, 1898-11-19

by them at Wednesdays session of the
joint commission will not be permittet
to change the attitude of the United
States commission.
These points were in substance tina
the Spaniards could not permit any
question to be raised as to authority OF
the Spanish government 20 pledge the
resources of the Philippine loan. and
that they could not permit an account
ing Of the method in which the proceeds
Of this loan had been expended.
There is reason to believe that the
Spanish purpose is to conceal enormous
defalcatiOns by the Spanish officials
who have governed the Philippines
since the issue of the loan. The osten-
sible purpose is to be able to plead in
ability to state what the pacific eXpen-
ditures' have been on account of the
Philippines. which was all that the
United States proposed to reimburse
them for.
The government. however. in antici-
patton Of some such evasivc dealings.
has prepared the American commits
sioners with instructions which exact
ly meet this case. They know approx
mately just about the value OF the bet
terments in the Philippines, having
ascertained this from private. but thor
oughly reliable sources.
Knowing this. they can afford to ig-
more entirely the efforts of the Span
iards to beclOud the facts and will aGop:
the simple e%xpedient of proffering a
lump sum of as many million dollars as
is deemed fair and just to tender for the
dering no statement or calculation as
a basis for the offer. Thus there will
be avoided the danger Of a long wran-
gle over complex statements of figures
and the issue will be made with perfect
clearness.
1t is believed that the Spanish com
missioners finally will accept this offer,
though it is fully expected that once
the commission reaches the point of
naming sums CT money and has left
behind it all the irrelevant discussion
touching sovereignty. the Spanish com
m~issioners may make a determined eff
fort to ecure a larger allowance than
the president has sanctioned. Judging,
however, by the conduct of the Ameri-
can commissioners up to this point.
there will be every latitude allowed
the Spaniards in this matter, and il is
believed that they have come to appre-
ciate the fact that the American propo-
sition is in the end just about what it
was in the beginning and that Ameri-
car diplomacy is straightforward at all
points.
Paris, Nov. lS.-The United States
commissioners are devOting today, as
they did yesterday. to formulating their
next presentation for the consideration
of the Spanish commissioners.
While the Americans are reticent as
to their intents, it may be said without
reserve that the occasion is near upon
which the exact peace terms acceptable
to the American commissioners will be
laid before the Spaniards. with time
limit for their acceptance.
As previously indicated in the dis
patches. the American commissioners
will not involve the United States in
any obligations to the creditors of Spain
in any shape or form. In other words
the Americans will not guarantee any
of the Spanish bonds. even if they have
mortgaged as security the revenues OF
territory to be taken by the United
States.
As set forth in these dispatches on
October 81, and previously. the United
States may now balance its war ledger,
debiting to Spain the value of the bat
tleship Maine, the cost Of the military
and naval operations, the losses incur
red by American commerce and the
future pension rOol, etc, while on the
other side of the sheet may be placed
SPANS equities and values IN the Phil
ippines. If a difference is found to eX-
list in favor of Spain, this amount, in
cash, may be offered her by the Amer
lean commissioners upon the next joint
session here. What this balance may
be is not definitely known but it may be
about 500, 90, 900, or possibly less. The
Americans may also require until next
Monday or Tuesday to prepare the final
presentation Of their case. which was
understood at the adjournment OF
Wednesday last.
There were three official functions
here yesterday afternoon and evening
which aroused considerable interest
among the American peace commits
sioners. The first was the bestowal Of
the order Of the Golden Fleece upor
President Faure by the queen regent o.
| Spain through the president Of The