Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1898-09-29
SPANS ARTFULNESS
Bait to Draw Out the Views Of the
American Commissioners.
EUROPEAN INTERFERENCE INVITED.
The Spanish Peace Commissioners Direct cd
to Make Firm Stand REGARDING the
Cubsn Debt and the Philip.
pine Dan.

WIN when the spanish minister for
foreign affairs, the Duke Almodovar
del Rio, has given publicity to the in'
structions TO the Spanish peace com.
missioDers as to the disposition Of the
Philippines has given rise to the sus
picion among the officials here that
there is behind it a deliberate purpose
to draw out in advance the position Of
the American commissioners on this
most important point. tits noted now
that heretofore the Spanish govern.
ment has waited upon the United
States to make each Of the steps to-
ward final peace before making move
on their side, so that this sudden
change in policy is accounted for only
on the ground stated.
There is, besides this apparent pur.
pose, yelled threat in the last in
struction not under any circumst ances
to allow the United States to interfere
with any disposition OF the islands
outside Of those retained by the United
States, such as Luzon, that Spain may
see fit to make This Is believed to be
an invitation 10 some OF the cont.
mental powers to step forward in sup.
port OF Spain in this extremity, in the
hope Of receiving, as a quid pro quo,
some one Of the Philippines as coal.
ing or naval station.
Although the American peace com.
missioners have so far successfully re-
sisted all attempts to ascertain the
exact nature Of their instructions,
something is known Of their general
character and it may be stated on this
point Of the final disposition Of such Of
the Philippines as are not held by the
United States that, while the president
has nowhere directly admitted any
obligation to the insurgents, yet SO
long as they carry out their part and
avoid rupture at Manila, he feels
that in any arrangement that shall
be made by the peace commission for
the Anal disposition OF the islands,
the insurgents shall not be placed at
the mercy Of the Spanish government
without guarantees for their proper
treatment. BY an extension Of this
same view 1t is unlikely that he would
care to allow them to be turned over
10 another power that might oppres.
sively treat them and especially with
out the consent Of the natives.
Then there are, as the naval experts
have pointed out, strong strategic rea-
sons why the United States should re.
fuse to sanction the cession Of any Of
the Philippine islands to any other
nation to serve as naval base 1t
has been explained to the American
peace commissioners that by the pos.
session Of the island OF Luzon on the
north and the island of Palawan on
the south, the United States would
control the great gateway for the
large traffic that passes between China
and Australia, as well as the myriad
islands of the South Pacific.
1t is noted at the state department
that the Spanish minister for foreign
affairs is reported to have directed the
Spanish peace commissioners Ito make
q firm stand regarding the Cnban debt
and the Philippine loan Of 1895, II
Luzon is coded to America" So far as
the Philippine loan is concerned, that
subject might properly come before
the peace commission. But Judge
Day, the president Of the American
commission, just before his departure,
In answer to question as to whether
any matters relative to Cuba would
come before the commission, pointed
to the language of the protocol to show
that the proper function of the com.
mission was to be found in the dispo.
sition of the future of the Philippine
islands, intimating that no question
touching Cuba in any phrase would be
considered by the commission. The
understanding was conveyed, conse.
quently, that the Cuban debt would
figure in no fashion before the com.
mission, II the American commission.
ers could prevent 1t, although it was
fully expected that the Spanish com.
missioners would make an effort to
bring that subject into the delibera.
tons Of the body.