The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1898-12-03
NEW NEGOTIATIONS.
Points Not in the Protocol BEING
Considered by Both Parties.

Points Not In the Protocol Being
Considered by Both Parties.
Washington December 2.-t eau BE- st1t.
ell positively that no hitch has oceurYri
in the proceedings of the peace commission
at Paris and an impression tn the contrary
in certain quarters probably arose through
"A misunderstanding of the phase those pro
ceedines have reached. with the acquies
oence BY the Spanish commissioners in t'l'
American demands set out in the Original
Lrotoco all danger OF fuilnre 70 reach
tie potnt of signature of peace treat.
disappeared. and that such q treaty viii
tie forthcoming at least embracing ali OF
tho protocol points, Is considered assured
What is now going on in Paris is nago-
tation respecting certain objects which
tie United States government seeks TO nc.
eomrilsh in that manner instead of re-
sorting 10 the more usual but more ;ed!on.
methods of correspondence between the
two governments. These objects have beer
clearly stated II general terms In the AS
sociateA Press dispatches from Parts,
namely the acquisition OF cEe OF tho Cara,
line ISLANDS rs a cAi!c sta1ioE, certain
rights 10 land cables on Spanish possee-
slOns at Other points, the pgocuroment o.
freedom OF religious worship in the Caro-
lines and the revival OF certain treaties OF
trade and commerce, etc. But as stated
the matters ara purely the subjects OF
diplomatic negotiations and do not IN any
@Rv affect the conclusion of the peace
treaty. They might all full to be realized
ana still the treaty would moi DC affected
Moreover, while Spain was The subject
of Dei'emptory demands in the case OF tho
protocol points. she Is free Of compulsion
BOW while this diplomatic exchange is in
DgOEr9Sj. She sail a he IInitad
States one OF the Carolines and may refus.
10 DO so and moreover II we buy the IS.
land5 II must be at price satisfactory Il
Spain. She may even sell the Caroline
SIottp to Germany instead of to the Unttee
StDa-s II she can obtain better ,irict
from the former. There Is good reason
assume the convictions OF the report thai
Germany IS even now bargaining for thcat
inlends. All the either points covered hy
lhese negotiations likewise are matter
Tor mutual agreement and not of demand
II Germany is able TO outbid the unitsd
Sta.es for these islands she may Obtain
Ties. but suspicion 10 entertained that
the naming Of S2,000.o00 was inspired By
q friendly desire TO get the best posslbl,
terms fer Spain from the United s!ages
by raising the prace of the goods.
One of the pledges which Is almost as
GOOD as a treaty obligation in It's force
even now is that tho United States in re.
turn for the release OF che political pris.
oHSIs from CuDa ana Porto Rico held ps
Snain VIII secure the release of the Span
ish prisoners held by Agunaldo and 10 thi.
matter attention is being devoted here.
Ihere has been an almost daily dispatch
from General Otis announcing the arrival
OF transport there loaded with United
States troops and the war department il
iu!'y confident OF Its ability now TO under.
take the full control of the islands With
me assistance OF the naval contingent un.
ger Dewey. ~ Is realized that the task OF
inducing Agunaldo 10 surrender The ran.
ives for whom he has do,nnndea ouch an
eMtravagant ransom - 81 500 600 - under
penalty OF cutting their threats, Is coin.
pc diiiieuit one; Int after all the
hs.ea s.ales commissioners in Paris. hsv,
snai Use Its best efforts to secure tho
releaso Of the prisoners. They have moi
pieosea the government to perform the I'M