Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1898-11-24
Spaniards' Delay Can't be
Tolerated Much Longer.
WILL FIX A TIME LIMIT.
Americans Must Get a Yes or No
Answer Early Next Week.
A CABLEGRAM FROM DEWEY.
IL shows the Urgent Necessity for
Prompt Action on the Philippine
Question and Something VIII Drop
Within Very short Time.

Washington, Nov. 19.-News of
mixed character came to the navy de-
partment yesterday from Admiral
Dewey touching the situation in the
Philippines. The admiral sent two of
his warships, the Charleston and the
Concord, some time ago to the south
ward from Manila to ascertain wheth-
er there was truth in reports that the
insurgents he'd ceased their-ctivities
in that direction. Friday he cabled as
follows:
charleston and Concord arrived to-
day from Iloilo. Glass reports that the
entire island of Panay is in possession
of insurgents except IloilO, which is
defended by 500 Spanish troops. All
foreign citizens there are under Amer
lean protection. The island of Negros
has declared independence and desires
American protectorate."
Glass is the commander of the
Charleston. So far nothing has been
done by the administration towards
curbing the insurgents in their opera
tions save verbal representations from
the American commanders to Aguinal-
do in which it has been pointed out to
him that it would be good policy to
pursue a course that would not be OBJ
noxious to the Uuited States. But the
situation is now realized to be critical.
So far as the Spaniards are concerned
perhaps they can be left to take care of
themselves but the foreign residents
at Iloilo are differently regarded. The
i L. =, l,,+ /,
the best intentions to intervene to pro-
tect the Europeans and other foreign
ers and to save the city of Iloilo, the
second in Importance in the Philippine
group, from looting, the United States
forces appear to be estopped under the
rules of war from moving from their
positions. Such is the construction
placed upon the clause in the proto-
col relating to a suspension of HOSTILE
ties.
The effect of this state of affairs
NAV be to hasten action in the Paris
conference, for it is only by the ter
mination of that tribunal that the
United States can come to the relief of
the beleagured SpaniardS in IlOlio and
at other points. 1t is said to be fact,
however, that total disagreement at
Paris may result in speedier action
than if the commissioners agreed upon
the main principles of the Philippine
cession, for in such case several addi-
tional sessions probably would be re-
quired in order to arrange details of
the treaty.
1t is now thought to be certain that
the commission at a meeting next Mon
day or Tuesday will do one of two
things either agree to the cession of
the Philippines or note disagreement
and dissolve the meeting, for the ad-
ministration is not disposed to tolerate
further delay and has SO instructed the
United States commissioners.
There has been renewal of the at
tempts to take issue with the Ameri-
can contention as to the meaning of
the protocol clause relative to the dis
position of the Philippines, and much
ouibbling, accompanied by quotations
from French, Spanish and other Euro
onstrate to Americans just what an
English word might mean. The latter
will take no notice of this kind of a
hair-splitting plea, but at to-day's
meeting will call on the Spanish com
missioners to answer the American
proposition to cede the Philippines,
probably allowing until Monday or
Tuesday only for final answer on
that point.