The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1898-12-02
Will Not Yield on Three
Important Points.

Paris, Dec. Anxious as both are to
conclude their work, the United States
and Spanish peace commission did not
hold a joint session today. Their next
meeting will be held at > o'clock tomor-
row afternoon.
This delay arises from the fact that
the Spanish commissioners at yester-
days session offered several urgent
Propositions, which called for special
elaboration upon the part of the Ann
orleans.
Spain asks the United States to grant
for a term of five years to Spanish
ships carrying Spanish goods or pro-
ducts to Porto Rico and Cuba, the
same privilege as American vessels en-
gagged in the same trade and she quail
flies this request by a proviso that trade
privileges be extended to CUBA as long
as the United States government is
dominant over that island.
In support of this request, the Span
ish commissioners assert that Spain
cannot without vital harm, immediate
IN abandon or cut business relations so
long maintained between the mother
country and West Indian territories.
They declare that family ties and so
cial relations added to affairs of trade,
maintained through centuries. require
gradual dissolution. They invoke the
Terms Of the treaty Of 1919, by which
the United States took over Florida
from Spain. and which, in the 10Th
article, granted Spain for L years the
right to send her goods and products
to Florida in Spanish ships, on the
same terms as the ships carrying thlth-
er goods and products of the United
States.
The Spanish commissioners cite fur
4her the fact that the treaty of 1903 with
France for the cession of Louisiana,
granted French and Spanish goods and
products the same terms as American
in New Orleans and other ports IN that
ceded territOry
Finally, Spain points to the American
lproposed open door, policy in the
PbiIfnnines and asks a guarantee of
the same advantages in her late West
Indian colonies until trade relations
can by degrees accustom themselves 70
the change of sovereignty.
This proposition and arguments by
which it was supported are consld-
cred strongly stated, and the American
commissioners desire time for deHbera-
4
o'clock this afternoon, they were not
fully prepared and Judge Day sent a
"a message to Senior MOntero Rios, re
ouesting that the joint session fixed
for this afternoon be postponed until
tomorrow. Meanwhile the Spanish
commissioners had been preparing a
hist of subjects for negotiation supple
manted by suggestions counter to and
amendatory of the subjects the Amer
teams submitted Yesterday.
This came to the American commits
sioners today in Spanish, rendering it
even more desirable to postpone the
Joint session in order to give time for
transactions and consideration. The
translation is being made this evening
and the subject will be laid before the
American commissioners tomorrow
morning. Now that the first burst of
grief and chagrfn has passed, the
Spanish commissioners are meeting the
Americans In a frank spirit that is
helpful to an early completion Of ne
gotiations.
From information which comes to the
Associated Press correspondent, from d
Northumberland source, late this
evening. it seems unlikely that the
peace commissioners will finish their
work as soon as had been expected.
Madrid has instructed the Spanish
commissioners on three points 70
which Americans attach much import
ance. These are the cession of an isl
and in the Carolines the granting of
religious freedom over the whole of the
Carolines and the cession Of cable
and coaling station at Ceuta- Inc
Spanish government has instructed
Senior Montero Rios to grant none OF
these; and while Spain may ultimately
yield them all, it is admitted that the
American commissioners have no power
to enforce their demands on points not
covered by the protocol. Before Spain
does yield. the negotiations are likely
to be prolonged and the United States
may have to give q substantial quid
pro quo.
Gen. Wesley Merritt, who arrived
here yesterday from London, leaving
his wife convalescent there, was in con-
sultation with the American commits
sion all this morning, relative to the
conditions and necessary measures in
the Philippine Islands. Gen, Merritt
expects to sail for New York Dec. 10,
and hopes to resume his duties in Cali
fornia or New York until his retirement
is months hence.
Maj. Hale Of Gen. Merritts staff. who
is now here, believes the United States
having taken the Philippine Islands,
will now have no trouble in securing
the release of the Spaniards who are
held prisoners by Aguinaldo.