Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1898-11-03
Even an Estimate Will Be Made as to the Future Pensions
 10 Soldiers.
H0STILITfES MAY
 BE RESUMED SOON.
If Spain Does Not Agree to Such Prop, Osition tho United States Pro. poses to Take What She
 Wants.

Washington, Nov 3.-While the cabinet gave little attention yesterday to the peace negotiations at Paris there is no longer any doubt as to the general purposes of this government to retain the entire Philippine archipelago. If, after final balancing of tho account, viz, the cost of the war to the United States on one side and our acquisitions on the other, 1t is found that any con- pensation is due the Spaniards 1t will be made III a lump sum- It is pointed out that at the time the protocol was signed the United States did not hayo and has not since acquired any part of the Philippine islands outside of Manila city and harbor, and that the United States has never entertained q purpose to acquire any territory by the power of conquest.
 What the United States will insist upon is that she must be fully reim- bursed for every dollar expended by her on account of the war, and ill the state ment will be included an amount suffi- cient to cover all payments, present and prospective, on account of pensions incl dent to the war. No Spanish bonds of any character or amonnt other than To- cal or municipal bonds will be paid or assumed by this government. Thequ tion of the status of municipal obliga- tions under circumstances like the pres ent, is fully settled by international law. They must be recognized as valid and binding to the conquering power, and hence 1t is assumed that the United States will not raise any question on this point, but promptly consent to guaran- tee their final payment. What sum of money this government will consent to pay to Spain cannot even be estimated, but when the final account is rendered, it is believed that the balance due Spain will be small, probably not exceeding $25, ,0O0, ,00o or $50, GOO, GOO.
 The belief still prevails among tho ma jority of the cabinet that the Spaniards will accept tho terms laid down by the United States and that whatever of de- lay occurs before that result is reached will be chargeable only to the purpose of the Spaniards to secure the best pos sible terms; to extort the last possible million dollars before acceding to our demands.
 The possibility of disagreement of the commissioners and the failure of the conference, however, IS now contem- plated with greater equanimity than at an earlier stage of the negotiations. The administration has satisfied itself that Spain is neither able nor willing to re- sume hostiliies on any scale that would make her dangerous opponent to the United States.
 Therefore, supposing the conference to fail, all that would be imposed upon our government as an immediate duty would be to take immediate complete military possessions of the Philippines, this, it is believed, could be accomplished without loss of life.
 So far as Cuba is concerned, the diff culty might be more serious, but even in Cuba the Spanish military forces are not in condition to offer Q prolonged re- sistance to the American conquest of | the island and with the Spanish navy at | the bottom of the sea they could not be reinforced by troops from Spain. There fore about the worst that could happen would be the necessity imposed upon us of struggling along without the sigma ture of treaty of peace, but in full, possession of all the territory we desire, and that such conditions can exist with.
 out damage to material interests $
 shown by the history of the Spanish American republic which revolted from Spanish rule.