Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-11-20
PEACE NEGOTIATIONS NOW AT A
CRITICAL POINT.
SPAIN MUST YIELD OR FIGHT
ULTIMATUM Is TO BE PRESENTED
EARLY THIS WEEK.
Price That America VIII Pay for Re-
finquishment of Philippines to
BE Named-"Spot Cash" to
he Offered for ..SpOt
Peace"

that the peace negotiations are nearing an
end. and it is considered not improbable
that. by the end OF the present month. all
Of the main features of "A treaty will have
been formally agreed TO, or the effort TO
reach an aInicable settlement abandoned.
With a view to bringing matters TO a
speedy conclusion. cur commissioners by
direction OF the president. early the COM
ing week will lay before the Spaniards the
final and irrevocable demands Of this coun-
try. allowing a specified time in which our
conditions may be accepted or rejected.
This Hltimatrm. it is understood. involves
all that has thus far been contended for,
including the surrender to the United States
OF the entire Philippine group and also
names the amount of cash which this gov
ernment will pay Spain in consideration of
her expenditures on account of pacific i'm
provements and betterments in the ISLAND
of LuZon.
1t was not until a late hour last even
ing that the last paragraphs of the long
translation of the Spanish note which was
presented to the American peace commits
sions last Wednesday were deciphered at
the state department. and most of the
members of the cabinet We're not aware
of the full contents of the document until
to-day, when they called at the White
House. II appeared that. in addition to
the long argument which was intended to
show that the word disposition used in
relation to the Philippines meant some
thing else, the Spanish note did include a
proposition to submit the Philippine clause
of the protocol TO the Interpretation of an
arbitrator.
Another cablegram followed the first long
message, this time directly from Judge
Day. seeking instructions definitely on
some points to be made in the American
answer, which is yet to be presented. These
Instructions have been sent forward and it
may he stated, without going into details,
that they are precisely in line with the
policy which the American commissioners
have been pursuing up to this point in the
negotiations.
There are several matters OF real i'm
portance. though not ranking with the
Philippine question, to be treated by the
commissioners, but the instructions 10 the
Americans are not to call up these at pres
ent, or until the main pending issue rela-
tive to the Philippines has been settled. in
order to avoid complicating the proceed
ings. In the event that the commissioner,
disagree totally at their next meeting on
the Philippines. therefore. there will be no
discussion of any of these subsidiary ques-
tionS. but in the other event. namely. thar
an agreement shall be reached on the
principle of the Philippines disposition,
these matters may be expected to con-
sumo at least one or two additional se-
sions OF the commission. one of these SUD-
jectS concerns the restoration of trade re-
lations between the United States and
Spain. At the beginning Of the war. Spain
terminated all of her treaties with the
United States and If the TWO countries are
TO get along amicahly. even after the dec
laration of peace. there must be working
arrangements. in treaty form, for the pro-
lection Of trade interests. the equalization
of tariff charges, the regulation of extra
dition. and such subjects as are usually
treated in treaties of commerce. So far the
commissioners have given no consideration
TO these matters in their exchanges. but
some at least of them must he regulated in
any treaty that issues from the commits
sion.
PARIS. Nov. 1a.-The American peace
commissioners to-day have been closely
engaged in formulating the terms of the
important communication to be made to the
Spanish commissioners next week. 1t is
impossible at present. however, TO de-
termine whether the work viii he compIet-
ed for Presentation Monday or Tuesday,
though ii is believed The American reply
will be ready on Monday. While the
Americans fully appreciate the necessity
of making progress, they are also under
the necessity of aking great care in the
preparation Of what may possibly he the
conclusive record of these negotiations.
The Spanish commissioners consumed a
week in the Preparation of the last mem.
orandum. but tIe Americans will not re,
quire so long a time TO complete the work
in hand and any present delay will ulti-
mately prove TO have been advantageous.
The first proposition here from the United
States commission TO the ~Spaniards regard
ing the Philippine islands was not a de.
mand. To bring the subject under discus.
sion the Americans merely submitted n
proposal 10 take over the Philippine isl
ands and reimburse Spain the amount speut
by her there on permanent betterments.
Spain declined the terms and the proposal
itself. Had she stopped there. the United
States would have been compelled TO re-
peat the proposal as an ultimatum. or to
tender new terms. Spain. however. put
off any consideration of terms by declaring
that the United States had no right 10 i'm
pugn her sovereignty in the Philippines:
that. If her sovereignty there should pass.
the mortgages she had placed on the Phil
ippine revenues must be underwritten, and
that her dignity forbade ker to heed any
A PEcUI IhP PCMEOY