Rock Island Argus., 1898-11-19
GROWS PEREMPTORY.
Uncle Sam Gets Tired OF the
Long-Drawn-Out "Nego-
tiations" at Paris.
AGREE Or DISSOLVE NEXT WEEK,

Is the Order Alleged to Have Gone Across
the Water TO Our Commissioners-Crit-
icai Situation in the Philippines One
Reason for Hurryine the Paris End of
| thc Trouble-AGuinaido's Eebs Putting
White People in Peril at IIoiIo.
| Washington, Nov. 70. IL is now
thought to be certain here that the
| peace commissions al Paris ct meet
| ing next Monday or Tuesday Will DO
| one Of two thinss-either agree TO the
| cess.on of the Philippines or note 4
| disagreement and dissolve the meeting,
| for the administration is not disposed
| TO tolerate further delay and has SO
| instructed the United States commits
| sioners. The latter sent q Iong cable
| gram yesterday il cipher. The deci-
| pherirg occupied the entire official day.
and meantime there were wild rumors
! touching the nature OF its contents. As
| 4 matter OF fact it was nothing more
| than an extremely verbose statement of
| the Spanish side Of the case relating
| to the Philippines. There was a re-
newal of the attempts to take issue
with the American contention as TO the
meaning of the protocol clause relative
TO the disposition OF the Philippines,
ana much quibbiirE. accompanied by
quotations from French. Spanish and
other European languages, in the ef-
fort 70 demonstrate to Americans just
what an English word might mean.
The latter viii take no notice of this
kind OF hair-splittinG plea, but at to-
days meeting Will call on the Spanish
commissioners to make answer to the
American proposition to ceGe the Philip
pines. probably allowing until Monday
or Tuesday only fer a final and re-
sIOnsive answer on that point.
Unsatisfactory News from Manila.
one reason for this peremptory policy
is that rews Of a mixed character came
TO the navy department. yesterday from
Admiral Dewey touching the situation
in the Philippines. The admiral sent two
Of his warslips. the Charleston and the
Concord. some time ago To the south
ward from Manila TO ascertain whether
there was truth in Ec2orts that the in
sur%ents had expended their activities
in that direction. Yesterday he CablCd
as follows: The Charleston and Con-
cord arrived today from Iloilo. Glass
reports that the entire island Of Paray
is IN posse ssiCn of Insurgents except
Hoilo. which is defended by 500 Spanish
troops. All the foreign citizens there
beg for American protection. The isl
and Of Negros has declared inceper-
G52ce. and desires American protector
Charleston. So far nothing has been
done by the administration towards;
curDinE the Insurgents il their opera
tions save verbal representations from
the American commanders to Aguin-
aldo.
AGuinaIdo Is Given a Hint.
1t has been pointed out TO him that it
would be good policy. IN view of the
probability Of the annexation of the
islands by the United States. to pursue
a course that would rot be obnoxious to
the United States. But the situation IL
now realized t. be critical So far as
the Standards are concerned, perhaps
they can he left to take care Of them
selves: but the foreign residents at
IIotIo are differently regarded. The diff
~ulty III the situation is that with the |
best intentions to intervene to protect
the Europeans and other foreigners and
10 save the city of Eoilo. the second in |
Importance in the Philippine group.
from looting the United States forces
appear to be estopped under the rules |
Of war from moving from their posi- |
tions.
Disagreement at Paris Blessing.
The immediate effect Of this state of |
Prafs conference. FOR it is only by Jhe |
Termination Of that tribunal that the |
United States can come to the relief of |
the bclelGuered Spaniar5s n IIoilo and |
ut other points. 1t IS said to he a fact. |
however. that Il total disa Greement at |
Paris may result in speedieT don than |
II the commissioners agreed upon the |
main principles OF the Philippine ces-
sion. for ir such case several additional |
sessions probably would be required il |
order 10 arrange the details Of the |