Daily Kennebec journal., 1898-11-15
NOT YET READY.
|Spaniards Are at Wits End
Over the Philippines.
Ask and Granted Until Wednesday in
Which to Prepare Answer.
Spain Will Probably Submit and Announce
that She ..YieIds to Force"

Paris. Nov. lit was early decided
there should be no joint sessions of the
peace commissions, today. Secretary
Moore of the United States commits
sion, received from Secretary Ojeda. of
the Spanish commission, this morning,
a note saying that the Spanish COM
missioners had found it impossible to
prepare their memorandum for presen-
tation, today. and asking if the United
States commissioners would be incon-
venienced it. owing to the late arrival
from Madrid of expected data, the
Spaniards should request that the next
meeting be deferred until Wednesday.
Secretary Moore replied that the
American commissioners We're quite
ready to accommodate the Spanish
commissioners in this matter, and the
joint session was practically deferred
until Wednesday.
Importance is attached to this delay,
it being regarded as indicating that
the Spanish commissioners are pre-
pairing for a final stand in these nego-
tiations and it may be now definitely
stated that the Spaniards here will not
sign treaty of peace which yields to
islands than has thus far been offered
or indicated by the Americans.
Should the latter announce that the
United States are willing only to re-
imburse Spain for her pacific expendi-
lures in the Philippines, the Spanish
commissioners would reply that then
mission was finished. Should this oc-
cur, it is possible the Spaniards would
also suggest a suspension of the nego-
tiationS between the commissions anc
the resumption of negotiations be-
tween Madrid and Washington.
This attitude of the Spaniards is ex-
planned by the fact that the members
of the Spanish commission have polit
ieal alliances and personal responsible
tiles to constituencies and the national
creditors of Spain which restrict them
to certain lines, which are as far as tbs
ministry of Madrid cares to go.
1t is pointed out that if the five Span
ish commissioners here should sign q
treaty yielding the Philippine islands
to the United States without lessening
Spain's debt in an appreciable degree
they could not return home with the
prospect of any political future and
possibly would be in danger of violence
at the hands of mobs.
At the next meeting of the commits
sions, the Americans will learn the de-
finite attitude of Spain on any PROPOSE
tion thus far made. The Spaniards
however, in this presentation, win not
declare all negotiations closed. They
win insist that the sovereignty Of
Spain over the Philippine Islands is be-
yond question but win announce Spain's
readiness to yield that sovereignty for
an adequate equivalent, and will then
invite negotiations under the Spanish
constructions of the protocol.
The American commissioners may then
communicate their final attitude to the
Spaniards, but the Americans are ex-
pected at a future meeting to present a
carefully prepared conclusion of their
contention and conditions. Should they
be no different terms from those already
presented the time will have then arrived
when Spain will declare itself helpless
though steadfast and will await the next
step of the United States, whatever ii
may be. Thus Spain will be able to say
to her creditors that she has done her
| utmost and that the issue must rest be-
tween them and the United States