Evening star., 1898-10-31
SPANIARDS GIVEN Time TO REPLY
Short Joint Session of Commis-
ADJOURNED TILL FRIDAY

PARIS. October 31.-The American COM
nlissioners today presented written ex-
preston of the purpose of the United
States 10 take the entire group of Philip
pire Islands, and to assume such proper
ton of the Philippine debt as has been
spent for the benefit of the islands or their
inhabitants. in public works, Improvements
and permanent betterments-
1t was also set forth that the United
States would not assume any part of the
Philippine debt which had been incurred by
Spain for the furthegaace of military CT
naval operations to Quell instructions OF
the natives.
The session was adjourned until Friday,
in order to give the Spaniards time to pre-
pare reply.
The session today lasted little over an
hour
senor Rios Health Better.
The president of the Spanish commission,
Senior Montero Rios. whose health at one
time was so preCarious as TO threaten an
indefinite adjournment of the sessions of
the commissions, had improved TO the eN-
tent Of enabling him to attend today's
meeting. He arrived at the foreign office
in a closed carriage with his colleagues
shortly after the Americans reached the
meeting place
Shortly after o'clock the ten commits
siouers confronted each other across the
table on which in 1Ts.}. Benjamin Franklin
and his colleagues signed the treaty of in
dependence of the United States.
The day bleak, with flying clouds,
ftfuI sunshine. whirling leaves and raw
air.
Instructions to the Commissionerss.
+rD Dar 70 ba ha
the United States peace commissioners
have demanded the ccssion to the United
States OF the entire Philippine group are
In line with the instructions that have been
Issued to the representatives, of the United
States Up 10 very recent date the Uni
ted States commissioners had no precise in
structlOns this vital point OF course,
before they departed from Washington
much consideration had been given to this
important subject by the President, Secre
tary Day, Assistant Secretary Moore and
the members of the commission. But there
was a lack Of data as to the financial and
political affairs Of the Philippines. and so
Il happened that when the United States
commissioners sailed they We're not com
Inltted to any line Of pOICy beyond change.
majority Of their number leaned toward
Testrietlon q, OF the demands I" t. put forth
as TO the Philippines, varying all the way
from the retention Of Manila bay and the
Immediately surrounding country to the
acquisition Of the whole island of Luzoa.
nand that in mind when the com
mission left the United States.
But since that time the President has be
come convinced that there is a great pOpu-
lar demand for the annexation to the Uni
ted States Of the whole Philippine group,
and he is disposed 10 defer 20 that senti-
ment.
Attitude of the Natives.
Besides. there is ground to believe that in
an JuodiSiu manner, possibly through in
formal communication with Ag1nciIlo.
AgUiralde's agent in Paris, or perhaps
through some direct dealing between that
Ch'eftJIu and Admiral Dewey. the United
States commissioners have satisfied them
selVe: th't the difficulties in the way OF an
teNd tlon. 50 lar as they might be expected
70 depend uI on the will of the natives hayt.
teen very much exaggerated. If this be-
SO. then there has been removed as a fac.
tor In the calculations one of the most dis
tUrbing elements of the case, for il could
scarcely be contemplated with equanrrity
that our government. after having expelled
tHe SpdnldrGS, should willingly be placed
In ths position of attempting 10 govern an
unwilling people.
The Money Considerations
1t cannot be learned definitely what mon
ey consideration is to pass with the title to
the Philippines. Indeed. there is reason to
believe that even the United States peace
commissioners have not yet been able to
nN the amount exactly Assuming thai
they are TO repudiate all portions Of the
oeot Of the Islands which does not repre-
sent money spent for actual betterments
u VIII De seen at once that the task nre .
sth'ed 10 the commissioners of differentiat
ing thls debt IS not an easy one. partjr
u.ariy IN view of the notoriously loose fnan
thorities. "'0iA'ai au-
That this debt should be assumed b,, tho
hllyd States in some proportion is snIl "a
the state Department to be ineVitabIe If
annexation Is TO follow. The conditions
presented are entirely unlike those IN Cuha
IN the latter case there was Justification in
International law and precedent Tor our re-
;usa4 10 be saddled with the debt when we
iitd received no tangible asset
but IN the case of the Philippines rich
ana Well populated. the United States
Houid acquire what. in the eyes of the
NGrid' Is most valuable possession, and
II IL believed that the holders uf all Span
!sh government obligations without regard
70 nationality would insist that the lien
shoCld pass with the property
Spanish Informed some DAYS Ago.
Quite unofIicially. but in manner to
carry conviction as TO the accuracy of the
Information, the Spanish commissioners
were allowed n few days ago TO know what
the United States purpose as 10 the Phil