The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-11-27
Her Commissioners Still Waiting
For Instructions.
TREATY WILL BE SIGNED
SPAIN EXPECTED TO YIELD AT
TIE LAST MOMENT.
Efforts to Secure Modification of the
Terms Have Been Unsuccessful
No Counter Propositions VIII Be
Entertained-Discu Concern
ing .open Door" For Philippines.


Paris, Nov. 26.-The Spanish peace
commission this evening does not know
what will be the terms. of the answer
to the American tender. of $2O,0O0,000
for treaty cession Of the Philippines.
Senior Montero Rios, president of the
commission, will himself write SPANS
final reply, presumably upon the lines
approved by the Madrid government,
but as yet he has not. formulated
sentence thereof.
Up to this evening the Madrid gov
eminent had not instructed its COM
mission here to reject the United
States offer Some tentative instruc-
tons have been received from Madrid,
but today Senior Montero Rios tele-
graphed to Madrid for a construction
of them, or clearer light thereon, and
the commission is now awaiting a re-
ply.
Spain will not ask for time beyond
Monday. She will then meet the Amer
leans and make a conclusive reply.
Speculation continues rife here as to
the acceptance or refusal of the Amer
lean terms, but a majority of those
who are in any degree able to judge
believe that Spain VIII yield, and the
American commissioners expect that a
treaty will be signed.
Regarding the discussion of the So
called open door policy in the Philip
pines. the American commissioners I'M
derstand that it does not mean free
trade, nor even low duties, but that
the Philippines, whatever the tariff
rates, shall be open to all trade on
equal terms. The Philippine islands
will be expected to yield sufficient rev.
enue to meet the expenses of adminis-
tration, and a large schedule of du-
table goods may be established, or
only few may be taxed.
Another and more important ques-
ton will be resolved favorably to other
nations That is, all the ships of all
nations will be permitted to engage in
commerce throughout the archipelago.
This is in contradistinction of the Unit
ed states edict of coast trade in for
eign bottoms and may possibly extend
also to Cuba and Puerto Rico
Inc advantage to the United States
in the Philippines coasting trade lies
In the fact that American goods will
only nave one ocean to cross, while the
goods of other nations must cross two
oceans
The Philippine islands will be admin
lstered as a colony, and the argument
against colonial government is conuro-
verified by Alaska If the United States.
1t is pointed out, has no right to hold
colonial possessions, then the title in
Alaska is void The United States ap-
points a governor and a judge in
Alaska, but it has no legislative power.
Somewhere in the bred Scott decision
1t is admitted there may have been an
ob1ter dictum contra colonial govern
ment by the United States, but, it is
added, that would be held not to be
vital in the present age and under the
present circumstances.
On an objection being made to- the
varying tariff duties in the American
possessions, recurrence is. made here to
the treaty by Jefferson, which per
mitted the Creek tribe of Indians, while
occupying United States territory as
a separate nation, to secure for them
selves, free of duty, goods from Florida,
then Spain, or from England or else
where.