The age-herald., 1898-11-04
HAVE LIFT ALI
 LIMITATIONS Commissioners Now in Wide Field
 of @''''I9nacy' THE PF5s : PINE QUESTION Is Noe:s und by the Terms of
 Z the Protocol. AMERICAN DEMANDS ARE EXTREME And Cannot be Acceded to by the
 Spanish Commissioners. ANOTHER DIVISION OF ISLANDS Suggested that Luzon, Mindoro and Palaitona be Added to America
 Spaniards Consider Their
 Honor at Stake.
And Cannot be Acceded to by the
 Spanish Commissioners.
ANOTHER DIVISION OF ISLANDS

Paris, November 3.-Last Monday the United States and the Spanish peace com- missioners left the definite limitations of the protocol and entered upon the wide field of diplomacy where an open question is to be decided. Both commissions realize that the area is ample enough for some maneuvering, though the American side the tendency is to evolutions much moro compact than those of the Spaniards. Both would undoubtedly be gratified to reach a mutual conclusion without compulsion. At Mondays joint session the American com- missioners laid down a proposition in tive parts:
 First, that the United States take over the Philippines entire; second, that in so doing that they would reimburse to Spain the sum of permanent and pacific expendi- lures in the Philippines.
 Win Decline American Proposition The logical situation compels the Ameri- cans to make the first move. Having heard the American proposition, the Spaniards might have immediately declined it as they certainly will do at tomorrow's session. Whether they will accompany the refusal with counter proposition has not been definitely ascertained, though at late hour this evening the course seems im- probable. The result will be that the com- missions will retire from confronting posi- tions until one or the other shall rave re- formed It's lines for the next meeting, which will probably occur next week. If the Spanish commissioners entertain hope that after the elections in the United States the American commissioners will re- lax their demands as to the Philippines they have not uttered 1t here for the pub- lie ears, nor has anything been said or done by any member of the United States commission to warrant such hope.
 No Desire to Take Advantage
 The American commissioners came to Paris with no greed for Philippine terri- tory. To an unofficial bystander, the ques- tion will be rather to find the right path and to walk in it, than by bold use of power to wrench the utmost advantage from distressed opponent. The fact is the commissioners have felt that the conditions precedent render the letting go of the Philippines as difficult as their retention. There is, as an instance, the question of the future of Aguinaldo and his followers. The Philippine leader and his associates in the insurrection have squandered immense amounts. The insur- gent leader and his chiefs have forfeited their lives. Could the United States return the Philippines to Spain, Aguinaldo and his fighting followers must be surrendered to death or taken away by the United States and the American commissioners feel that transplanting would be a severe test and an impracticable way to reach amicable ends.
 Might Divide the Archipei'g,
 The entire group might not be necessary for this purpose. Should, then the United States retain the Luzon as their places of refuge? To do this would be to take the most valuable portion of the Archipelago, which might furnish the grounds for more greed and cowardice in evadng responsi- bility for the remainder. The American commissioners have been unwilling to place the United States in such a position.
 Again, there are the pregnant questions of undesirable neighbors, should only Luzon be taken. An progressively disposed power might acquire Mindoro, which Is almost within cannon shot of Luzon, and thus cre- ate a most difficult situation. Could. then, a wiser division of the islands be made?
 Pursuing this inquiry, the most feasible. division seemed to be Luzon, Mindoro and Palaitona, forming a chain of the western boundary, but so closely tangled on the eastern side to make impossible a line of geographical division at once equitable and safe.
 An Equitable settlement
 The American commissioners have not been unmindful that circumstances par, tially of their own shaping, has imposed upon the United States a constructive re- sponsibity for the Philippines, and that either thus must be forsakeu or larger one assumed. They have believed. too. that before the nations of the world, the United States should assume the higher responsibility of the stable government of the entire group, and with a sense of spe- cflc and general obligation. On the ques- tion of the Spanish debt by whatever name known, the American commissioners seem to take broader ground than the mere question of dollars. It is evident they do T not favor coupling any power In debt re- responsibilities. They seem inclined to die rect adjustments on the plain basis of facts and equity. Whether the war lead- CTS of Spain and the United States are to be balanced in the present negotiations 
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