Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-10-12
+ why WE PAID ron PHILIPPINES
Reasons Which Justify Our paying
According 10 Judge Day.

COLUMBUS, o., October 1.-THE first
public utterance Of Judge william i
Day, who was president Of the American
Peace Commission, concerning the de-
Mberations Of the commission at Paris, is
contained in a letter written to former
Congressman D. K. Watson of this city,
and read by him at a Republican meeting
on the East Side tonight.
Judge Day sets forth the reasons which
In his mind, justified the payment OF
S200JU.O00 for the Philippines, declaring
that It was never cOntended by tine
American commissioners that the United
States had q right 10 the Philippines as
matter Of conquest.
The letter follows:
In reply to your recent inquiry as 10
my understanding OF the reasons which
induced the agreement on the part OF
the American commissioners in negO-
tiating the treaty Of Paris to incorporate
in the treaty an article which should re-
quire the payment by tho United States
TO Spain for the cession OF the Philip
pines of the sum Of $Z0.Oo4O)1, l beg 20 say
L think this subject Is made quite plain
by a reference TO the printed protocol Of
the joint commission, which you Will
find IN Senate Document No. G.. Fifty
!
printed volume published last winter af-
ter the treaty was submitted TO the SEN
ate Of the United States You VIII dis
cover that this subject was first brought
~ the American commissioners to the
attention Of the Spanish commissioners
in q proposal for an article in the treaty
on which Spain should cede 20 the United
States the archipelago known as the
Philippine Islands, which proposal con-
Guided with the statement:
"'The American commissioners beg
further TO state that they are prepared
to insert I'm the treaty % stipulation for
the assumption by the United States Of
any existing indebtedness OF Spain in
CURED for public works and improve
ments Of a pacific character in the Phil
ippines.' Senate document G.; page. lO9)
TO HASTEN NEGOTIATIONS.
1T Is unnecessary 10 review the long
discussion which ensued or TO restato
the grounds upon which the Spanish
commissioners rejected this proposal and
declined TO cede the islands TO the United
States You will find the discussion fully
developed i'm the record, IL you see III TO
read IL. on the Dist OF November fol-
lowing the American commissioners, in
Joint session OF the commission pre-
scented a proposition. which the American
nection with which it was said:
1.-THE proposal presented b. the Amerl-
can commissioners in behalf Of their
government for the cession Of the Phil
ippines TO the United States having been
rejected by the Spanish commissioners,
and the cOunter-prOpOsal Of the latter for
the withdrawal Of the American forces
from the islands and the payment Of an
indemnity by the United States to Spain
having been rejected by The American
commissioners, and deeming 1t essential
that the present negotiations, which al
ready have been greatly prOtracted,
should be brought TO an early and de-
finite conclusion, We beg now TO present
a new proposition. embodying the con-
cessions which. for the sake OF imme-
date peace, their government IS, under
the circumstances willing 10 tender
" The Government Of the United states
Is unable 20 modify the proposal here
tofore made for the cession Of the entire
archipelago Of the Philippines, but the
American commissioners ale authorized
TO offer 10 Spain, I'm case the cession
should be agreed to, the sum OF twenty
million dollars $4,000 00O 10 be paid IN
accordance with terms TO BE- fixed IN the
treaty Of peace Senate document o.;
page, 2l0)
Another concession proposed consisted
Of IN agreement 10 admit Spanish ships
and merchandise FOR term Of years into
the ports Of the Philippine Islands on the
same terms as American ships and mer-
chandise. The American commissioners
also expressed a willingness 70 insert a
provision for the mutual REIMBURSEMENT
OF claims Of the United states that might
have arisen since the beginning Of the
instruction in Cuba and prior to the
conclusion OF the treaty OF peace.
ION the 18th OF November the Spanish
Commissioners accepted the terms offer
ed by the representatives Of the United
| states.
| FOR SAKE or IMMEDIATE PEACE.
you will observe that in making this
proposal it is distinctly said that II en-
bodies the concessions which, for the
sake Of immediate peace, the American
| Government was willing to make. There
we're doubtless other reasons actuaung
! tho commissioners in making this pro-
posal though | think the chief one IS
embodied i'm the statement above written.
II was not claimed that the United states
| had a right 10 the Philippine Islands, as
| a matter OF conquest The United states
! has never undertaken. so FAR as know
10 wrest from a foreign country lands or