The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1898-11-09
Will The Spanish
Members Withdraw.
at Washington It is Thought
They Will Not Accept.

Washington, Nov. 3 By way of
preparation for what may happen at
the meeting Of the peace commits
sioners in Paris tomorrow, it may
be said that the officials here have no
idea that the Spanish reply will be an
unconditional acceptance Of our late
proposition relating to the acquisition
of the Philippine islands On the other
hand, they do not expect an unequiv-
ocal rejection. What is likely to oc.
cur is that the Spanish commissions
ers will come in with counter prop
osition, the basis of which probably
will be considerable increase in the
sum of money to be paid to tie Span.
ish government for the Philippines
This will pave the way to negotita.
tions on that subject, and, inasmuch
as the commissioners spent about six
weeks in considering the sections
of the protocol dealing with Cuba
and Puerto Rico, 1t is reasonable to
believe that at least few days
may be probably allowed for the dis.
cussion of the Philippines In short,
it may be said that the officials
here do not!expect final breach of
relations between the commissioners
to occur tomorrow Notwithstanding
the comments Of unfriendly newspa-
pers in that line
Paris, Nov 8 3-The generally ac-
cepted view here of the peace negoti
stions is that the Spaniards will no
agree to the propositions submitted
by the Americans to take the Philip.
pine islands and to reimburse Spain
for the money spent upon permanent
improvements in those islands. But
there is conflict of opinion as to
whether the Spanish commissioners
to morrow will present a counter
proposition. This matter. it is add
ed, is undecided
Paris, Nov. 8 Having heard the
American proposition, the Spaniards
might have Immediately declined it
as they certainly will do at to.mor-
rows session. Whether they will
accompany the refusal with counter
proposition, has not been definitely
ascertained, though at late hour
this evening that course seems i'm
probable The result will be that the
commissioners will retire from con-
fronting positions until one or the
other shall be confirmed in it's lines
for the next meeting, which will pro.
baby occur next week.
A correspondents of the Associated
Press ascertains from Spanish sources,
beyond question authentic, that be
fore the Philippine question is
settled the Spanish commissioners
will declare that they are not here
soley to gain all the money possible
from the United States
If the United States feel it high
duty to retain the Philippines Spain's
ENJOYS will declare that she has an
equally sacred duty in holding them
to the pledge of their revenues in
honorable Indebtedness
London, Nov. 3-The Paris cor
respondent of the Times, who repu-,
dates as "calumny" charges of hos
tility toward the United States con.
tained in letters be has been receiv.
ing from Americans for some time,
says:
81 understand that at to morrow's
(Friday's) sitting the Spanish com.
missioners will reply textually as fol
lows:
I" 1T is impossible for us either to
accept or refuse the conditions the
United States impose We do not
desire to declare a formal rupture,
because i, would oblige Europe to
run the risk Of beholding the humil-
iating spectacle of an American feet
bombarding European shores.
"'We do not intend to furnish
America with pretext tor the rea!l
zation of such an event, but we can
not subscribe to dictates which are
not in conformity with the stipula-
tions adopted in the common agree
ment that terminated the war.
"'We withdraw because we do
not feel we have right to sign the
abdicaticn sought to be imposed upon
US We withdraw leaving public
conscience and history to judge the
act of violence Of which we are the
subject, and although we are upfortu-
nately convinced that your attitude
will nave no effect upon the minds of
our copquerers we cannot assume any
other, because by accepting the con-
ditions imposed, we should become
accomplices in an injustice and a
violation of international law, to