Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-11-10
REJO|NDER TO SPAIN,
Our Answer to the Claims Sub
mitted Last Friday
PHILIPPINE SOVEREIGNTY,
Retaliation Of Spanish Allegation as TO
Terms Of Protocol.
RESTITUTION OF PUBLIC MONEYS.
our Argument L. That the Occuva-
tion of Manila is n Military Occu-
patton, which JustiGes Our Col.
iectiug Revenues There. ~
RESTITUTION OF PUBLIC MONEYS.

PARIS. November 9.-The American
and Spanish Peace Commissioners held
an hours joint session this afternoon.
When the meeting opened the Americans
presented TO their Spanish colleagues the
answer Of the United States to the claims
submitted on Friday lass in behalf OF
Spain. The document in which the Amer
lean answer was set forth consisted of
nearly fifty sheets of typewriter matter.
1t was a refutation of tho Spanish allie
cation that because neither of the words
possession" ownership or "cession'
occurs In the protocol clause touching
upon the Philippine Islands. the Peace
Commissions have no right TO discuss
those words here, and then even IL they
did so, it must be in the light Of tho
alleged fact OF an exterior agreement that
Spain's sovereignty should not be im-
paired.
CUSTOMS COLLECTIONS.
The Americans also answered SPANS
claims for the restitution Of public moneys
and customs collections taken by
United States officials since the capt
Span's claim for an indemnity on dc-
count Of the alleged imprisonment by
United States authorities OF Spanish
troops at Manila, and for their subsequent
restraint from being of service to Spain
i'm the suppression OF the insurrection,
and the preservation of property.
SPANIARDS' CONVENIENT ENGAGE
MENTS.
To these points the Americans had pre-
pared an exhaustive reply yesterday.
which. though not fully typewriter AT ,
p. a.. the time fixed FOR the meeting *
Tuesday. would have been submitted 10
the Spauiards at 4 =. VI. yesterday, mad
IL not been that the commissioners OF
Spain refused TO meet at that hour, plead
ing other engagements az an excuse for
their refusal. The Americans are sur
prised that the Spaniards made unater.
able engagements for 4 o'clock In view
of the fact that the meeting. had II Oc-
CURED. might have extended. as has fire.
quently happened, until half-past o'clock.
OUR JUSTIFICATION.
The Americans Commissioners held that
there was justification, under the terms
Of the protocol. for the discussion Of tho
future OF the Philippine Islands, and they
also claimed that the occupation of Ma
Mia Is a military occupation. which Justi-
hes the United States in collecting tile
revenues, administering the government.
and exercising all the functions Of possess
sion
ADJOURNMENT TILL SATURDAY.
The ioint session was short because
Senior MonterO Rios and Judge Day con-
CURED in the service of the American
rejoinder upon the Spanish commissioners
without a formal reading of the paper,
which would occupy many columns IN am
ordinary newspaper, and an adjournment
was taken until Saturday
II is quite safe TO say that the Ameri-
cans have made no new propositions re-
garding the possession OF the Philippines,
but confined themselves 10 a discussion OF
the proposals and assertions made by
Spain AT the previous meeting
NO AMERICAN YIELDING.
Just what were the terms OF the Ameri-
can rciOinder cannot, OF course, be ascer-
tained. but despite persistent assertions
here TO the contrary. there Is no ground,
as has already been cabled, for the SPAN
ish contention that the United States ac-
auiesced at the signing OF the protocoi
i'm some reservation By Spain OF her
Philippine sovereignty. This utterly un-
founded rumor is now quite wei UNDER
stood TO. have come from high Spanish
source not in sympathy with the United