The herald., 1898-11-22

view this afternoon, Immediately after the
announcement of the breaking off of the
peace negotiations, made the following
statement as to the effect of the discon-
tnuanee Of negotiations:
The action of the Spanish commission
ers will not affect the purpose of the United
States government. Our government will
still assert precisely what it has claimed
and it will proceed to carry those claims in
to execution. l don't believe there will be
any concession on the other hand, that is
from the American side, nor actual resist
ance on the other.
at will simply remain for the American
government to hold what it has proposed to
hold, for it is now practically in possession
and all that remains is to make this pos
session an actual fact. While the Spanish
government declines to acquiesce, it cannot
interpose an obstacle, and the only result
will be that it will be compelled later to
recognize what it refuses to acquiesce IN at
present. | say this on the assumption that
notification given means really rupture
of the negotiations and not simply move
ment to take them up in new way. One
significant fact is that this action now re-
ieves this government of the whole ques-
ton of compensation for the Philippines
NO PAYMENT NEEDED
"This effectualy wipes out all C1iigatlons
to make any payment OF moneys TO the
Spanish government. No payment was ever
considered by the United States government
beyond the moderate sum, which L Will not
name, but which was specified IN the IN
structions given to our commissioners. NOW
even this is not to be considered as neces-
sary and the Spanish government cannot
make protest hereafter that score.
'In some respects the rupture Is OF dis
tinct advantage to this government. 1T re-
ieves it of the feeling OF obligation to take
certain steps such as the payment OF money
contemplated and it is free TO act now un-
hampered.
This government has all to gain. Spain
has all to lose. Spain has signed the pro-
tocol and is now bound by it to the extent
Of its provisions. We viii proceed to exc
cute it. Spain can offer no material OBJ
struction to our plan OF execution her
troops already have evacuated Porto Rieo
and none are left on that island. The evac-
uation is going on in Cuba and must be con-
tinued, for it is very unlikely that the Span
ish government would repudiate the pro-
tocol. The evacuation was specifically pro-
vided for in that document and she GER
tainly could not offer any forcible resistance
in those quarters.
WILL TAKE POSSESSION
"Up to this time the possession OF the
Philippines had been in dispute in Paris.
The action of today removes all ground for
dispute for now we will take complete pos
session of the islands and give notice to all
corners, practically hands off, Orders will
go forward to our military and naval com
mande1s in charge in those islands to push
forward, and other islands than that of
Luzon will be occupied.
SIT will not be necessary to occupy any
thing like all of them, probably Panay, Cebu
and two or three Others will be all included
in the plan of occupation and possession.
We will deal with the insurgents there, but
| do not anticipate any serious difficulties
with them. Neither will the extension of
possession throughout the main islands of
the archipelago involve any European COM
plications, as has been suggested 1t is
barely possible that not more than 5000 ad-
ditional troops will be necessary for the pur-
pose and these can readily be dispatched.
Transportation can be gotten in hand with
out much delay and our forces could soon
be in possession of all the islands we care to
take. Meantime the Oregon and Iowa are
en- route to the Pacific and will be added
to our forces there.
whether the Caroines or any portion
of them will be taken, cannot say seri
ously doubt if that will be undertaken.
There are reasons that suggest themselves
as ground for this nnininn y