New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-10-31
THE PHILIPPINES PROBLEM
PEACE NEGOTIATIONS AT PARIS REACH
CRITICAL STAGE.
sbNoR NONTERo RIOS ILI.-CoNTBNTIoNs LIKELY
TO BE RAISED BY THE SPANISH

TO BE RAISED RY THE SPANISH
COMMISSIONERS
Paris, oct 30-sehor Montero Rios. presi-
dent OF the Spanish Peace Commission, Is IL.
This causes some doubt this evening as to
whether there will he a Joint session Of the
Commissions tomorrow. II ne is unable 10
attend e. is unlikely that the Spaniards would
consent to enter the conference to take up the
Philippine question for initial consideration.
There IL a strong impression. which has been
growing here recently. that the Spanish upon
receiving definite assurances or the American
determination TO take the entire Philippine
group. would quit the conference. but the stua-
tion is modified by the attitude OF the Spanish
newspapers arriving here to-day. These
found 10 have wheeled into line with the
"Epoca" Of October -, which demanded that
the Spanish Commissioners should sign treaty
in Paris. no matter how onerous the conditions
imposed ny the Americans
Nevertheless. despite this attitude Of the Ma
drid press and despite the denial given on Fri
day last to the correspondent OF The Associated
Press by Spanish Commissioner. who said
that the cpaniards had no intention Of with
drawing the Americans here will not be sur
prised II one more Ot the Spanish Commits
sIoners resign and practically close the negotia-
tions.
This feeling is based upon the fact that Senior
Rios early last week would have resigned n his
so doing would not have imperilled the Sagasta
Ministry. and the reasoning is that n while
pressing the Cuban debt. which is not mentioned
in the protocol and which The Spanish Commits
soners insist should not he left to Spain alone
Sehor Rios disnclined 10 resign he might
in the open field Of contention as 10 the Philip
pines feel that resignation would help Senor
Sagasta on the ground that, the demand OF the
United States for the entire Philippine group
would be extortionate and Shylockian. II is
believed here tonight on the eve Of taking up
the main question that the Spanish Commits
sioners are not likely 10 acquiesce here In any
treaty that the Americans would sign.
SPANISH CONVENTIONS
In the Philippine discussion two wearisome
contentious are likely to be early raised by the
Spanish The first is on the protocol phrase
control. disposition and government" Of the
archipelago. the Spsniards doubtless holding
that the word disposition" does not involve
possession. though they know that possession"
was originally written in the protocol and
changed 10 "dispositon" on NJ Cambons in
sstence in behalf OF Spanish sensibilites
Collateral to this Is a second contention. possibly
10 ne merged WIN the nrSt, tndt Wnen tne pro-
tcco was signed there exterior moral
agreement between NJ. Cambon and Judge Day
that neither the protocol nor It's terms should
in the treaty negotiations involve Spanish SOW
ereignty in the Philippine archipelago
on this point Judge Day through The Asso-
ciated Press. has already pointedly denied the
existence Of an actual. constructive or implied
understanding outside Of the protocol, either
verbally in correspondence. and this denial
is supported by the French Yellow Book.
NJ Camhon, however. has given the matter
some Significance by emitting to deny the
port ,lthough the alleged existence OF a secret
unders' anding exterior to the protocol was first
printed in the Paris papers and reiterated di-
rectly and by inference.
The Joint session. If t. is held tomorrow. will
begin at O'Clock T. The American case is
ready for presentation