Evening star., 1898-11-21

points in Spain's Jurisdiction. and also Of
the revival of certain Spanish American
treaties as heretofore in force between the
United States and Spain. and which may
have lapsed or been vitfated by war.
Secretary AISer's Views.
The State Department has not yet been
advised of the reported refusal of the Span
ish peace commissioners to continue the
negotiations in Paris. Secretary Alger ex-
presses disbelief in the accuracy in the re-
port. or, rather. felt that it was based
upon the personal expression of opinion of
President Rios of the Spanish commission.
which did not necessarily represent the
formal opinion of the full commission. Still
the breach, if breach there has been, would
not be a matter of surprise to the State
Department. which has shaped instructions
to the American commissioners SO as to
bring the negotiations in Paris to a sharp
Issue one way or the other today.
If President Rios did express the deter
minat ton of the Spaniards, under their in
structions the American commissioners will
promptly pack up and leave Paris for the
United States at once. 1t is said at the
State Department that nearly all of their
work in such a case will go for nothing.
The proceedings before the commission
were conducted that no one point agreed
upon was to be regarded as binding unless
a complete treaty should be made. In other
words the agreements on each point as
they were passed over were tentative, and
their final acceptance was conditioned upon
a complete agreement on all points.
But this does not necessarily wipe out
what has been accomplished under the
terms of the protocol. Each of the articles
of the protocol must stand. for it was in
no respect dependent on what would fol-
low at Paris. saving the one clause touch
ing the Philippines. For instance Spain
agreed positively to relinquish her SOW
ereignty over Cuba and Porto Rico and
evacuate those islands, and to cede to US
one Cf the Ladrone Islands for a naval
station. Those agreements are past recall,
and all that was left to be settled at Paris
were questions relating to the Philippines.
hat is the ultimate position of the United
States government as announced at the
State Department.
Nay Mean War.
AS to what shall follow-peace or war
the officials are not clear. and earnest con-
sideration will be given to this subject be-
lure any ueCiSiOIl IS announced. II is De-
lieved that the Spanish forces i'll Cuba will
continue the evacuation of the island
which is now in progress. 1t is not thought
probable that they will attack the Un ted
States forces. The latter will not attack
them SO long as they continue to carry out
the terms of the protocol. There is no
problem connected with Porto Rico, as
that is now completely in our possession.
Guam. one of the Ladrones, can be easily
garrisoned at any time, the Spanish force
there having surrendered. This leaves the
question of the Philippines about the only
one to be determined. 1t is not believed
that Spain will make any effort 10 lctake
those islands.
Meanwhile the United States military and
naval commanders will probably be direct
ed to at once extend their occupation to
the whole group of islands, though 1t is net
clear that this can be accomplished With
out much trouble and perhaps hostile
clash with the insurgents. For some rea-
sons speedy decision to undertake this
work would be acceptable to the State De-
partment- There are foreign interests and
lives ana property at stake there for which
the United States has assumed moral, if
not technical, responsibility. Such, for
instance, is the situation in the city of Il
oii. the secoHi of Importance in the Phil
ippines. This city is besieged by a large
number of insurgents. The small Spanish
garrison is inadequate to defend the for
eign interests in the place, and, although
under our construction of the rules Of war,
we are not permitted to interfere there so
long IS hostilities are suspended yet there
is some force in the Spanish plea that We
selves and the foreigners in their care from
the insurgents.
News at the White House.
y newspaper bulletin announcing the
Withdrawal of Scnor RIOS from the peace
commission at Paris was received ut the
White House at about l U clock this after
noon, Secretary Alger and Senator Nor
gan of Alabama being in the room with the
President al the time. There was not much
comment on the bulletin. the President ex-
pressing no opinion. Secretary Alser stated
emphaticaIIy that he did not believe the
Spaniards had broken off negotiations.
That was all he would say. Senator Nor
gan did not talk with the President on the
subject
Fne senator saw no reason for appre-
hension even if the Spaniards had broken
off negotiations. He had doubts whether
they would 80 to war again.
The senator said that if a treaty is agreed
Upon 10y which the United States takes the
and proposes TO pay money to
Spain he believed 1t would be ratified by
the Senate. He did not believe the Senate
would break OFF negotiations and resume the
war over The question of a few million dol
!ars.
Another member of the cabinet said this
to him if Spaia had broken off negotiations,
but he was in doubt what kind of q game
the Cons were attempting to play. ''Tiey
may be putting up bluff he said, with
the belief that we will call them back and
cffer better terms. If this IS their game