Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1898-11-03
PARIS COMMISSION.
Peace Negotiations May Be Con.
cluded Sooner Than Expected.
The United states to Assume 10000, 900
Of the Philippine Debt In COnsldsra-
tion ola Out Claim by the
Spanish Government.

spanish Government.
Washington, Oct 90 Secretary OF
State Hay said Yesterday that the Gu.
ban question had not yet, as he under.
stood it, been finally decided by the
Paris commission, but complete set.
Element, it was expected. would be
reached by the end Of the present week.
The Philippine question. he thought,
would be taken up by the joint COM
mission early in the coming week.
Although the members OF the cabinet
are extremely reticent on the subject
of the acquisition of the Philippines,
there is now little or no doubt that
nothing less than the cession Of the
entire group of islands will be accept
ed by the American commission.
The president was enabled to lay be-
fore the cabinet Yesterday very en-.
couraging reports from Paris regarding
the progress Of the peace negotiations.
The administration now fully believes
that the negotiations will be concluded
much sooner than was expected from
the outlook few days ago. 1t can be
stated authoritatively that the CON-
missioners have not yet actually begun
the discussion Of the Philippine ques-
ton and, further, that 1t will not be
taken up until next week. Since the
Spaniards have found that the Ameri.
can commissioners mean exactly what
they say and that their presentation
OF the side OF the United States Is in
reality an ultimatum, the hopelessness
of prolonged debate, It is said, has be.
come apparent to the Spaniards and it
is now believed the Philippine discus.
sion will be less protracted than re.
ported some days ago.
The United States has not assumed
nor guaranteed the so.called munici.
pal debt of Cuba or Cuban municipal.
tiles, but it Is expected that such debt
will be paid by the municipalities in.
curing them, for, by no reasoning,
could they be charged upon Spain.
Our government, it is said in Official
circles, would look upon any attempt
at evading the payments of such debts
as reputation and dishonest, and
whatever government is established
in Cuba will be expected TO see that
these obligations are carried out in
good faith. Moreover, some of the
bonds of Cuban municipalities are
held by citizens OF the United States,
and the United States might insist
that the investments Of her citizens in
such securities be made good. The
state department has no information
as to the amount Of these municipal
liabilities.
WILL KEEP ALL THE PHILIPPINES.
Chicago Oct 20. The Times. Herald
will publish the following from Fred.
erick Benzinger, its Washington cor.
respondent: President Mckinley has
decided to keep all the Philippines.
The United States will assume S4O,.
Oooo of the Philippine debt in con.
sideration of quit claim by Spain.
The American peace commissioners
will be instructed to lay the presi.
dents decision before the Spanish com.
missioners at Paris next Monday. The
presidents decision had been fore.
Swallowed, but he had refrained care.
fully from committing himself.
Anxious 70 execute the will Of the
people, he has been studying the
sentiment of the country for months
When he went west he found
himself swept along by the full cur.
rent of expansion sentiment Person
ally the president hesitated to thrust
upon the nation the grave response.
bilities attached to the government of
the Philippines. But he has had great
faith in the ultimate judgment of the
common people of the United States
and he bows to their will. The decree
has gone forth. The stars and stripes
will wave over an island empire In the
eastern seas. Oppressed races number.
ing 5000, 600 persons will be freed and
civilized. The islands number 100 to
1000. They extend north and south
1000 miles, east and west 600 miles.
Their area is $4,000 square miles,
about as much as that of New York,
Pennsylvania and Connecticut com.
bined.
In administration circles It's thought
the revenues OF the Philippines will
enable the government to meet the in
terest and principal of the bonds
without burdening the United States
proper. One OF the first things to be
done may be the refunding OF these
bonds in security bearing lower
rate of interest. That may be one Of
the conditions which will Offset the
advance in value. The administration
officials don't know the extent Of the
Philippine debt The commissioners
are making inquiries about II at Paris
1t Is declared in Washington, however.
that the United States will not assume
anything but the issue Of $40, 900, 900.
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