The herald., 1898-10-08
PEACE COMMISSIONERS
IN JOINT SESSION SETTLE THE
PRELIMINARIEs
CLOSE M0UTHED AS CLANS
But the Opinion Gains Ground That the
United States Will Hold the
Philippines
Associated Press Special Wire.

PARIS Oct. THE joint session Of the
peace commission was reconvened at 2
o'clock this afternoon.
The American Commissioners held
session this morning and were occupied
with Washington correspondence. Dur
ing the recess they have sought to perfect
the United States position in relation to
the alternative or contingent attitude Of
propositions of the Spanish this afternoon.
The joint session adjourned at 3:15 p. nj.
until Tuesday, Oct uth The prel.m!naries
Iarc finished.
On this subject the Gaulois says that
during the last twenty-four hours, sensa-
tionai and alarming news has been afloat
regarding the negotiations. 1t cites the
English newspapers allegations that Judge
Day has cabled to Washington saying
that the negotiations for a treaty of peace
are on the verge of stopping. owing to the
refusal of Madrid to accept the United
States attitude regarding the Philippine
Islands
The Gaulois also cites a statement to
the effect that Judge Day has been author
ICED to suspend negotiations II the Span
iards do not conform to the American
views and declares 1t can affirm that this
news In abs olutely incorrect. 1t declares,
however, that whereas the Spaniards at
the outset were obdurate. they are now dis
posed to modify their intentions, owing to
the firmness of the attitude of the United
States, the people of which, 1t Is declared,
have now been excited to the point of in
sisting upon holding the Philippines.
The utterances of Attorney-General
Griggs, before the Republican convention
at Trenton, N. j., last week, are cited as
showing that the United States purpose is
expansion. Spain is alleged to be begin
| ming to realize this and it is said she will
| finally agree to give up Manila and the
| Island Of Luzon, on condition that the
United States assumes the Philippine
debt, amounting to forty million dollars
and accords privileges to Spanish trade.
In conclusion the Gaulois says:
1--WE think We are authorized to say that
| President Mckinley will agree to a settle
ment on this basis
Spain Grows Anxious
NEW YORK, Oct IA dispatch to the
Herald from Paris says:
Although the Peace Commissioners them
| selves profess perfect satisfaction with
| matters as far as they have progressed,
a certain amount Of disquietude is plainly
IUlsCtIHlDle Ol Inc OpdulSu blue. Ills up
pears TO be undoubtedly due to the firmness
| Of the Americans.
| Report has it that the United States In
| tends to solve the Philippine difficulty by
| insisting upon the cession OF the rest Of
| the archipelago. This is said to be hard
blow for the Spanish commissioners. From
the few details that have leaked out 1t
seems that Spain hoped to deal with the
Philippines upon the basis established in
the protocol, that Is, the cession of Manila
| and one island for coaling station. Now,
as Manila is the key to the Philippines. the
archipelago would virtually be under the
control of the power holding it-that is to
say, the United States. Spain, therefore,
has no very keen desire to keep the islands
under such circumstances. but at the same
time it hoped to sell them as dearly as
possible, but this hope is being shattered
If it is true that America, while retaining
Luzon, the most important island in the
group will insist at the same time upon
the entire independence of the other is
lands.
1t is said that the Spanish commission
ers have received very definite instructions
to refuse their agreement to the cession of
the island Of Luzon unless the United
States will assume the entire Philippine
debt AS to the independence OF the other
islands the commissioners, 1t appears re-
fuse even to consider It,
From one source your correspondent
heard that the American delegates intend
ed disposing of the Philippine debt ques-
ton by the appointment of an arbitration
COMMITTEE the duty of which would be to
GO into statistics to make clear how much
of this debt had actually been incurred for
the benefit Of the Philippines and how
much more for the Spanish government
and military officials.
The intentions of the United States. as
given. certainly coincide with the terms of
the protocol, which prescribes Manila to
be retained with another island for coal
ing station There seems to be no reason
why that other island should not be Luzon,
if the American government really decided
TO settle the question this way.
There Is some reason for the dissatisfac-
ton of the Spanish commission, as 1t rend-
ers them powerless under the protocol.
General Merritt in his conference with
the commissioners Is known to have strong
Iv urged upon Mr.. Day and his colleagues
the Importance of holding all the islands.
He described at length the great advant-
ages to the United States that would result
from the retention OF the islands, and also
pointed out that Spain was absolutely
powerless to restore her authority. The
General believed that the best solution was
complete annexation.