The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1898-11-23
Spain MUST Do ONE OF TWO THINGS.
THE LAST PROPOSAL
pines, or Else Will Fight for Their Pos
sion-The Cuban Debt Again.

In political circles at Madrid 1t is as
serted that an agreement has been
reached between the peace commits
sioners in Paris.
The government, 1t is officially
announced intends to notify the Cuban
bondholders that Spain will not pay
the cuban debt. which will not be mem
toned in the peace treaty. The gov
ernment considers itself completely
free from these entanglements. which
fall upon the nation exercising sover-
eighty and collecting taxes in cuba.
The American commissioners in a
written communication will declare
that the third article of the peace pro-
tocol regarding the Philippines is cap
able of only one fair construction, that
no arbitration is needed to elucidatc
its terms and that the United States
cannot admit any other power to figure
here purely as leXicologist.
This will be accompanied by the
clear declaration that the United
States will possess the Philippines.
Following this declaration the Amer
lea commissioners will lay before the
Spanards two alternatives.
First. to accept sum of money
from the United states. and to cCie
and evacuate the Philippines.
Second, to lose the Philippines to the
United states by conquest with the
possibility of other territorial losses,
and to indemnify the United States for
the added expense of conquest
This communication may not be for
mally designated as an ultimatum, but
1t will lack naught of the conclusive
ness indicated by that word. This will
be go plain that the Spanish commits
sioners will scarcely haggle for money
on the first alternative nor cherish any
doubt Of American action under the
second, should the first be declined.
The Spaniards declare that their re-
fusal to sign treaty based on any
Philippine terms thus far suggested by
the United States is irrevocable. They
say that they do not and cannot view
the taking of the Philippines as any,
thing else than wanton ravlshment
of their possessions, unless 1t is ac-
companied by a financial consideration
of appreciable size.
Therefore. the turn of events in the
peace conference at Paris depends up
on the purpose or the Willingness of
the American commissioners to extend
their financial terms. Spanish sover-
eighty in the Philippines is now clung
to by the Spanish chiefly as means
to obtain financial relief, If possible. 1t
Is almost purely a matter of money
now, If the amount be large enough to
absolve the Spanish government from
possible charges by their creditors
that the collateral has been given
away. Persons near to Spain's heav-
lest creditors believe that should the
Americans assume the Philippine debt
or pay Spain its face amount in cash,
the Spanards would sign.
This view is new in the quarters
where 1t now prevails. because time
h1an fnr SDa nj a ride m
become convinced that the American
commissioners do little. If any, dlplo-
matte jockeying, and that their final
attitude may be found identical with
their first.
III they have not already done so, the
Spanish commissioners will ultimately
advise the Americans that they must
not permit any controversy as to the
binding character of the mortgage
resting upon the revenues of the Phi
lppines to pay the so-called debt.
Tenacious adherence to this claim
would set up on the Spanish side an ul-
timatum under which no treaty would
be signed which did not stipulate that
the Philippine revenues should pay the
Philippine debt
In such event the Americans would
probably claim that the Philippine debt
or s4OOOO,OOO amounts to $20,000,0 900 in
gold, of which about $1l.000,000 has
been employed in fighting the United
States, leaving less than $4,000, 900
cbargeable in gold to the Philippines.
Indeed, the United States would doubt
less contend that even the reduced
amount was used In fighting the Fill
pinos, and object to the Spanish con-
clusion that 1t is a fair charge against
the Americans.
II is believed that the United States
at this time would consent to q cash
payment of from, 500, 900 900 to s25, ,000,-
900 rather than to renew the war
Last Wednesdays meeting of the
Joint Peace Commission lasted 45
minutes and was of high Importance.
The Spanish commission presented it's
re1oinder to the American reply on the
Philippine question. in which 1t reiter-
ated its contention that Philippine
sovereignty does not come up for dis
cussion under the terms of the proto-
col, and set out various reasons why
the United States proposal concerning
the debt could not be accepted by
Spain.
But the surprise of the meeting was
the request that the dispute should be
referred to arbitration as to the scope
of the protocol i'm its third and sixth
articles, and the legality of the demand
OF the United States to consider the
sovereignty question under it, in case
the American commissioners insist
upon their demands.