New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-11-04
THE WORK FOR PEACE.
.,o7v THE SPANISH SITUATION Is
VIEWED IN PARIS
,~rrrtDE OF THE TWO COMMISSIONS IN REGARr
TO THE PHILIPPINES PROBLEM
OF AGUINALDO.

paris Nov. 3-Last Monday the United States
,,a Spanish Peace Commissioners left the def
Ito limitations Of the protocol and entered upon
..o wide field Of diplomacy, where open
.,sstjon is TO be decided. Both Commissions
No,,,e that the area is ample enough for some
rrsnoauvring. though, on the American side the
.a-dencv is 10 evolutions much more compact
,hon those Of the Spaniards. Both would un
,arb.c1lv be gratined to reach a mutual con-
s,rsion without compulson. At Mondays Joint
..ss,on the American Commissioners laid down
. nroposition in two parts.
First-That the United states should take over
,be PHILIPPINES entire.
second-That IN SO doing they should reim-
,rrse 10 Spain the sum of her permanent and
.oc,ac expenditure in the Philippines
Tho logic Of the situation compelled the Ameri-
.ans to make the first move.
Having heard the American proposition. the
e.,,,ards might have Immediately declined 1t.
os ,bev certainly will do at to-morrow's session.
whether they will accompany the refusal with
,,,er-rropositi0n has not been definitely as
osr,ained though at late hour this evening
,bat course seems improbable. The result VIII
10 that the Commissions will retire from con-
,ror,ing positions until one or the other shaI
have reformed its lines for the next meeting
which will probably occur next week II the
snanlsh Commissioners entertain hope that
otter the elections in the United States the
American Commissioners will relax their de-
rnands as to the Philippines. they have not Ut
,sredit here for the public ear, nor has anything
,.on said or done by any member Of the Uniteh
States Commission TO warrant such hope
POSITION OF THE AMERICANS.
The American Commissioners came to Paris
with no greed for Philippine territory. To an
unofficial bystander the question with them has
seemed to be rather to find the right path and to
walk in it. than by bold use Of power 10
wrench the utmost advantage from distressed
opponent. The fact is. the Commissioners have
felt that the conditions precedent render the
letting go Of the Philippines as difficult as ther
retention. There is for instance. the question OF
the future Of Aguinaldo. his chiefs and follow
ers The Philippine leader and his immedlate
associates in the insurrectiOn accepted exile
and over $500 600 at the hands of Spain as an
snducenent TO cease their rebellions. 1hey
went to China. but they were brought back 10
-ho Philippines on board a United States war
sbs- Acuinaldo received from Admiral Dewey
several thousand stand Of arms, and was put
ashore as an ally Of the United States in the
war against Spain.
The insurgent leader and his CHIEFS have for
,eited their lives. Should the United States re-
turn the Philippines to Spain, Aguinaldo ana MS
fighting followers must he surrendered to death
or taken away by the United States ana the
American Commissioners feel that transporting
.bo,n would be as severe toward them as 1t
would be impracticable from the point OF we"
or the United States Territory 10 shelter theiii
Is feIt necessary an the Philippines.
The entire group might not be necessary for
hp
retain Luzon as their place Of refuge? To 90
This would be 10 take the most valuable portion
Of tho archipelago an act which might furnish
basis for the dual charge Of greed in taking the
best and Of cowardce in cvading responsibility
for the remainder. The American Commission
ers have been unwilling to place the United
States IN such @ position
Again. there arose the pregnant question OF
undesirable neighhors should only Luzon be
taken. An aggrcssively disposed Power might
acquire MinGoro. which is almost within cannon
shot Of Luzon and thus create a most diihcu'
situation Could. then. wiser division OF 'he
islands he made? Pursuing this inquiry u'e
most feasible division seemed TO be Luzoh'
Nindoro and Palawan. forming chain free OF
neIghbors on the western boundary, but so
cl,selv tangled on the eastern side as 10 MAKE
impossible line Of geographical division al once
equitable and safe. The American CoHihissloh-
rrs have not beer unmindful OF the iact 'hd'
circumstances. partially of their Shaping hau
imposed upon the United States a constructive
responsibility for the Philippines. and that el'her
this must be forsaken or a larger one assumed
They have believed. too. that before the nations
Of the world the United States has assumed
the higher responsibility of the stable con'roi
o. the entire group. ard. with sense OF specihc
and general obligation. they felt compelled 10
propose 70 take over al.
THE QUESTION OF THE DEBT
On the question of the Spanish debt, by what
ever name known. the American Commissioners
seem 70 take broader ground than the mere
question Of dollars 1t is evident they DO not
favor counting any Power in debt response
bli,ies. They seem inclined 10 direct ADJUST
,nents on the plain bass Of facts ana equlues'
Whether the war ledgers or SPAN anu '"e
United States are TO be balanced IN the present
negotiations does not appear but the Americans
face the situation open-eyed ana WIN minus
free TO any argument based upon Justice 10
Spain and fair treatment Of their own Na'''ii"'
interests
The corresoondent Of The Associated Press
sscertalns from Spanish sources Deyohu p"''
tion authentic. that before the PmlpPi"e P"o0
ton is settled the Spanish Commissioners VIII"
declare that they are not here solely 10 save
or 70 gain all the money possible from 'ne
United states SeNor Nontero RIOS presiue"'
Of the Spanish Commission. and his coHeasues'
waving any classification Of the SPANS" o'
colonial debts, Will point out that Spai" mas
borrowed On the collateral OF her coIoh'a' ie'e
nue. They viii concede that the natio"ai su"i
antee may have been added, but that ior al
the purposes Of this contention the iacI
relevant II will then be frankly urseu ~ "ei
Commissioners that Spain has pawned the ie'e-
nues Of the Philippines and Of Cuba tha' is Sne
did so In good faith TO her creditors. anu J,io
being true. that she has no moral flSh' ~ ca
awav or rehvDothecate territory already
pledged ,.. .o,,o
Senor Rios VIII urge that should spain 1ane rhe
that course her creditors might fally 1e
her with defrauding them. to save IoT HV'