The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1898-11-02
Spain'sAnswer
to Them.
WILL BE ACCEPTED.
Such is the Belief Among
the Cabinet Members.

Washington Nov 1.-The cabinet to-
day devoted most of it's attention to
the consideration of questions connect
ed with the administration of affairs in
Cuba and Porto Rico. The admins
trative feature of the Philippine ques-
ton also received some attention. Moth
ing has been heard from the commits
sion at Paris as to yesterdays proceed
ings, and it is realized that nothing is
to be expected in the way of develop
ments until Fridays session.
While the cabinet gave little atten-
ton today to the peace negotiations at
Paris, there is no longer any doubt as
to the general purposes of this govern
ment to retain the entire Philippine
archipelago. If, after final balancing
of the account, viz, the cost of the war
to the United States on one side and
our acquisitions on the other, it is found
that any compensation is due the
Spaniards, it will be made in lump
sum.
1t is pointed out that at the time the
protocol was signed the United states
did not have and has not since acquired
any part of the Philippine ISLANDS out
side of Manila city and harbor ana tnat
the United States has never entertained
a purpose to acquire any territory py
the power of conquest. What the Unit
ed States will insist upon is that she
must be fully reimbursed for every dol
lar expended on account of the war, and
in the statement will be included an
amount sufficient to cover all payments,
present and prospective, on account OF
pensions incident to the war.
No Spanish bonds of any character
or amount, other than local or munich
pal bonds viii be paid or assumed by
this government. The question of the
status of municipal obligations under
circumstances like the present is fully
settled by international law and it
must be recognized as valid and bind
ing by the conquering power. Hence
it is assumed that the United States
viii not raise any question on this
point, but promptly consent to guaran-
tee their final payment. What sum
of money this government would con-
sent to pay to Spain cannot even be
estimated, but when the final account
is rendered, it is believed that the bal
ance due Spain will be small, probably
not exceeding $25, $1,000 or $50, 000
The belief prevails among a majority
of the cabinet that the SpaniardS will
accept the terms laid down by the
United States, and that whatever of de-
lay occurs before that result is reached
will be chargeable only to the purpose
of the Spaniards to secure the best pos
sible terms, to extort the last possible
million dollars before acceding to our
demands
The possibility of disagreement of the
commissioners and the failure of the
conference. however, is now contem
plated with greater equanimity than
at an earlier stage of the negotiations.
The administration has satisfied itself
that Spain is neither able nor willing
to resume hostilities on any scale that
to the United States. Therefore, sup
posing the Paris conference to fall, all
that would be imposed upon our gov
eminent as an immediate duty would
be to take complete military possession
of the Philippines. That, it is believed,
could be accomplished by us without
loss of time or life.
The last vestige of Spanish military
power in the islands is that under Col
onel Rios, commander in chief of the
Visayas islands, and by deput1zed au-
thority in charge of all Spanish ter
ritory not directly within the control of
the United States in the Philippine ISL
ands. His force is insignificant, from
military point Of view, and it is doubt
full il he could have held his own
against the insurgents had the Tagals
been allowed by Admiral Dewey to
make Manila the base of an expedition
directed against the Spanish command
er.
So far as Cuba is concerned, the diff
Guilty might be more serious, but even
in Cuba the Spanish military forces are
not in condition to offer a prolonged re-
sistance to the American conquest of
the island, and with the Spanish navy
at the bottom of the sea they could not
be reinforced by troops from Spain
Therefore about the worst that could
happen would be the necessity imposed
upon us by struggling along without
the signature of a treaty Of peace, but
in full possession of all the territory
we desire, and that such conditions can
exist without damage to material inter-
ests is shown by the history of the
Spanish American republics which re-
yolted from SPANS rule.