The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-11-19
ANOTHER MEETING T0-DAY
WHEN AMERICANS WILL PUT AN
END TO HAIR-sPLITTING PLEAS.
Spaniards May BE Informed They
Must Either Cede the Philippines
or Return to Madrid.

WASHINGTON, Nov 1s-News of a
mixed character came to the Navy Depart
ment to-day from Admiral Dewey touching
the situation in the Philippines. The ad-
miral sent two Of his war ships, the Charles
ton and Concord, some time ago to the
southwark from Manila to ascertain wheth-
er there was any truth in reports that the
insurgents had extended their activities in
that direction. To-day he cabled as follows
from Manila:
The Charleston and Concord arrived to-
day from Iloilo Commander Glass reports
that the entire island of Panay is in possess
sion of the insurgents, except Iloilo, which
IS defended by 500 Spanish troops. All foreign
citizens there beg for American protection.
The insurgent negroes have declared their
independence and desire American protec-
tOrate."
Glass is commander Of the Charleston. So
far nothing has been done by the admins
tration towards curbing the insurgents in
their operations save verbal representation
from the American commanders to Aguin-
aldo, in which it has been pointed out to
him that it would be good policy, in view of
the probability of the annexation of the
islands by the United States to pursue a
course that would not be obnoxious to the
realized to be critical. So far as the Span
iards are concerned, perhaps they can be
left to take care of themselves, but the for
eign residents of Iloilo are differently re-
garded. The difficulty in the situation is
that with the best intentions 10 inervene
to protect the Europeans and other foreign
ors and to save the city of Iloilo the second
in Importance in the Philippine group, from
looting, the United States forces appear to
be estopped, under the rules of war, from
moving from their positions. Such is the
construction placed on the clause in the pro-
tocol relating to the suspension of hostili-
ties.
The immediate effect of this state of af-
fairs may be to hasten action in the Paris
conference, for it is only by the termination
of that tribunal that the United States car
come to the relief of the beleaguered Span
iards in Iloilo and at other points. 1t is
said TO be fact, however that a total dis
agreement at Paris may result in speedier
action than if the commissioners agreed on
the main principles of the Philippine cession,
for in such case several additional sessions
probably would be required in order to ar
range the details of the treaty. 1t is now
thought to be certain that the commission
at meeting next Monday or Tuesday will
cession Of the Philippines or note a dis
agreement and dissolve the meeting-for the
administration is not disposed to tolerate
further delay and has so instructed the
United States commissioners. The latter
sent long cablegram to-day in cipher. The
deciphering occupied the entire official day
and meantime there were wild rumors
touching the nature of it's contents. AS a
matter Of fact it was nothing more than an
extremely verbose statement of the Spanish
side Of the case relating to the Philippines.
There was renewal OF the attempts to take
issue with the American contention as to
the meaning of the protocol clause relative
to the disposition of the Philippines, and
much quibbling, accompanied by quotations
from French, Spanish and other European
Languages, in the effort to demonstrate to
Americans just what an English word might
mean. The latter will take no notice of this
Kind of hairsplitting plea. but at to-mor-
rows meeting will call on the Spanish COM
missioners to make answer to the American
proposition to cede the Philippines probably
allowing until Monday or Tuesday for final
anc responsive answer on that point.
AS previously intimated the two new
points laid down by the Spanish commits
sioners will not be permitted to change the
=.
These points were, in substance, that the
spaniards could not permit any question to
be raised as to the authority of the Spanish
government to pledge the resources of the
philippines to meet the Philippine loan, and
that they could not permit an accounting
OF the method in which the proceeds of this
loan had been expended. There is reason to
Oe'ieVe that the Spanish purpose is to con-
oeal enormous defaleations by the Spanish
omcials who have governed the Philippines
SINCE the issue of the loan. The ostensible
purpose is to be able to plead inability to
state what the pacific expenditures have
been on account of the Philippines, which
was all that the United States proposed to
reimburse them for. Our government how
ever in anticipation of some such evasive
dealings, has prepared the American COM
missioners with Instructions which exactly
meet this case. They know approximately
Just about the value of the betterments in
the Philippines having obtained this from
private but thoroughly reliable sources.
knowing this they can afford to ignore en-
tirey the Efforts of the Spaniards to be-
cloud the facts. and will adopt the simple
expedient of proffering lump sum, as
many million dollars is deemed fair and
1ust to tender. for the Spanish properties,
requiring and rendering no statement or cal
eulation as a basis for the offer Thus there
VIII be avoided the danger of long wrangle
over complex statement of figures, and
the issue will be made with perfect clear
ness II Is believed that the Spanish COM
mlssioners finally viii accept this offer,
though II is fully expected that once the
commission reaches the point Of naming the
sum Of money and has left behind Il all OF
me irrelevant discussion touching SOW