Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1899-10-12
A PROPOSAL.

a PROPOSAL.
1.-The American commissioners beg
| further to state that they are prepared
to insert in the treaty stipulation for
the assumption by the United States OF
any existing Indebtedness of Spain in
Cured for public works and improve
mcntS Of n pacific character in the
Philippines SENATE document CO. p.
| 1899. 1t is unnecessary to review the
long discussion which ensued, or to re-
state the grounds upon which the Span
ish commissioners rejected this pro-
posal and declined to cede the islands
TO the United States. You Will find the
discussion fully developed in the record
IL Won see tit to read it. On the 2lst of
November following. the American
commission, presented petition which
the American commissioners regarded
as final. i'll connection with which it
was said:
Tie proposal presented by the
| American commissioners in behalf OF
their government for the cession of the
Philippines to the United States hav-
| ing been rejected ny the Spanish COM
| missioners, ana 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 re-
jected by the American commissioners.
deeming it essential that the present
negotiations, which have already been
greatly protrac,ed. should be brought
to an carly and definite conclusion beg
| now to present now pT0p0siTI0N en-
bodying the concessions which, for the
sake of immediate peace, their govern
| ment is. under the circumstances. Will
Ing to tender.
\ CONCESSION.
1.-THE Government OF the United
States is unable to modify the proposals
heretofore made for the cession of the
entire archipelago OF the Philippines.
but the American commissioners are
authorized to offer to Spain, in case the
cession should be agreed TO, the sum
of twenty million dollars (s2O0oO,0o0) to
be paid in accordance with the terms
to be fixed in the treaty of peace.
(Senate document CO. p. 2lo).
AND ANOTHER.
Another concession proposed consist
ed of an agreement to admit Spanish
ships and merchandise for n term oil
years into the ports of the Philippine
Islands on the same terms as American
ships and merchandise. The American
commissioners also expressed Il willing
ness TO insert a provision for the mutual
REIMBURSEMENT of claims of the United
States that may have arisen since the
beginning OF the late insurrection in
Cuba and prior to the conclusion of the
treaty of peace
THE TERMS ACCEPTED.
con tho 2Sth of November the Span
ish commissioners accepted the terms
offered by the representatives of the
United States. You will observe that
in making this proposal it is distinctly
said that it embodies the concessions
which, FOR THE SAKE OF IAiME-
DATE PEACE, the American Govern
ment was willing to make There were
doubtless other reasons actuating the
commissioners In making this proposal,
though I think the chief one is en-
bodied in the statement above written.
1t was not claimed that the III led
States had right to the Philippine Is
lands as a matter of conquest
The United States has never under
taken, SO far rs know, to wrest from
a. foreign country lands or possessions
simply by right of conquest. Had we
been disposed to do so 1t must be re-
membered that we were in possession
only of the city, bay and harbor OF Ma
Mia under the protocol of August 18th
1888. providing that the United States
should occupy and hold the same pend
ing the conclusion of a treaty of peace,
which should determine the control,
disposition, and government of the Phil
ippines. The capture after the signing
of the protocol, by General Merritt and
his forces, whatever FITS legal effect
may have been, included no more ter
ritory thnn we were entitled To hold