The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1898-11-24
OUR DEMANDS ON SPAIN.
The Instructions Sent to the
Peace Commissioners
in Paris.
THEY ARE VERY EMPHATIC
Declare the Intention of the Gov
eminent to Retain All the
Philippine Islands.

Spain Must ReI,nquish Her Sovereignty
Over Thsm-The Report That an UIti-
matum Had Been sent to Paris is Un.
true, and Thore Has Been No Meeting
OF the Cabinet at Washington.
Washington, Nov. 15.-It Is realized
In official circles that before the end
or the present week the peace nego-
tiations In Paris will have reached
point where Spain will be compelled to
acquiesce In the American propositions
regarding the control and ownership
OF the Philippines or take the conse-
quences of refusal. While no ultima.
tum has yet been sent by this Govern
ment for presentation to the Spanish
Commissioners, the instructions trans
mitted yesterday are of such a char
acter as to strengthen the hands of the
American representatives in their in.
sistence that procrastination on the
part Of Spain must cease. Whether 1t
will be necessary to make more en-
phatic the intentions of the United
States to hold the Philippine archipel-
ago at all hazards must be left to the
developments of the next several days.
From the beginning Of the present
stage of the peace negotiations the
American Commissioners have en-
deavored to avoid harsh measures in
bringing their Spanish opponents to
realization that this Government Is
thoroughly In earnest in its expressed
Intention to retain all the islands, and
that the fact that the Americans have
permitted themselves to be drawn in
to discussion of their right to make
the primary demand should not be
construed into an understanding that
discussion of the cession of the Phil.
ippines Is Akely to lead to any COM
promise. The truth of the matter In
that this Government has come to the
conclusion that the present character
of the negotiations is likely to be pro-
longed unless the United States repre-
sentatives emphasize the decided stand
they took at the beginning Of the con.
sideration of the Philippines question.
That such emphasis will be given at
the next meeting of the Joint Commits
sion Is assured by the instructions sent
by the Secretary of State to Mr.. Day.
What the next move of the United
States will be win depend on the an
swer Of the Spaniards. 1t Is believed
here that Spain will not make posi-
tive refusal to abide by the conditions
imposed by the United States, but she
may, through her representatives IN
Paris, endeavor to cause further delay
by an indefnate reply. In that event
crisis will undoubtedly be preclpitat.
ed quite as certainly as If direct re-
fusal were given.
There has not been the slightest in
tention on the part of this Govern
ment to recede from it's demands for
the cession Of the Philippine archipela-
go or to modify that demand in any
way. The proposition of the United
States Is that claim to sovereignty over
the entire group must be relinquished
by Spain. When that much is accom-
plished the American Commissioners
will enter into consideration of the
question of the amount of compensa-
tioh due Spain for permanent public
improvements in the islands. Reports
to the contrary are quite as ridiculous.
as Is another sent out from Washing
ton that an ultimatum was sent to
Paris as result of Cabinet meeting
held in the White House. There was
no Cabinet meeting held. A few of
the Cabinet officers were at the White
House, in accordance with the custom
of some of them to drop in for a chat
with the President whenever opportun-
ity offers. The instructions to the
American Commissioners were agreed
on at the special Cabinet session, and
were prepared at the State Department
and transmitted to Mr. Day before the
close Of the regular department hours.