Evening star., 1898-11-19
President TeiermiDed to End the
Peace Commission Delay.
A DEFINITE PROPOSITION PROPOSED
Spain Must Answer Yes or No
Within a Time Limit.
II z r l. A S L r E P l. y

Spanish commissioners at the next meeting
of the peace commission. unless there Is an
entire change in the program of the Fresi-
dtnt. There has been much talk of uIu-
matums ever since the negotiations opened
at Paris. but the Americans have not yet
presented 4 document so unyielding IN its
nature. The nearest approach to it w;.s
the note prepared here last week, in which
the Spaniards were told that this country
WCulG not waste further time discussing
the question of our right under the terms
of the protocol to take the philippine is
lands. While this note would have been eff
fective with the commissioners of any other
nation in the world its full import was not
gathered by the Spaniards. The conse
quence is that the good old American
method of plain English will be resorted to.
Between now and next week President Nc
klnley Will prepare the final proposition of
the United States. He will instruct the
American commissioners to present this
proposition with the statement that it will
not be departed from and that the Span
lards may accept or reject it without dis
cUSsion if they fit.
a Definite Proposition.
The proposition will be that the United
States Will take the Philippine Islands and
pay TO Spain a sum of money, probably in
the neighborhood of s20.OOO,0)O. 1t is be-
heved that even the figure to be paid the
Spaniards will be absolute, and that the
proposition will leave nothing TO be dis
cussed except the actuai words of the
treaty which will satisfy this country.
The President. after discussion with mem-
bers of his cabinet. has come 10 the con-
c'usion that a certain amount Of money
will be fair sum to pay Spain. The ex-
act amount of this sum has not been made
public for good reasons, but ii is believed,
as heretofore stated in The Star, to be
between s13.0o0.0O and S25.O00.mO. 1t is
now thought that something like $40 900
90 il tn sum finally decided Upon by The
resident. who has before MIN the opinions
CT the American commissioners and iufor-
Nation from trustworthy sources in all
directions.
The President has digested the Spanish
reply made Wednesday. A typewriter
copy of the reply was taken to the White
HOuse this morning, although the President
rad read the most important portions of ii
last night. The reply was far from salts
factory TO the President. 1t was the same
old story of Spanish quibbling. 1t is learn
ed from q high authority that practically the
entire Spanish reply devoted to a time
Killing argument over the words of the pro-
toCol which referred to the Philippines
The reply claimed that the words control
and disposition were not Sufficient to
warrant this country in demanding the
Islands from Spain
DisEusted With spain's Reply.
The President and Secretary Hay both
felt disgusted with the reply. which they
recognized the usual Spanish effort to
spin out words and evade coming to direct
issue. They quickly determined that this
country cannot permit the suspense to con-
time and to go on indefinitely Playing
game which has nothing in 1t but heavy
expenses and an unsettled state of affairs.
in the new acquisitions at least.
Tie ultircatEm will go so far as to fix
lime limit foT Spanish acceptance or rejec-
lion This limit will be reasonable one,
put 1t will be irrevocable as the other
terms of the proposition. The President is
hopeful that there may be a settlement of
the question pending within two weeks
He believes that the method nanea is
about the only one which viii secure a set
.'ement witbir that time.
The cabinet adjourned yesterday in a
hopeful m1oI that there would be a speedy
settlement b. the acceptance of the Span
ards This hope was generally expressed
II was then hased almost wholly on news
paper reports. The reply had not been re-
2elved. Today mas brought another change
as noted, and with ii the most determined
Intention the part of the President
" hen he makes up his mind he rarely
changes mis- opinion
Proposed Arbitration
II was not until late hour last evening
that the last paragraphs of the long trans
lation of the Spanish note which was pre-
scented 10 the American peace commission
erS last Wednesday was deciphered at the
State Department, and most of the mem
bers OF the cabinet were not aware of the
fui contents Of the document until this
morning when they called at the White
House 1t appeared that in addition to the
long argument which was intended to show
that the word disposition" used in rela-
ton 10 the Philippines meant something
Csc, the Spanish note Gid include a promo
siJion 10 submit the Philippine. clause of the
protocol TO the Interpretation OF an arbi-
tracOn-
Another cablegram followed the first long
message, this time directly from Judge Day
seeking instructions definitely on some
points to be made in the American answer
which is Yet TO be presented
These instructions have been sent for
ward. and 1t may be stated, without going
into details. that they are precisely in line
with the policy which the American COM
missiOners have been pursuing up to TINS
point in the negotiations. Judge Day made
no mention in his message of any inten-
ton on the part of the commission to ad-
1rurn their session set for today without
transacting any business. but in view of
the fact that the last Instructions were
sent so recently to afford Insufficient
time for putting them In FORM it was be-
lieved 10 be probable that nothing would be
done at tOday's session, and that the meet
Ing would be purely pro forma.
Several Matters of Real Importance.
There are several matters OF real i'm
portance. though not ranking with the
commissioners. but the Instructions to the
Americans are not to call up these at pres
ent. or until the main pending issue rela-
tive to the Philippines has been settled n
order TO avoid complicating the PROCEEDINGS
In the event that the commissioners dis
agree totally at their next meeting on the
philippines, therefore, there will be no dis
tussion Of any of these subsidiary uuas-
tions. but. In the other event-nameIy. that
an agreement shall be reached on the prin-
ciple Of the Philippines disposition-these
matters may De eGpect@i 10 consume one
or TWO additional ssSsi = at least of the
commission. r1.@ nf E:.s So subjects cort-
Germs the T-st1ratiOn of trade relations be-
t"eeA tne rited States aDd Spain. At the
beginning uf the war Spa1E terminated ALI
ot heT treaties with ;iIe United States, and
tne TWO ""Intries are to get along ami
etbly even after the declaration of peace
there mus b. working arrangements in
treaty Torn for the protection of trade in
terasts. the equaliza ton of tariff charges
the regulation of extradition and such sub
3ects as are us Ially included in treaties of
trade and commerce and amity. So far the
commission ers have given no consideration