The Worcester spy., 1898-11-01
u. S. Declares
Intentions.
THE PHILIPPINES.
Spain to be Reimbursed for
Pacific Expenditures.

commissioners, each of them carrying
portfolio containing records and per-
sonal memoranda, left their headquar-
ters in the Continental Hotel for the
meeting with the Spanish commissions
ers at the foreign office shortly be-
fore 2 p. m. today.
The health of the president of the
Spanish commission, Senior Montero
Rios. had improved 10 the extent of en-
abling him to attend todays meeting.
He arrived at the foreign office in a
closed carriage, with his colleagues,
shortly after the Americans reached
the meeting place.
Soon after p. M the 10 commissions
ers confronted each other across the
table on which, in 1888 Benjamin
Franklin and his colleagues signed the
treaty of independence of the United
States.
The Americans were removing their
wraps when the Spaniards entered the
ante-room, and polite and cordial
greetings were exchanged as the two
groups, comingling, passed through the
grand salon, where a buffet was spread
and entered the conference chamber, in
which, before leaving, the Spaniards
would learn the attitude of the United
States toward the Philippines.
The Spanish commissioners took their
accustomed places at the historic table,
while the Americans ranged them
| selves opposite.
Secretary Moore, upon the request of
Judge Day, passed to Mr.. Ferguson, the
interpreter, the formulated demands of
the United States regarding the Philip
pines, which were read to the SpaniardS
in their own tongue by a rapid render
ing from the English, in which they
were written.
| Although the Spanish commissioners
did not betray anxiety, their attention
to the reading was keen. They had
anticipated chat the United States
would take over the islands, but the
terms and details Of the transfer had
| all along been a subject Of speculation.
The reading disclosed the fact that the
| United States government had deter
mined to possess for itself certain terri
tory and parcels OF land bounded by
and lying within such parallels of lati-
tude and longitude as marked the linn
its of the Philippine archipelago.
The United States does not purpose
assuming the Philippine debt of $40,-
0G0 900, but they are willing to be re-
sponslble to Spain for a sum of money
Spain in the Philippines for the advan
tage Of the islands, and for the good
Of their people, for permanent better
ments and for improvements both ply
steal and mental The reading of the
presentment specifies that the United
States will reimburse Spain to the ex-
tent of her pacific expenditures" made
in the archipelago This phrase, pa
cific expenditures" is employed to diff
TO xha a1,rap 5if11raa bxC Cnaiy1 In,
combating insurrections in the Philip
pines. The one is felt by the American
commissioners to be fair burden upon
the acquiring power; while the other,
or latter class of expenditures, is held
to have been logically assumed by
Spain as the inevitable hazard to a ma
tion resorting to arms to enforce order
in its own territory.
Such is the determinative, and there
fore the vital portion of the present.
ment made by the American commits
sioners today, and it 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 commits
sioners.
Thus, while the Spaniards are tonight
quite certain that the United States in
tend to reimburse them for pacific ex-
penditures. they remark that they are
not enlightened as to whether the Am
ericanS expect to endorse the Spanish
obligations to the extent of pacific eX-
penditures" in the archipelago or
whether they will hand Spain a lump
sum of gold large enough to cover
Spain's outlay so designated
While the United States have desig-
mated pacific expenditures" as those
they win reimburse Spain, the present
ment of the American commissioners
today did not demand either a schedule
or an inventory of the same from the
Spaniards.
But the suggestions naturally raise
an inquiry as to the kind and quantity
of Spain's pacific expenditures in the
Philippines, and some light may be
given on that matter now.
There is considerable traffic between
the islands and some time ago, a sys-
tenn of lighthouses become q necessity
Spain set out to supply these and pro-
jected 4S light stations. OF these she
has already constructed II Of the first
class and 16 of the second. What they
cost is not yet known here; but in
American waters those of the first-
class cost from $25 900 to $250000 each;
SO that, on an average basis of the
minimum cost in the United States,
Spain's SO lighthouses may represent
an outlay of 1925, 600
Spain has constructed breakwaters
at Manila, at an expense not yet known
here and wharves of small value along
the Pasig river. She has recently built
barracks for 1000 men, now occupied
by American troops, the cost Of which
is not yet ascertainable. AT Cavite
Spain had built a naval station, which,
before it was sacked by the natives,
was said to be equal to the Mare is
land station, and may then have been
worth $2.500000. Whether or not the
last two items can be strictly designa-
ted pacific expenditures must be de-
termined in conference, but the light
houses, water improvements, barracks
and naval station are necessary to the
United States as the owner of the
Philippines. and are deemed worth a
fair price.
Spain has also built some school
houses. which the Americans are will
ling to take over at cost,
The Spanish commissioners listened
attentively. though not without some
evidences Of impatience and surprise
at the financial suggestions in the
American presentment. and finally
asked until Friday to consult the Ma
drid government and mako reply Ad-