The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1898-12-01
i'm PLAIN LANGUAGE
Spain Will Learn the Fate Of
the Philippines.
ULT1MATUM HAS BEEN PREPARED
Probably BE Twenty Millions
Not More.

Paris, Nov. 92.-The Spanish peace
commissioners have been notified that
tho United States commissioners will
be ready to treat with them In joint
session tomorrow afternoon. Unless
the Spaniards have an adequate reason
for further delay the two commissions
will join in the most important meet
ing thus far held.
The American commissioners, In .
written communication, will declare
that the third article Of the protocol re-
garding the Philippines ia capable Of
only one fair construction, that no arbi-
tration IL needed to elucidate its terms.
and that the United States cannot ad-
NIT any ether power to figure here
purely as a lexicologist. They will
maintain that the two commissions are
charged to determine whether Spain or
the United States shall in the future
own the Philippines.
This will be accompanied by the
clear declaration that the United
States will possess the Philippines.
Following this declaration, the Amer
lean commissioners will lay before the
Spaniards two alternatives.
First-To accept sum of money from
the United States and to cede and evao-
uate the Philippines.
Second-To lose the Philippines to
the United States by conquest. with
the possibility OF other territorial losses,
or indemnify the United States for the
added expense of conquest.
This communication may not be for
mally designated as an ultimatum, but
1t will lack naught of the conclusive
ness indicated by that word. This
will be so plain that the Spanish COM
missioners will scarcely haggle for
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
commissioners, know how much will be
rendered Spain as the cheapest and
most humane way of settling the diff
Guilty. She is exceedingly anxious to
escape the Philippine debt, and possi-
bly, the sum to be offered may be deter
mined bv an analysis of the debt, which
consists of $40,0O0.000 in bonds, on
which she realized $4,000, 900. OF
the latter amount she is believed to
have expended some $40, 900, 900 or
$l1. 100000 in fighting the United
States and part in attempting to quell
the Philippine insurgents. A reasona.
BILE guess at the sum for the tender
would be $40, 900, 900, although 1t may
fall below that.
The Cuban question may come again
tomorrow. The American commission
had thought the discussion on that
point finished but the Spanish commits
sioners are reported to 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-and probably tomorIow-to de-
mand whether Spain means to repudiate
the plain compact of the protocol to
relinquish sovereignty over and title to
Cuba.
Three weeks ago the Spanish commits
sioners accepted the Cuban article in
the protocol without conditions save
that its embodiment in the treaty
should depend on an agreement here on
all the articles of the protocol. Re-
Gently, however. SPANS representa-
tives have said that the Cuban matter
had only been temporarily passed and
was still In abeyance.