The record-union., 1898-08-13
A Semi i-0ffiCiaI Note Issued 10 the
People
In an Effort to Appease the Populacs Over
the Loss of Cuba, Porto Rico and
Possibly Her Reign in the
Philippines.

MADRID, Aug. 12-The question Of
the acceptance of the protocol having
been finally settled and its signature
explicitly and definitely authorized, the
Government is now considering the do
mestic situation for the best means of
allayinS~the excitement and propagat-
ing the idea that Spains surrender is
not so complete as indicated by the
bald terms of the protocol. AS the first
step in this direction, a semi-oficial
note has been issued. 1t is as follows:
The Government is of the opinion
that the most critical period of the
peace negotiations has now arrived as
depends upon the arrangement of de-
tails as to whether the peace will be
more or less advantageous. Spain
wishes to preserve her sovereignty over
the whole of the Philippines. to which
she proposes to accord all political and
administrative reforms consistent With
the maintenance of her sovereignty.
I'm regard to the evacuation of Cuba
and Porto Rico, it will be asked that the
army be allowed to depart honorably,
and that assurance be given guarantee
ing that Spanish and foreign interests
will not suffer. The army which has
not been conquered will return to Spain
with its guns, arms and munitions
In regard TO the Cuban debt as the
United States refuses to assume it,
Spain will endeavor to arrange with the
Cuban treasury to pay it when the ISL
and is able.
The question of a treaty of COM
merce will lead to considerable discus
sion, and the matter will be submitted
to commission of diplomats, under the
Presidency Of Senior Castillo
The Liberal thinks the only bright
feature of the peace treaty is the i'm
mediate suspension of hostilities, so
that our unhappy soldiers will no lon
ger have TO die without knowing where
for"
Continuing, the Liberal congratIr-
lates the country upon the fact that
the war is ended, though Spanish rule
In America is completely terminated.
and says: I'VE reserve the right to
criticize the protocol when freedom is
restored to the press"
In conclusion the Liberal" says:
Those who pretend that the events of
the last three years were accident
which do not affect Spanish history are
deceiving themselves
The protocol will be published stimuli
taneouSly in the Official Gazette" here
and in Washington.
The papers discuss the situation quiz
ety. and great relief is felt in Cow
ernment and court circles that Presi-
dent Mckinley has not demanded a
convocation of the Cortes to approve
the peace preliminaries. The Cortes
will not now be summoned until au-
tumn, by which time it is expected that
the agitation of the extremists will
have cooled down and the country will
have become more inclined to accept
accomplished facts.
The commission to meet in the West
Indies will be composed, it is UNDER
stood, of military officers, and it is be-
lieved here that this commission will
pave the way for commercial treaties
and for a recognition by the United
States or Cuba of a portion of the Gu
ban debt
Senor Sagasta has again assured the
Queen Regent that he does not fear
Carlist trouble and the Carlists them
selves appear to recognize that the
country is not in the temper that would
support a Carlist rising. They are
speculating on the return of the dis
contented army, hoping for mischief
then.
The Government has decided to with
draw it's prohibition of wheat export
from and after next Monday.