New-York tribune., 1898-11-21
NO MORE DELAY FOR SPAIN.
IMPORTANCE OF TO-DAY's JOINT PEACE
CONFERENCE IN PARIS.
THE AMERICAN DECLARATION ON THE PHILIP
PINES QUESTION TO BE OF a NATURE TO
PREVENT ANY FURTHER
QUIBBLING.

PREVENT ANY FURTHER
oUIBBIING.
Paris. Nov. 20-The Spanish Peace Commits.
soners have been informed that the United
States Commissioners will be ready to treat with
them in joint session tomorrow afternoon
Unless the SDaniards have an adequate reason
for further delay the two Commissions will Join
in the most important meeting thus far held
The American Commissioners. in a written
communication. will declare that the third arti-
Gle OF the protocol. regarding the Philippines Is
capable Of only fair construction that no
arbitration is needed TO eucidate it's terms and
that the United States cannot admit any other
Power 10 figure here purely a exlcooglst.
They will maintain that the two Commissions
are charged to determine whether Spain or the
United States shall IN future own the Philip
pines.
This will be accomplished by clear declara-
tlon that the United States will possess the
Philippines.
TWO ALTERNATIVES FOR SPAIN
Following this declaration the American Com.
mssoners will lay before the spaniards two
alternatives
First-To accept sum OF morey from the
United States and to ccde and evacuate the
Philippines.
Second-To lose the Philippines to the United
States by conquest with the possibility o. other
territorial losses TO indemnify the United States
for the added EXPENSE Of connues,
This communication may not be formally
designated as an ultimatum. but It will lack
naught Of the concluslveness Indicated by that
word. This will be so plain that the Spanish
Commissioners will scarcely haggle for more
money on the first alternative, nor cherish any
doubt OF American action under the second.
should the first be declined
No one here. except the American Commits.
soners. knows how much Will be rendered Spain
as the cheapest and most humane way Of set
Ting the difficulty. She is exceedingly anxious
to escape the Philippine debt and possibly. the
sum to be offered may be determined by an
analysis Of that debt which consists Of $40 OOO-
600 in bonds. which she realized S36 900 600
OF the latter amount she is believed to have
expended $4,000 900 or S11 100000 in fighting
the United States. and part in attempting to
quell the Philippine insurrection.
MAY TENDER Sooooco.
reasonable guess at the sum FOR tender
would be $20000000, though it may fall below
that
The Cuban question may come up again to-
morrow. The American Commissioners had
thought the discussion on that point finished
but the Spanish Commissioners are reported 70
have declared last week that the mortgages
imposed by Spain on the Cuban as we'll as on
the Philippine, revenues must not be impaired
or questioned This would compel the American
Commissioners soon. probably tomorrow. TO de-
mand whether Spain means to repudate the
plain compact Of the protocol TO relinquish SOW
eighty over and title to Cuba Three weeks ago
the Spanish Commissioners accepted the Cuban
article in the protocol without conditions. save
that It's embodiment in the treaty should depend
only upon an agreement here on all the articles
In the protocol. Recently, however Spa.n's
representatives have said that the Cuban mat
ter had been only temporarily passed. and was
still in allegiance.