Show SPAINS SHARP GAME Trying Ascertain I Attitude of the Americans RESORTING TO THREATS MUr BE NO ITREiC WITE PHIPIS Believed That Spain Wishes t Trade I The t the power I Exchange For SupportMcKinley Will Protect Pro-tect the Iurgetuban Debt Will Not Be Discussed t Washington Sept 2Thc freedom with which the Spanish minister for foreign affairs the Duke Almodovar del Rio has given publicity to the Instructions to the Spanish peace commlssoners as to the disposition of the Philippines has given rise to the suspicion among the officials here that there is behind i a deliberate purpose to draw out in advance ad-vance the position ef the American commissioners com-missioners on this most Important point I Is noted now that heretofore the SpanIsh Span-Ish government has waited upon the United States government to make each of the steps toward fInal peace before making a move on theIr side so that this sudden change In policy is accounted for only on the grounds state There is beside this apparent Durpose a veiled threat in the last instruction not under any circumstance to allow tho United States to Interfere with any disposition dis-position of the Islands outside of those retained by the United State such as Luzol that Sain may see fit to make This Is believed to be In invitation to some of the conUnental powers to step forward In suport of Spain In this extremity In the hope of receiving a a Quid pro quo some one of the Philippines Philip-pines as a coaling or naval station Although the American peace commissioners com-missioners have so far successfully resisted re-sisted all attempts ascertain the exact nature of their instructions something Is known of their general character and it may be stated on this point of the final disposition of such of the Phil pines as are not bed by the United States that while the president has nowhere no-where directly admitted any obligation to the Insurgents yet s long as they carry out their part and avoid a rupture with our force at ManIa he feels that in any arrangement that shall be made by the peace 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 treatment By an extension ex-tension of this sme view it Is unlikely that he would care to allow them to be turned over to another power that might oppressively treat them and especially 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 Philip-pine Islands to any other nation to serve as a naval base I has been explained to the American peace commissioner that by the possession of the island of Luzon on the nOrth and the Island of Palawan on the south the United States would control the great gateway for the large traffic that passes between China and Australia thaI well as the myriad Islands of the Southern Pacific It is noted at the state department that the Spanish minister for foreign affairs is reported to have directed the Spanish peace commlslsners to make a n stand regarding the Cuban debt and the Philippine to America Joan oflS6 If Luzon Is ceded So far as the Philippines Joan is concerned con-cerned that subject might properly come before the peace cOmmission But Judge Day the president of the American commission com-mission just before hl departure in answer to a quc ton a to whether any matters reathc o Cuba would come before the commission pointed to the language of Ui rtocol to show that the proper fUIchon of the commission was to b found In the disposition of the future of the Philippine Islands intimating intimat-Ing no question touching Cub in any phase would be considered by the commission com-mission The understanding was con eyed consequently that the Cuban debt would tcure In no fashion before the commission If the American commission qrs could prevent it although it was i ghC IYc expected that the Spanish commis I sinners would make an effort to bring I ody that subject into the deliberations of the H |