The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-10-31
Rios Was Ready to Resign Last Week,
and other Members May BaIk
ON the Final Question.
JUDGE DAY-CAMB0N DISPUTE
"MORAL AGREEMENT, REGARDING
SPANISH SOVEREIGNTY.
Ex-Secretary Day Will Not Admit
There Was Any Understandings
binding ON the United states.

PARIS, Oct 30.-Senor Rios, president OF
the Spanish peace commission is Ill. This
causes some doubt this evening as to
whether there will be a joint session of the
commissions tomorrow. If he be unable to
attend, it is unlikely that the Spaniards
would consent to enter the conference to
take up the Philippine question for initial
consideration
There is a strong impression which ha4
been growing here recently that the Spans
ish, on receiving definite assurances of thf
American determination to take the entire
Philippine group, would quit the conference
and all negotiations are modified by the ats
titude of the Spanish newspapers arriving
to-day. These are found to have wheeled
into line with the Epoca, of Oct. 27, which
demanded that the Spanish commissioners
should sign a treaty an Paris no matter
how onerous the conditions imposed by the
Americans.
Nevertheless, despite this attitude Of tho
Madrid press and despite the denial given
on Friday last to the correspondent of thA
Associated Press, by a Spanish commis-
sioner, who denied that the Spaniards had
any intention of Withdrawing, the Ameri-
cans here will not be surprised If one or
more of the Spanish commissioners resign
and practically close the negotiations This
feeling is based on the fact that Ssnor
Rios, early last week, would have resigned
if his so doing would not have imperiled
the Sagasta Ministry. The reasoning Is
that if, while pressing the Cuban debt,
which is not mentioned in the protocol and
which the Spanish commissioners i,lsist
should not be left to Spain alone Senior
Rios were inclined to resign, he might IN
the open field of contention as to the PHIL
<I,a@ 81
Senior Sagasta, on the ground that the de-
mand of the United States for the entire
Philippine group would be extortionate It
is believed here tonight on the eve of TAX
ing up the main question, that the Spanish
commissioners are not likely to acquiesce
here in any treaty that the Americans
would sign.
In the Philippine discussion two weari-
some questions are likely to be raised early
by the Spanish. The first is on the protocol
phrase control, disposition and governs
ment' of the archipelago, the Spaniards
doubtless holding that the word ''disposi-
ton does not involve possession, though
they know that possession" was originally
written in the protocol and changed to dis
position" on M. Cambon's insstence in be-
half of Spanish sensibilties
Collateral to this is second contention.
possibly 10 be merged with the nrst, tnac
when the protocol was signed, there WAS
exterior moral agreement between M.
Cambon and Judge Day that neither the
protocol nor it's terms should, in the treaty
negotiations, involve Spanish sovereignty in
the Philippine archipelago. On this poins
Judge Day has already pointedly denied the
existence of an actual, constructive or iDl-
piled understanding outside of the protocol.
either verbally or in correspondence, and
this denial is supported by the French yel=
low book. M. Cambon, however. has given
the matter some significance by emitting to
deny the report although the alleged ex-
istence Of a secret understanding, exterior
to the protocol, was first printed in the
Paris papers and reiterated directly and by
inference. The joint session, IL 1t is held
tomorrow. will begin at p. The Amer
ican case is ready for presentation.