The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-11-06
And the Amount Asked by the Span
ish Peace Commissioners for
Surrender of Sovereignty.
COMMENT OF THE PARIS PRESS
INTIMATION THAT JAPAN MAY TAKE
A HAND IN THE MATTER.
German Editors still Showing Their
Hatred of the United States
Text of the Protocol.

WASHINGTON, Nov. 5.--The reports the
State Department has received from the
peace commissioners in Paris indicate that
that body has proceeded in exactly the
line anticipated, consequently, the action of
yesterday was not a disappointment. 1t
was fully expected that the Spanish COM
missioners would endeavor to make better
terms than those offered by the American
commissioners. 1t was not expected they
would close at once with the American
proposition. While they have not, in exact
terms submitted counter proposition, the
Spaniards, by entering on the argument of
the American proposition, have shown a
disposition to negotiate relative to the Phil
ippines that has proved the inaccuracy of
the prediction that they would Indignantly
spurn any proposition that contemplated
REIMBURSEMENT OF Spanish sovereignty over
the archipelago. 1t is quite probable the
way is now open to q compromise between
the two sides, and that a monetary differ
ence will be found to be the only one of
substance. This, it Is believed, is repre-
sented by the difference between about $780,
100000 probably the maximum allowance
which the United States will be willing to
pay Spain for the improvements in the
Philippines, and $200,0O0,0OO, which repre-
sents about the minimum of the Spanish
claim for compensation on account of the
cession of the entire group. With about
$160, ,0CO, 600 at issue in this issue it will be
seen that there is fair reason to expect that
the negotiations at Paris between the two
parties will not be speedily terminated.
1t is freely admitted here that the pre-
sentation of the Spanish objections to the
last American proposal yesterday was adj
mirable in many respects and evidenced the
possession OF keen legal talent by the Span
ish side. Yet the objections and points
made were not new, and, in most cases,
were taken into consideration by the per-
sons who made up the United States case
before leaving Washington and were duly
prepared for. The strongest point made by
the Spanish side relates to the taking of
Manila two days after the signing of the
protocol in Washington, on which they
base their assumption that the United
States was not in possession of any part
of the Philippines outside of the insignif-
cant station at Cavite at the time HOSTILE
ties ceased and were estopped legally from
extending it's possessions. But, as against
this contention, it can be shown by the
Americans that, regardless of the exact
date of the surrender of Manila, Admiral
Deweys fleet lay for two months before the
city, while, for most of the time, United
States troops were ashore near the Spanish
positions, and that the town might have
been taken at any moment during that
period The only restraining influence was
a desire to make sure, before taking pos
session, that the lives and property of the
inhabitants of the city should be safe
guarded to the utmost, and, in reality, the
American forces were as much in possession
of the place then as now. This is only one
illustration of the arguments that have
been prepared to rebut the Spanish conten-
tions and it may be stated that there are
many other strong points in reserve.