, 1898-11-08
FIRST MONEY OFFER
REPORT THAT r. WILL BE MADE
TO SPAIN FOR THE PHIL
IPPINES TODAY.
The Amount Not Yet Fixed-Cession
of the Entire Philippine Group
Will Certainly be Insisted on, In
Spite OF the Protestations Of
Spain's Commissioners.

New York, Nov. IA dispatch to the
Herald from Washington says: SPANS
exhaustive argument against the ces-
sion of the Philippines to the United
States has had the result of making the
officials all the more determined to take
the islands.
Instructions sent to Mr.. Day, chair
man of the American commissioners,
will require him and his colleagues to
renew on Tuesday their demand for the
cession of the group to the United
States and they will make in their COM
munication the first offer of money in
payment for the islands.
1t is understood that the president
will consult tomorrow with some of
his advisers concerning the amount to
be named in the American communica-
ton, but the sun to be paid will not
under any consideration exceed the ag-
gregate Of the debts contracted by the
Spanish government for the improve
ments in the Philippines. All military
debts and debts contracted in the name
of other islands. such as Cuba, will be
barred and the Spanish commissioners
will be informed that they must recog-
nize this fact as promptly as possible.
Secretary Hay has received a full
statement Of the contents of the Span
ish note. Its character was just what
the officials expected-without any new
arguments of importance. Senior Rios
and his colleagues call attention to the
action of the government in delivering
a note through M. Cambon. the French
ambassador. to President Mckinley,
which set forth the understanding of
the Spanish government that in agree
ing to the protocol its sovereignty over
the Philippines would not be affected.
1t is also claimed by the Spanish
commissioners that this declar alton
was was assented to by President Nc
Kinley. As a matter OF fact the note
had been delivered, but the president
declined to answer 1t. either in writing
or verbally. to NJ. Cambon.
The Spanish commissioners have de-
cided, it Is said, that instead of the
United States acquiring the Philippines
this government should pay their gov
eminent an indemnity for the attack
on Manila after the peace protocol had
been signed and for the damage conse-
quently done.
Rear Admiral Dewey's victory in Ma
Mia bay was unimportana and the pos
session Of Cavire during the war was
not such as to give the Americans, the
S%paniards declare, control OF the ISL
ands. and. 1t is claimed, and the claim
Is fortified by argument and many legal
presidents, that the American govern
ment has no moral right to demand the
cession of the entire group of 1,4O0 ISL
ands when 1t held only such a small bit
of territory as that at Cavite and con-
trolled only the bay Of Manila.
All during the war Spanish troops
were stationed on the other islands and
were not molested. The Spaniards in
dictated their willingness, however, to
sell the islands and the authorities
have no apprehension now that any
rupture will occur unless it be over the
amount to be paid.
After the Philippine question has
been disposed OF the commissioners
will consider the determination OF
claims which have uee filed by Amer
leans against Spain and by spaniards
against the United States to offset the
claims filed by Americans for personal
and property injuries. and the question
Of their disposition will have to be de-
cided.