The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-12-06
Senator Frye at Last Leaves the Con-
ference Chamber with His Pa
tience Exhausted.
SOME PROGRESS IS MADE
BUT THE CAROLINE ISLAND CUES
TION STILL HANGS FIRE.
DOns show Little INCLINATION to Give
Americans a coaling statiOn-sec-
retary Ojeda Disturbed.

PARIS, Dec. 5-when the American and
Spanish peace commissions met in joint ses-
sion to-day Secretary Moore, of the Amer
lean commission, had a revised draft of the
peace treaty ready for adoption, but it was
not agreed to to-day. The joint commits
sion was in session for over four hours
Much o3 the discussion concerned details as
to the guaranteeing of the rights of Span
ish citizens in the colonies The debate
was energetic, and the Spaniards on emerg-
ing appeared to be detected. Secretary
Ojeda, of the Spanish commission, when
questioned after the meeting as to the prog
ress, answered, excitedly: 'I am almost
mad. I cannot talk. We are making prog
ress."
The American commissioners declined to
say anything further than that the prog
ress made was satisfactory. The Spanish
commissioners have received authority to
bind their government on certain mat
ters but there are yet important questions
on which their instructions are unsatisfac-
tory, and it is likely that many of the de-
tails involved in the change of sovereignty
in the Spanish colonies will be left for set
tlement In the regular diplomatic process
when relations between the two govern
ments are resumed.
The history Of the document which Will
certify the passing of the Oldest colonial
power in the world and the advent of the
newest, was epitomized by Judge Day this
evening In a single statement: "A peace
treaty can contain anything which the vic
tors put into it,
The Americans have listened for hours
with their customary patience to the techni-
calities convoked by the Spaniards with
their customary shrewdness and persstency
against every proposal making for the dis
memberment Of their empire. Darkness had
come on and liyeried attendants mobilized
by the French authorities had placed a tiny
lamp at the elbow of each commissioner.
Senator Frye, whose unconcealed contempt
for diplomatic quibblings excites the aston
ishment OF the punctilious Castilians, had
stalked home, his patience exhausted.
The burden OF the Spanish arguments was
that matters outside the bare cession and
evacuation of the conquered territories,
which the Americans proposed to cover by
treaty, were beyond the legitimate and GUS
tonary scope of peace treaty. Behind this
bulwark, Senior Montero Rios, president of
the Spanish commission, fortified himself,
bombarding his opponents with supply of
arguments and precedent which inspired the
freely expressed admiration of the Ameri-
cans. Finally Judge Day summarized the
American position in the foregoing men,
orable utterance. 1t was given and taken in
good spirit, and from that moment the pro-
ceedings were entirely friendly.
The session accomplished much. Eight
open questions were canvassed, seven being
practically settled without noteworthy fric-
tion. The commissioners decline to say what
conclusion was reached, but the bargain for
a coaling station in the Carolines was not
cemented, and, according to present pros
poets, II is likely to fail. The temper of
the Americans In this matter is: 1--WE made
you good offer for an island. You may
take or leave it." The Spaniards seem dis
posed to leave it. The Americans do not
regard it as a prize which they can demand
as one of the natural fruits of the war,
while the whole policy of the Spaniards is
to confine the negotiations as narrowly as
possible to the letter of the protocol signed
in Washington, and to exclude all ex-
traneous matters. The result of this policy
may be the leaving of many details involved
in the change of sovereignty over the vari-
GUS possessions to settlement by the regular
diplomatic processes when normal relations
between the two governments have been
resumed.
The Spanish commissioners insisted at the
previous meeting that the settlement of the
status of the Spaniards who remain in the
colonies a problem so closely akin TO
cession that it could not be logically sep
hTated from the latter but Should be con-
sldered next TO the question of cession and
before such matters as coaling stations
and religious liberation. They appealed to
the Americans, having gained all the great
points, to be generous on the minor ones
Accordingly the American commissioners,
as foreshadowed by the correspondent OF
the Associated Press. were conciliatory to-
day on the order OF procedure as to the
status OF Spaniards remaining in the lost
colonies
The Spanish commissioners continue fight
ing with tooth and nail to procure every
possible pecunlary and other concession.
The Americans had already promised TO
guarantee the return of Spanish prisoners in
the hands Of the Filipinos. To-day Senor
Montero Rios proposed that the United
States should pay the expenses of shipping
them 10 Spain, arguing with his customary
ingenuity that this was the duty of the
Americans as matter OF course. The
Americans thought the request unreason-
able, and good deal Of time was consumed
IN discussing the question.
Another problem entaling long debate was
the disposition to be made OF the Spanish
munitions OF war in "A number OF military
posts outside OF Manila which the Amer
leans have not captured. The Spanish COM
missioners contended that Spain should be
permitted to ship such munitions home. The
Americans replied that. as the United States
had conquered the Philippines, these muni-
tions were spoils OF war. The Spaniards
finally waived their cuibble. They appear