The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1898-11-29
AMERICAN SIDE.
state Department Left No Looph0ic
for EmrOneRn INTERFERENCE.


state Department LEFT No LoophOie
for European Interference.
Welshilgton. November 2S,-The officials
of the state department Without hesitation
accepted the Associated Press bulletin from
Paris arnoupcing That dae Spanish COM
missloners h ~ accepted the American
terms Secretary Hay has been confident
from the begipaiuS taat such wvild be enc
outcome. although at Zines In tho nog5tia-
lions there were signs of serious disagree
nients that might have led 10 a faiiule of
the soasmission,
II IS not understood from the news 80 far
received thal the commas oners have YET
reached the point OF signing q YEA y.
Much rcmltns 10 he done IN execution OF
the last Instructions OF the sbate degsrl.
nemt uatll the peace treaty Itself becomes
complsted and ready Tor signature. The
work aaay BIZ hurried materially, however
should the STATE Department decide to per
NIT the treasment of tne remaining ques-
tons TO be sei6lsd y separate eonreni ms.
The Instruction iho American COM
mission sent las, wsqs were TO arrange for
Il renewal OF The IeH9,niced trade tIcg AZ
w9,h Spain for t5s acquisition of uasail,
for obtaining CONCESSIONS for cable coGnec.
ttons In other quarters and tor religious
toleration m the CAdollnte. These things
IL may be thai thr american commission
ers may feel that they have complied with
the spirit of their Instructions II they sue
c0ed IN completing the peace treaty. and "A
provision providing the Spanish govern
megt may hereafter treat on those subjects
on lines unst may be very brady de.iAed
in the treaty of peace, I'm thlt case two
or three sees.ons OF the peace commission
should suffice TO complete the work OF
that body, C,htrwlsc I. 8 doubtful whether
tho work can be completed before Christ
mas.
The exact text OF the agreement reached
in Paiis up TO this pein. is not yet known
10 the state department. but OF course II
has knowledge OF the general terms OF tho
agreement. Consequently ii is not posi-
Bile SIT present TO obtain here a copy for
publication OF this important document
Moreover, 1t is suggested nj A. state de-
partmenr t1lt II the customary rules reid
tive TO the publication OF treaties b. fol-
lowed this particular treaty must be held
from the press Until the United Stiios sea-
ate in It's discretion decides 70 make II
public. There is no rule or law, however,
on this point, and The practice Is bssed en-
tirey upon rather oldfashoned conreo-
ton Of the degree of courtesy which should
be exhibited toward the senate by the eN-
ecutivo branch
A call at the state department today OF
the German charge Gaifares. Count Won
Stfraberg, gave rise TO runner that he
lad come 10 make representations TO the
department respecting certain r gbts
claimed BY Germany In tho Sulu Islands.
Whether this is true or not could not be
asuertainei. Tho department however, has
not failed 10 take notice OF certain Indirect
end HuvricIous attempts TO alena'e the
Sulu islands from the rest Of the hip
pines ard has been forehanded in this mat
ter IL recognized from the beginning and
Ibt 1a.t. innr
of Other nations that have gone TO war In
recent wears that attempts might be ea
ractcf ia be made by nations that we're
not party 10 the war 10 secure advantages
20 which they had mot the slightest oqnit-
allie CAIN. Japan was notable sufferer
from TIM, FOrt OF treatment at the hands
q certain European nations and conse-
qlently precautions were taken in the case
Of tho Pads commits sion to avoid leaving
any loophOle fer the entrance OF any plea
or demand for special privileges either In
the matter OF territorial acauistioa or trade
concessions. Accordingly. when the admin |
ietration decided acquire the Philippine !
tho American commissioners were specia ~ |
charged 10 defre the limits Of the group |
20 ms 10 leave no room for mlsconcep'lon on |
this nc MT nor for the setting Mp of claims
10 itlacda whose inctuFloD la the groups
might be regarded as doubtful. To reduce
40 American claim 10 tho c'earest poss BILE |
outlines resort was had 10 the definitions OF
tl~ boundaries Of the Philippine group by
lines. II IL believed that the
definition OF the limits OF the Philippine |
gfoup in the American demands was as
follows:
From degrees 81 minutes north latitude
n ~ degrfes 3s usnsstss north latitude and
from III degrees east long tuds to 1875
degrees east longitude. thus covering pbout
ZOO mites north and south and 900 miles
east acd west.