follow.
Quite unofficially, but in a manner
to carry conviction as to the accuracy
of the information, the Spanish com
missioners some days ago were al
lowed to know what the United States
purposes as to the Philippines, once
the conclusion was arrived at So
they are not taken completely by sur
prise by the demand presented to-day
at Paris.
Madrid, October 31.-The news that
the Spanish peace commissioners at
Paris had referred to the government
a formal demand of the American COM
missioners for the absolute cession of
the entire Spanish group caused the
greatest surprise in Madrid.
The strongest feeling prevails that
the government should protest ener-
getically against what is regarded as
a violation of the spirit of the protocol.
SENATOR HANNA