The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1898-11-04
DEAL IN REAL ESTATE
Proposed to the Spaniards by the
United States Peace Com.
missioners at Paris.
INVOLVES ALL OF THE PHILIPPINES

Discussed - President Decided in His
Course by the Voice of the People for
Expansion Uncle Sam to Pay Only the
Value of Spain's Pacific Expenditure.
Washington, Nov. 1. - The advices
from Paris to the effect that the United
States commissioners have demanded
the cession to the United States of the
entire Philippine group are in line with
the instructions that have been issued to
Up to a very recent date the United
States commissioners had no precise in
structions on this vital point There
was a lack of data as to the financial
and political affairs Of the Philippines,
and so 1t happened that when the COM
missioners sailed they were not COM
mitted beyond change to any line OF
policy. A majority of the numbers
leaned towards a restriction Of the de-
mands to be put forth as to the Philip
pines, varying all the way from the re-
tention of Manila bay and the immedi-
ate surrounding country to the ac-
QUESTION Of the whole island of Luzon.
Alsteneu 10 Inc fOpular DeInhnus
That represented about the extreme
demand that was in mind when the
commission left. But since that time
the president has become convinced that
there is a great popular demand for the
annexation to the United States of the
whole Philippine group, and he is dis
posed to defer to that sentiment. Be-
sides, there is ground to believe that in
an unofficial manner, possibly through
informal communication with Aguin-
aldo's agent in Paris, or perhaps
through some direct dealing between
that chieftain and Admiral Dewey, the
United States commissioners have salts
fled themselves that the difficulties in
the way of annexation, so far as they
might be expected to depend upon the
will Of the natives, have been very much
exaggerated.
The question of money consideration
is the one upon which the difficulty is
expected. Dispatches from Paris yes
terday stated that the commissions held
a joint meeting of two hours duration
at which the American commission pre-
sented its proposition regarding the
Philippines. The United States PROPOSE
ton was to the effect that the United
States government had determined to
possess for itself certain territory and
parts of land bound by and lying within
such parallels of latitude and longitude
as mark the limits of the Philippine
archipelago. The United States do not
purpose assuming the Philippine debt
of $40, 900 900, but they are willing to be
responsible to Spain for a sum of money
equal to the actual expenditures by
Spain in the Philippines for the adj
vantage Of the islands and for the good
Of their people, for permanent better
ments and for improvements, both ply
steal and mental.
Reimbursement of "Pacifc Expenses"
The presentment specifies that the
United States will reimburse Spain to
the extent of her pacific expenditures
made in the archipelago. This phrase
pacific expenditures is employed to
diferentiate the expenditures by
Spain in combating Instructions in
the Philippines. The one is felt by the
American commissioners to be a fair
burden on the acquiring power while
the other and latter class of expenditures
Is held to have been logically assumed
by Spain in the inevitable hazard to q
nation resorting to arms to enforce or
der in its own territory. What are
pacific expenditures" will cause con-
troversy, as they were not defined. But
1t may be accepted that they include
money expended for lighthouses, schools
breakwaters, and perhaps the naval
station at Cavite.
Effect of the scheme on the Dons.
The Spanish commissioners listened
attentively, though not without some
evidences Of impotence and surprise at
the financial suggestions in the Amer
lean presentment, and finally asked un-
til Friday to consult the Madrid gov
eminent and make reply. Adjournment
was then taken to that dav Afta~ ~