The herald., 1898-10-30
Causes Remarks by Professor
Norton Of Harvard
THE PROFESSOR AND THE PRESIDENT
Come to Widely Different Conclusions the Question Of
the Disposition Of the Territory Acquired by
the War With Spain

reiterated that things are to be brought to
u speedy close. The question of the Phil.
| ippines has not been formally considered
| by the peace commissioners, but there has
been some information between the Amer
icau and Spanish representatives in which
the former have indicated that the settle
ment will not be as difficult as indicated
some time ago.
As Indicated in the Associated Press dis
patches from Washington a few days ago
| the determination seems to have been
reached by the United States government
to retain all of the Philippine Islands, and
the question for controversy will be over
the allowance to Spain for the islands This
feature of the case is now being carefully
considered by the administration at Wash
ington and by the American commissioners
/ in Paris. In this matter the conclusions
of the United States government will be
based upon what is believed Just and proper.
and as in the case of the Cuban article of
the protocol. the United States position
will be in effect an ultmatum. If accepted
by the Spanish commissioners, as is believed
to be likely, the details will then be ar
ranged
In 1897 Spain issued, by royal duress,
bonds in the sum Of $40,000,000 to which
were pledged the revenues of the Philippines
and to which the Spanish national guaran-
tees were added. From the $40,0O00O0 OBJ
ISdtiVHs NPdlu TedIiIeu NOO,UUu,UuU III CdSn.
The S40,000,000 represent the Philippine
debt, which is entirely outside of the $780,
600, 900 OF the so-called Philippine and Span
ish debt.
The conditions also differ, the Philippine
debt having been created by royal decree
because the archipelago was not a parlia-
mentary colony, while the so-caled Cuban
debt was created by law. The difference
raises the question of the non-responsibl-
ty OF the Philippines when removed from
the sovereignty under which its resources
were pledged
Should the United States absorb the
whether they would assume part or all of
this debt. or more than the Philippine debt.
The Americans have declined to assume
any of the Cuban debt because Cuba is NOT
theirs; but in deposing Spain in the Philip.
pines the Americans take the TERRITORY. and
it is believed there will be some financial
assumption by the United States. AT this
point arises the question of how much fin
nncial relief might compose Spain to her
loss OF the Philippines. Some well informed
persons believe that Premier Sagasta has
determined to be rid of the Philippines and
would direct his commission to sign a treaty
by which the United States should take the
islands and assume the SAC, ,000, 900 of debt
his proposition finds support in the Pa
risian press, which today declares resistance
is impossible and that Spain should abandon
the archipelago.
There are Spaniards in Paris who insist
that, should the United States take the
Philippines without large money consider
atlon, Spain's commission should return.
and the nation, bidding its soldiers in Cuba
and elsewhere take up arms, achieve thus a
glorious martyrdom to national honor.
In these contendng currents the Spanish
commissioners are awaiting the American
declaration on Monday, and they declare
they cannot sign treaty of peace involving
the loss of the Philippines to Spain. 1t IS
appreciated by Spaniards and Americans
alike that should no treaty result here.
hostilities will be continued, and both sides
clearly understand that in such event the
American fleet would Immediately possess
the Philippines beyond question and with
out money consideration to Spain. The
Canaries would then be an object of inter.
est to the United States and possibly other
Spanish possessions.
Close observers here express the belief
that, if in the event of renewed hostilt;es
the United States approached the PENN
snla, no European power, in the present in
ternational condition, would involve itself
in behalf of Spain ''D'
Inc American commissioners today re-
ceived from Washington full advices in re-
sponse to the submission of their individual
views regarding to Philippine questions.
and two sessions were held to consider these
replies.