The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-11-23

Spaniards May Not Receive Instruc-
tiOns from Madrid in Time.

Spaniards May Not Receive Instruc-
tiOns from Madrid in Time.
PARIS, Nov. 22.-The Spanish peace COM
missioners last night telegraphed to Madrid
the substance of the United States memo
randum presented yesterday, and late in the
evening they were discussing it among them
selves. AS late as 1 o'clock this morning a
Spanish commissioner affirmed that he and
his colleague did not know what to do re-
garding the American offer.
There is a difference of opinion among
unofficial people near the commissions, but
the prediction is made that Spain will de-
cline the American offer Of money, that she
will refuse to cede the Philippines and will
say to the United States: You may take
the archipelago, because you have the power
to do so. AS you advance we will retire,
protesting against greedy aggression. We
will faithfully carry out our protocol pledges
and leave Cuba and Porto Rico in your
hands. You came here to engage in a dis
cussion under the terms of the protocol,
but you evidently meant, when drawing up
that document, to provide conference in
which, though we differ, man to man, you
proposed to announce at the proper time
what you will do, whether we agree to it
or object. Such an attitude robs the con-
ference of a negotiative character and sets
up the United States as a dominant power
whose first purpose is to listen, but whose
ultimate determination is to do its own will. :"
AS matter of fact, Senior Montero Rios
is reported to have used virtually such Ian
guage and arguments as the foregoing. He
said more, even indicating high degree of
evaporation at the American offer of
$29, 600 600. His manner, less than his
words, betrayed his repugnance. His dis
play of feeling and utterances however, are
rot wholly approved by his Spanish col
leagues, who did not hesitate to say as much
after yesterdays session.
Utterances later by a Spaniard of impor-
lance, whose name is withheld for the pres
ent, indicates another line of action, a
treaty cession of the Philippines. Suppose, y
said the speaker in question. that Spain
says to the United States, We are exhausted
until we have no funds with which to con-
tinue the war. We do not want to continue
it, and we cannot. You serve us with an
ultimatum. We must submit to your power
Prepare your treaty, and when you want
us to sign we will sign. We must bend to
physical force You have the Antilles, and
you will possess the Philippines, as a con-
quest from helpless people We yield, but
we decline $50 600 for property on which
our valuation was not asked nor respected
You have your will. We trust you will not
continue the war upon our helplessness, be-
cause, forsooth, we decline your $780, 600
Surely this waiver by use of your money
will not provoke a further use of arms
against Spain. We sign, we cede we are
dumb. 1t is finished, and we may be per-
mitted to retain the privilege Of assuring
our people and our national creditors that
we at least have not stolen and resold ter
ritory we had pawned."
Should Spain cede by treaty or, on the
other hand should she refuse and break off
negotiations here, her protests will embody
some such declarations as this. AS against
such sentiments it is argued that the bust
ness in hand is work for grown men and
that it would be childish folly TO refuse $50
100000 and that the Spanish government
could not Justify such a refusal before the
Spanish people or the public creditors of
Spain, deliberate throwing away of 500
600 600 in addition to the loss of the Philip
pines.
Last night the Spanish commissioners
sent the American proposition by a special
messenger TO Madrid where it was to arrive
tomorrow 1t is felt that the Spanish gov
eminent must now answer the American
ultimatum, but as it is not likely that the
answer of Madrid will arrive tomorrow in
time for the commissioners to formulate