The age-herald., 1898-11-01
ENTIRE GROUP
 WAS DEMANDED America Will Hold Entire Philip
 pine Archipelago SPAN|ARDS ASK FOR TIME In Which to Consider PropOSi- ton of Our Commissioners. THE LARGE DEBT OF THE ISLANDS Will Not Be Assumed By the United
 States Government. 
 
Will Not Be Assumed By the United
 States Government.
SUM OF MONEY WILL BE PAID
To Spain for All Expenditures Which Have Been Made for Pacific Pur- poses, Such as Building School
 houses, Dockyards, Etc.

Paris, october 3l.-Ine AHericaH PSoee commissioners, each carrying portfolio containing records and personal memoran- da left their headquarters in the Conti- mental hotel for the meeting with the Spanish commissioners at the foreign of- flee shortly before o'clock this after noon.
 The president of the Spanish commission, Sener Montero Rios, whose health was at one time so precarious as to threaten an indefinite adjournment of the sessions Of the commissions, had improved to the ex- tent of enabling him to attend todays s meeting. He arrived at the foreign office in closed carriage with his colleaguers shortly after the Americans reached the meeting place.
 The Americans were removing their wraps when the Spaniards entered the ante chamber and polite and cordial greet ings were exchanged as the two groups, coming through the grand salon. where buffet was spread and entered the confer ence chamber in which before leaving the Spaniards would learn the attitude of the United States toward the Philippines.
 The Spanish Commissioners
 The Spanish commissioners took their ac- customed places at the historic table, the afternoon light full in their faces, while the Americans ranged themselves opposite with their backs to the light and with the interpreter standing at the end of the table.
 Secretary Moore, upon the request Of Judge Day to MT. Ferguson, the inter- preter the formulated demands of the United States regarding the Philippines, which were read to the Spaniards in their own tongue by a rapid rendering from the English in which they were written. AL { ugh the Spanish commissioners did not betray anxiety, their attention to the read ing was keen. They had anticipated that the United States would take over the islands but the terms and the details of the transfer had all along been a subject of speculation.
 The reading disclosed the fact that the United States government had determined to possess for itself certain territory and parts of land bounded by and lyng within such parallels of latitude and longitude as mark the limits of the Philippine archi- pelago. The United States do not pur- pose assuming the Philippine debt of $40, ,000 GOO, but they are willing to be re- sponsible to Spain for sum of money equal to the expenditures by Spain in the Philippines for the advantages of the islands and the people for the permanent betterments and Improvements, both physical and mental.
 Pacific Expenditures
 
 The reading of the presentment speci- fies that the United States will reimburse Spain to the extent of her pacific expen- ditures made in the archipelago. This phrase pacific expenditures" is employed to differentiate the expenditures by Spain in combating insurrections in the Phil ippines.
 The one Is felt by the American com missioners to be fair burden on the ac- quiring power. while the other and latter class of expenditures is held to have been logically assumed by Spain in the inev- itable hazard of going to arms to enforce order within its own territory. Such is the vital pos'tio of the presentment made by the American commissioners today and 1t is to be observed that while the main proposition as to possession and financial responsibility is clear and definite many details have been left to the developments of the discussion between the two commis- sions. Thus, while the Spanards are tonight quite certain that the United States intend to reimburse them for ''pa- cifc expenditures" they remark that they are not enlightened as to whether the Americans expect to indorse the Spanish obligations to the extent of "pacif1c ex- penditures'' in the archipelago or whether they will hand Spain lump sum of gold large enough to cover Spains outlay so designated. Possibly the American com missioners themselves are not at this mo-
 
 Will Not Assume Debt
 It is unlikely, however, that the Ameri- cans will care to become identified in the slightest degree with Spain in her respon- sibity to her creditors. The clearer method seems to- be to hand Spain spot cash or something as good and to bid her apply it on her debts by whichever name known or to put it in her wallet for whatever use she may elect.
 While the United States have designated ..pacifc expenditures" as those they will reimburse to Spain, the presentment of the American commissioners today did not de- mand either schedule or an inventory of the same from the Spaniards. But the su8- gestion naturally raises an inquiry as to the kind and quantity of Spain's pacific expenditures" in the island, and some light niay be given on that matter now.
 There is considerable traffic between the islands, and some time ago a system of