The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-08-25
SPAIN MAY QUIT.
A Disposition is Making Itself
Manifest
To Drop the Whole Philippine
Archipelago
IF LUZON MUST GO.
Would Leave the United States
With All Responsibility
Expecting Them to Have a
Fight With Europe.
IF LUZON MUST GO.

London, Aug. PA dispatch to the
Standard from Madrid, by way Of France
says:
A very unfavorabIe impression has been
caused in Madrid by kilograms attribut-
ing to President Mckinley the intention
of instructing the peace commissioners TO
insist upon the cession of Luzon, that
American commerce should have the same
footing as Spanish in the Philippines and
that Spain should pledge itself that none
of the Spanish colonies should be ceded
to European powers. If such are the IN
tentfons of the United States government
things are very sure to be laborious, even
if an understanding is arrived at.
The Spaniards consider the cession Of
I.uzon, their best and most important isl
and, to be a deathblow to their prestige
and sovereignty in these regions, and that
this will be irretrievably weakened and
crippled by the presence of Americans IN
the heart of their colonies
Commercial equality with the Un1leo
States in the archipelago would annuI the
only advantage and compensation when
they might have expected to nave derlveo
been necessary to maintain their rule IN
Last. but not least, any pledge to re-
frain from ceding any part to the powers
would displeaSe many statesmen and the
people of all classes who are daily more
and more inclined to advocate the sale OF
the Spanish archipelago to the highest
most likely to be in position to arrest the
m9 a9Si inhuences n the far fl east ST.
Nothing could be better calculated than
the pretensiOns attributed to America to
develop in Spain the visibly growing de-
sire to cease all connection with the PhiI-
1ppines and thus obhge the United states
government to assume the burden OF the
responsibility of their government, which
would likely create CONNECTS with EURO
pean powers, tending, in any case, to en-
tail for the United States more troubles
and sacrifices IN men and money even
than the occupation and pacifcation OF
Even the lower and middle classes seem
to think this, and thus, in both directions,
Spain would amply make America pay for
the wrongs inflicted.
The Times Madrid correspondent says:
The recent articles IN the Times recon-
4IlenuIEg the annexation OF the FuIIIppl!leS
by America are attracting much attention
here. They are regarded as confirming
lne current ruInors ABOUT a secret agree
ment between the cabinets at London and
Washington for joint action in the far
In any case. it is feared that the rap
procurement which unquestlonably exists
contains the germs OF great lnternatlonaI
complications. Three months ago, when
10 race with a powerful antagonist, Sucn
a prospect would have been hailed with
general fmbroglio she would be sure to
find allies. Now the political situation is
better understood, and fears are expressed
that in a general conflict OF the great
powers, whatever the result, Spain would
Ell Liberal publishes a significant arti-
Gle in this sense. Trying to forecast the
immediate future, it says:
Two contingencies are perceptible-
either the great powers will come to an
agreement ABOUT the respective spheres OF
influence or there will be a great war, in
which England will play a leading part
against Russia and France. In the
former case Spain would lose the Philip
pines because they would be included in
the partition. In the latter case England
would begin by attempt to get possess
sion of the keys to the Mediterranean. in
Guiding Ceuta and the Balearic islands,
which may be regarded as the key-hOle.
This possibility of a. struggle for naval
supremacy in the Mediterranean at soma
time in the near future gives certain i'm
portance to reports of new forts in the
vicinity of Gibraltar and diplomatic cor
respondence there anent. Neither Spain
nor England, however, can be supposed to
have any aggressive designs, and if we
read between the lines of certain very
guarded semi-Ofhcial statements, we must (
conclude that the Spanish government has
recently received from London some posi- |
tive assurance on this point. Spain must |
it is said, maintain her elementary rights /
to national self-defense, but she has at |
present sufficient diplomatic difficulties to /
prevent her creating additional complicaL- |