The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1898-11-17

Paris, Nov. 16 There was no Joint
session of the peace comm. ssioners
yesterday. Secretary Moore, of the
United States commission. received
from Secretary Ojeda, of the Spanish
commission, q not saying that the
Spanish commissioners had found it
impossible to prepare their memorials
dunn for presentation, and asked if the
United States commissioners would be
mconyenienced owing to the late ar
rival from Madrid Of expected data.
the Spaniards should request that the
next meeting should be deferred until
"Wednesday. Secretary Moore replied
tina the American commissioners
We're quite ready to accommodate the
SpaniaTds in this matter, and the joint
session was practically deferred until
/, "Wednesday. Importance is attached
to this delay. it being regarded as indi-7
eating that the Spanish commissioners
are preparing for final stand in these
negotiations, and it may now be def
snitely stated that they will not sign a
Treaty of Peace
which yields to Spain no more from
the Philippines than has thus far been
Tered or Indicated by the Americans.
Is lould the latter announce that the
4 nited States is only willing to reim-
burse Spain for her pacific expendit-
ures in the Philippine islands, the
Spanish commissioners will reply that
their mission is finished. Should this
occur, it is possible the Spaniards will
also suggest suspension of the nego-
t1ations through the commission and a
resumption of negotiations between
Madrid and Washington. This attitude
of the Spaniards is explained by the
fact that the members of the Spanish
commission have political alliance and
personal responsibilities to constitrl-
encies and the national creditors Of
Spain, which restrict them to certain
lines, which is as far as the ministry at
Madrid cares to go. It is pointed out
that if the five Spanish commissioners
here signed a treaty yielding the Phil
ippine islands to the United States
without
LesscninE Spain's Debt
in an appreciaDle degree they could not
return home with the prospect Of any
political future before them, and pos
sibly would be in danger Of violence at
the hands of mobs. At the next meet
ing of the commissions the Americans
will learn the definite attitude Of Spain
on any proposition thus far made.
The Spaniards, however, in this pre-
sentatiOn will not declare all negotia-
lions closed They will insist that the
sovereignty Of Spain over the Philip
pines is beyond question, but will an
nounce SPANS readiness to yield that
sovereignty for an adequate equiva.
lent, and will then invite negotiations
11ndnl.@ tho &nanich onnctlg1ntinT Of thn
protocol. The American comm; ssion-
ers may then communicate their final
attitude to the Spaniards, but the
Americans are expected at a future
meeting to present a carefully pre-
pared conclusion of their position and
conditions. Should they be no different
from these already presented the time
will then have arrived when Spain
will declare herself helpless, though
steadfast, and will await the neXtsstep
of the United States, whatever it may
be. Thus Spain will be able to say. to
her creditors that she has done her3u
most and that the issue must rest be
tween them and the United States.
No Other Alternative.
London, Nov. 16.-The morning pa
pers comment editorially upon the
peace conference crisis and the Ameri-
can naval preparations, reiterating
their conviction Of the hopelessness Of
Spanish opposition and realizing that
the United States have no alternative,
especially after the elections, than
complete annexation, express the opin-
ion that Spain must yield as no enc is 4
likely to interfere in SPANS behalf