Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-09-10
SPAIN'S ALLEGED PROTEST
No Communication Received by the French
Embassy.
Significance of the Objection to the
Claim to Manila by Conquest After
the Protocol Was Signed.

1t is believed at the State Department
that some of the data being prepared in
Madrid for the guidance of the Spanish
members of the peace commission in the
presentation of their case has been
enormously assumed TO involve direct
protest to the Washington government
through NJ Cambon, the French ambassa-
dor, as reported from English sources yes
terday At any rate, no such communica-
ton has reached either the State Depart
ment or the French embassy as that de-
scribed in the London dispatches form
ing the basis of the protest touching the
American occupation of Manila.
Some communications have recently been
exchanged between the State Department
and the French ambassador respecting the
conolnon OF Spanish prisoners held at
CaNlte and near there. 1t was represented
to the State Department that the Spanish
prisoners were being oppressively and in
humanity treated. Our military authorities
at Manila were called upon to look into
this matter, and their report showed that
there was little foundation for the allega-
ton, and that such hardships as were suf-
fered by the Spanish prisoners were only
those shared by the insurgents themselves
when the latter lacked supplies Ii is not
known here that Admiral Dewey is respon-
sible for turning any prisoners over to
Aguinaldo.
The Occupation of Manila.
Inasmuch as there seems to be a deter
mined disposition on the part of the Span
ish authorities to regard as Illegal and un-
warranted by international law the Ameri-
can claim to Manila by virtue of the sur
render q the Spanish forces on the ground
that this surrender took place two DAYS
after the signature of the protocol SUSPEND
ing hoStllitIes, it may be of interest to
learn the motive for this opposition As
the protocol provides that the United States
snail Immediately seize and hold Manila
and vicinity, it would not at first appear
10 be material under what tenure this oc-
cupation is maintained-whether by capitu-
lation or by the formal relinquishment
noted In the protocol. 1t is said here that
as FAR as the present conditions are con-
cerned there is really no material difference
IN the form of tenure. There may be- how
ever, a very important difference when the
future of Manila is regarded, for the peace
commission, which is charged to deal with
the whole Philippines question, will proba-
Oily make very substantial distinction in
dlsposing of territories actually conquered
ana occupied by military forces of the
United States and those relinuuished under
The terms of the protocol These are all
questions which may promptly come before
the commission, and therefore il is assumed
mat they will not be presented to the
United States government in advance of tba
meeting OF that commission.
There will be no meeting Of the United
states pranch of the commission until the
middle of next week. 1t is said that the
CABINET meeting next Tuesday will be large
~ given up to a consideration of the final
Instructions to be given to the ArnericoD
commissioners, that the latter are moi
likely to hold their meeting until after III
= eophet et session. That meeting will be in
iorrlal ana, in fact, there is no int tention IN
Atlantic. VI 'Iie