The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-11-01
THE DEBT WE ASSUME
ALL SPENT FOR BENEFIT OF
ISLANDS AND PEOPLE.
BEYOND THIS WE WILL ASSUME NOTHING
After the Delivery Of the Demand in Written
Form, The Session was Adjourned
Until Friday u Give Time
for Reply.

Paris, Oct. 31.-The American com
ton of the purpose of the United States
to take the entire group of Philippine
Islands. and to assume such proportion
of the Philippine debt as has been spent
for the benefit of the islands or their in
habitants. in public works, improve
ments and permanent betterments.
1t was also set forth that the United
States would not assume any part of the
Philippine debt, which had been incur
red by Spain for the furtherance of
military or naval operations to quell in
surrections of the natives.
The session was adjourned until Fri
day, in order to give the Spaniards time
to prepare a reply.
The session to-day lasted a little over
an hour.
SAY OUR PEOPLE WANT THEM.
Washington, Oct. 31.The advices
from Paris to the effect that the United
States peace commissioners have de-
manded the cession to the United States
of the entire Philippine group is i'll line
with the instructions that have been
issued to the representatives of the
United States. Up to a very recent date
the United States commissioners had
no precise instructions OH this vital point.
OF course before they had departed FROM
Washington much consideration had
been given to this important subject by
the President, Secretary Day. Assistant
Secretary Moore and the members of
the commission. But there was lack
of data as to the financial and political
affairs Of the Philippines, and it so hap
pened that when the United States COM
Inissioners sailed they We're not com
mitted beyond change to any line OF
policy A majority of their number
leaned toward construction of the de-
lnands to be put forth as to the Philip
pines, varying all the way from the re-
tention of Manila bay and the iinme-
date surrounding country, to the acqui-
sition of the whole island of LlZon.
That represented about the extreme de
mand that was in mind when the com
mission left. But since that time the
President has become convinced that
there is great popular demand for the
annexation to the United States of the
whole Philippine group. and he is dis
side, there is ground to believe that, in
an unofficial manner, possibly through
the informal communication with Agon-
cillo, Aguinaldo's agent in Paris, or per-
haps through some direct dealing be-
tween the chieftain and Admiral Dewey
the United States commissioners have
satisfied 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.
PREPARED FOR THE DEMAND.
1t cannot be learned definitely what
money consideration is to pass with the
title to the Philippines. Indeed there
is reason to believe that even the United
States peace commissioners have not yet
been able to fix the amount exactly.
Assuming that they are to repudiate all
portions of the debt of the islands which
does not represent money spent for ac-
tual betterments, it will be seen at once
that the task presented to the commits
sioners, of differentating this debt, is
not an easy one; particularly in view of
the notoriously loose financial methods
of the Spanish colonial authorities.
That this debt should be assumed by
the United States in some proportion
is said at the State Department to be