The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1898-11-22
PHILIPPINE RESOURCES
ARE PLEDGED FOR PAYMENT
OF PHILIPPINE DEBT.
THIS MATTE ADMITS OF no DISCU5slO
Also Spain Nil not Reveal How she has S39n
Proceeds of Loan Based en- Philippine
Fledges, tmsric4n's Next
Move is Unknown.

Vow 10 ilh'O"Hs
Paris. Nov. 1.-THE clerical force of
the American peace commission was
busy nearly all last night in translating
the Spanish memorandum presented at
Yesterdays joint session. While the
translators and typewriters were render
ing the Spanish argument into printed
English, counsel for the American com
mission studied it sheet by sheet. MAX
ing notes of records to be examined and
of law points bearing on the matter in
hand. AS Il result. when the Americans
gathered for their daily session to-day
the Spanish ~preSentmcnt lay before them
i'll English ready for consideration and
accompanied 10y data bearing upon 1t.
No official person knows the contents
of the document presented by the Span
ish commissioners yesterday, but il IS
safe to assume that added to her insist
ance on the reservation of her Philip
pine sovereignty and her proposition to
arbitrate the construction of the third
article of the protocol. Spain has made
two other important
First-That on the high ground of
financial probity she cannot allow any
discussion here Of the validity of her ac-
ton in piedging the resources of the
Philippines for the payment of the
Philippine debt.
Second-That in connection with the
American proposal to reimburse Spain
for her Pacific expenditures in the
Philippines. she cannot admit of an in
quiry as"to how She has spent the pro-
ceeds of the loan based on the Philip
pine pledges.
If Spain has assumed this attitude,
and it is believed she has done so, she
practically compels the American COM
missionerS to consider at least the entire
Philippine debt and its assumption by
the United States DE the Philippine
Islands as a condition to Spain's amica-
bic surrender of her sovereignty over
those islands,.
1t is difficult to understand how the
American can reply to this III any other
manner than by strictly outlining their
position and giving the Spaniards Il
time limit in which to accept the propo-
stions of the United States. But the
American commissioners may patiently
continue their endeavors to arrive at an
amicabIe understanding on the subject.
AN ENCOURAGING OUTLOOK.
Washington, Nov. 1.-THE administra
ton feels encouraged over the outlook
for Il successful termination of the labors
of the peace commissioners at Paris.
Whether this renewed confidence is
based upon an abstract of the Spanish
reply which was submitted at yesterdays
meeting. or is founded upon private adj
vices indicating a weakening of the
Spanish position. IS not knOwn, but it
is probable that both of these have had
IN influence in frightening the pros
1,n1t- Thn nnni-b rnpl1- ,-a not ~
surprise to the American commissioners.
who in fact had prepared themselves i'll
advance, with Instructions received 6i-
rectly from the President and Secretary
Hay. for a complete answer. Still it was
probably regarded as better policy and
more in accord with the amenities of
official exchange that the Americans
should do the Spanish commissioners
the courtesy Of giving deliberate consid-
GRAFTON to their carefully written .rgu
ment.
The attempt of the Spanish commits
sionerS to induce the Americans to ac-
cept their construction of the meaning
of the protocol, where it touches on the
Philippines has been Il fiat failure.
The President himself was a party to
the protocol. 1t was he. who. suspect
ing Il purpose on the Spanish side to
becloud the issue and leave open a door
for future escape from the consequence
of the war, had swept aside as so much
chaf the message Of the Spanish Duke,
AlmOdovar del Rio. and reducing the
demands of the United States to VIA is
called Il preciSiS. had declared that the
Spanish Government might accept that
rs an exact statement of the demands
of the United States. Having made
the document, the President believes
himself to be the person best
competent to construc its meaning and
the American commissioners are conse-
quently acting in conformity with his
views.
1nasmuch as the Spanish are making
most strenuous efforts to assert their
sovereignty over the Philippines. all
based upon the use of the words dis
position" instead of ''poseSSion'' in that
part Of the protocol relating to the flu
ture of the Philippines, it may be stated
that the American commissioners have
been obliged to call attention to the fact
that NJ. Cambon, who acted for the
Spanish Government i'll arranging the
protocol, declared positively that the
change, which was made at his instance,
amounted to nothing. but was made
merely because it sounded better in
Spanish, and would not be so humiliat-
ing to the Spaniards. Consequently the
American commissioners could not for
an instant think Of allowing the sin
cerity of the then French Ambassador
to be drawn into the question.
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