Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-11-10
AMERICAS REPLY
On Philippine Question Deliv-
cred to the Spanish.
It Sets Forth Our Right to Consider
Any and All Questions.
Disposes Of Claims for Customs and Indemnify
for Troops at Manila.

Paris, Nov. 9.-Today's peace COM
mission met at 2.15 and adjourned at
P. NJ. When the meeting opened, the
Americans presented to their Spanish
colleagues the answer of the United
States to the claims submitted on FRI
day last, in behalf of Spain. The docu-
ment in which the American answer
was set forth, consisted of nearly so
sheets of type written matter.
The American presentation Of today
was refutation of the Spanish allega-
ton that because the words posses
sion,' ownership or "cession' do
not occur in the protocol clause touch
ing upon the Philippine Islands. the
peace commissioners have no right to
discuss them here, and that even If
they did so it must be in the light of
the alleged fact of an exterior agree
ment that Span's sovereignty should
not be impaired.
The Americans also answered Spain's
claim for the restitution to her of pub
lie money and customs collections TAX
en- by the United States officials since
the capitulation of Manila, and they
also made reply to SPANS claim for an
indemnity on account of the alleged
imprisonment by the United States au-
thorties of Spanish troops of Manila
and for the consequent restraint from
being of service to Spain in the sup
preston of the instruction and the
preservation of property.
To these points the Americans had
prepared an exhaustive reply. yester-
day, which though not fully type writ
ten at the time fixed for the meeting of
Tuesday, would have been submitted TO
the Spaniards at 4 p. NJ, yesterday,
had it not been that the commission of
Spain refused to meet at that hour,
pleading ether engagements as an ex-
cuse for their refusal. The Americans
are surprised that the Spaniards made
unalterable engagements at o'clock,
in view of the fact that the meeting,
had it occurred, might have extended.
as has frequently happened, past
O'Clock. 81
The joint session was short because
Senior Mcntero Rios and Judge Day
concurred in the service of the Ameri
can rejoinGer upon the Spanish com
missioners without formal reading of
the paper, which would occupy many
columns in an ordinary newspaper.
and an adjournment was taken until
Saturday.
1t is quite safe to say that the Ameri-
cans have made no new propositions
regarding the possession of the Philip
pines, but confined themselves to a
discussion of the4proposals and asser-
tons made by Spain at the previous
meeting. Just what were the terms of
the American rejoinder cannot of
course be ascertained. But despite per-
sistent assertions here to the contrary,
there is no ground, as has already been
cabled, for the Spanish contention that
the United States acquisceu. at the
signing of the protocol, in some reser-
walton by Spain of her Philippine SOW
ereignty. This utterly unfounded ru-
NOR is now quite well understood TO
have come from a high source not in
sympathy with the United States.
The facts of the case are these: On
July 26 last, the Washington govern
ment received from Spain an inquiry
as to the basis on which the war
might be terminated. Four days later
or whereabouts, the information was
forthcoming in response embodying
the terms of the protocol, save for the
use in the Philippine paragraph of the
word possession" Before the response
was formally presented to Mr. Cam
bon, SPANS representative in Wash
ington, he suggested the substitution
of the word disposition. The United
States government acquiesced. the
substitution was made, the formal re-
Spouse was delivered to M. Cambon.
who forwarded it to Madrid: and, on
or about Aug. Z, Spain forwarded her
reply. which, as affecting the Philip
pine question. was evasive or ambigu-
Gus.
1.-THE terms relating to the Philip
pines" said the Spanish government
seem to our understanding quite in
definite. On the one hand, the ground
on which the United States believe
themselves entitled to occupy the bay
harbor and city of Manila. pending the
conclusion of treaty of peace, cannot
be that of conquest, since in spite of
the blockade maintained on the sea by
the American fleet and in spite of the
siege established on land by native,
supported and provided for by an
American admiral. Manila still holds
its own and the Spanish standard still
waves over the city. On the other
hand, the whole archipelago of the
Philippines is in the power and under
the sovereignty of Spain.
Therefore, the government of Spain
thinks that the temporary occupation
of Manila should constituted guaranty
1t is asserted that the treaty of peace
shall determine the control, disposition
and government of the Philippines;
but, as the intentions of the federal
government by repression remained
yelled. the Spanish government must,
therefore, declare that, while accept
the third condition, they do not a
prioti renounce the sovereignty of Spain
over the archipelago, leaving it to the
negotators to agree as to such re-
forms as the condition of these posses
sions and the level of the culture of
their natives may render desirable
The government of Her Majesty ac-
cepts the third condition with the
above mentioned declarations
This part of SPANS note was deem
ed unsatisfactory at Washington as
calculated to breed misunderstanding,
and if left unchallenged, as holding /
(ccntisaed on page 80