Deal In Real Estate

DEAL IN REAL ESTATE

Proposed to the Spaniards by the United States Peace Commissioners at Paris.

INVOLVES ALL OF THE PHILIPPINES

Consideration the Only Thing Left To Be Discussed -- President Decided in His Course by the Boice of the People for Expansion. Uncle Sam to Pay Only the Value of Spain's Pacific Expenditure.

Washington, Nov. 1. -- The advices from Paris to the effect that the United States commissioners have demanded the cession to the United States of the entire Philippine group are in line with the instructions that have been issued to the representatives of the United States. Up to a very recent date the United States commissioners had no precise instructions on this vital point. There was a lack of data as to the financial and political affairs of the Philippines, and so it happened that when the commissioners sailed they were not committed beyond change to any line of policy. A majority of the numbers leaned towards a restriction of the demands to be put forth as to the Philippines, all the way from the retention of Manila bay and the immediate surrounding country to the acquisition of the whole island of Luzon.

Listened to the Popular Demand.

That represented about the extreme demand that was in mind when the commission left. But since that time the president has become convinced that there is a great popular demand for the annexation to the United States of the whole Philippine group, and he is disposed to defer to that sentiment. Besides, there is ground to believe that in an unofficial manner, possibly through informal communication with Aguinaldo's agent in Paris, or perhaps through some direct dealing between that chieftain and Admiral Dewey, the United States commissioners have satisfled themselves that the difficulties in the way of annexation, so far as they might be expected to depend upon the will of the natives, have been very much exaggerated.

Proposition Read at Paris.

The question of money consideration is the one upon which the difficulty is expected. Dispatches from Paris yesterday stated that the commissions held a joint meeting of two hours' duration at which the American commission presented its proposition regarding the Philippines. The United States proposition was to the effect that the United States government had determined to possess for itself certain territory and parts of land bound by and lying within such parallels of latitude and longitude as mark the limits of the Philippine archipelago. The United States do not purpose assuming the Philippine debt of $40,000.000, but they are willing to be responsible to Spain for a sum of money equal to the actual expenditures by Spain in the Philippines for the advantage of the islands and for the good of their people, for permanent betterments and for improvements, both physical and mental.

Reimburssment of "Pacific Expenses."

The presentment specifies that the United States will reimburse Spain to the extent of her "pacific expenditures" made in the archipelago. This phrase "pacific expenditures" is employed to differentiate the expenditures by Spain in combating insurrections in the Philippines. The one is felt by the American commissioners to be a fair burden on the acquiring power, while the other and latter class of expenditures is held to have been logically assumed by Spain in the inevitable hazard to a nation resorting to arms to enforce order in its own territory. What are "pacific expenditures" will cause controversy, as they were not defined. But it may be accepted that they include money expended for lighthouses, schools, breakwaters, and perhaps the naval station at Cavite.

Effect of the Scheme on the Dons.

The Spanish commissioners listened attentively, though not without some evidences of impatience and surprise at the financial suggestions in the American presentment, and finally asked until Friday to consult the Madrid government and make reply. Adjournment was then taken to that day. After the conference was dissolved, the Spanish commissioners expressed the opinion that the American demand would create in Spain, as it had upon her commissioners, an exceedingly grave impression. Were the Spanish commissioners pushed to a final determination now they would reject the American demands, but the changing tone of the Spanish press recently urges the consummation of a treaty of peace, however rigorous, the argument being that although the Spaniards bow to the American demands the commissioners do not acknowledge the justice or admit the legality of them.