The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-09-28
Also q shrewd Attempt to Learn In
Advance the Position America Will
Take at the Paris Conference.
FILIPINOS At WASHINGTON
AGUINALDO's AGENTS ANXIOUS TO
TALK WITH THE PRESIDENT.
Gen. Greene Also at the Capital-Ex-
to See President Faure To-Day.

WASHINGTON, Sept. 27-The freedom
with which the Spanish minister for foreign
affairs the Duke Aimodovar del Rio, has
given publicity to the instructions to the
Spanish peace commissioners as to the dis
position of the Philippines has given rise to
the suspicion among the officials here that
there is behind it deliberate purpose to
draw out in advance the position of the
American commissioners on this most i'm
portant point. 1t is noted now that hereto
fore the Spanish officials have waited on the
United States government to take the initial
STEP before making a move on their side,
so that this sudden change in policy is ac-
counted for only on the ground stated.
There is, beside this apparent purpose,
yelled threat in the last instruction, not un-
der any circumstances to allow the United
States to interfere with any disposition of
the islands outside of those retained by the
United States, such Luzon, that Spain
may see fit to make This is believed to be
invitation to some of the continental
powers to step forward in support of Spain
in this extremity, in the hope of receiving
as a quid pro quo some of the Philippines
a coaling or ne..al station
Although the American peace commits
sioners have 70 far successfully resisted all
attempts to ascertain the exact nature of
their instructions. something is KIN wn of
their general character. and it may be stated
on this point of the final disposition of such
of the Philippines as are not held by the
United States that, while the President has
nowhere directly admitted any obligation to
the insurgents, yet so long as they carry
out their part and avoid rupture with our
forces at Manila, he feels that in any ar
hot ch.1I ho do bxrf he
commission for the final disposition of the
islands, the insurgents shall not be placed
at the mercy of the Spanish government
without guarantee for their proper treat
ment. BY an extension Of this same view,
it is unlikely that he would care to allow
them to be turned over to another power
that might oppressivey treat them, espe-
cially without the consent of the natives.
Then there are as the naval experts have
pointed out. strong strategic reasons why
the United States should refuse to sanction
the cession of any of the Philippine islands
to any other nation to serve as a naval
base. 1t has been explained to the American
peace commissioners that by the possession
of the Island of Luzon the north and
the Island of Palawan on the south the
United States would control the great gate
way for the large traffic that passes be-
tween China and Australia, as well as the
myriad islands of the South Pacific.
1t is noted at the State Department that
the Spanish minister for foreign affairs is
reported to have directed the Spanish peace
commissioners ito make a firm stand re-
garding the Cuban debt and the Philippine
loan of 1896 if Luzon is ceded to America
So far as the Philippine loan is concerned,
that subject might properly come before the
peace commission. But Judge Day, the
president of the American commission, just
before his departure, in answer to a ques-
ton as to whether any matters relative to
Cuba would come before the commission,
pointed to the language of the protocol to
show that the proper function of the COM
mission was to be found in the disposal of
the future of the Philippine islands, init
mating that no question touching Cuba in
any phase would be considered by the COM
mission. The understanding was conveyed,
consequently. that the Cuban debt would
figure in no fashion before the commission
if the American commissioners could prevent
it, although it was fully expected that the
Spanish commissioners would make an eff
fort to bring that subject into the delibera-
tions of the body.