The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-11-16
A RETURN TO PROTOCOL
AS VIEWED BY SPANIARDS, 9TH
ERWIsE NO TREATY.
NO TREATY, WE SEIZE THE PHILIPPINES
And the DoRs Lose Millions we are Now Dis
posed to Pay Besides Whatever Else
we Chose to Lay our Rob
Der Hands on,

Madrid. Nov. 15.--Accordng to semi
official statements here, the Spanish
peace commissioners will maintain theil
present attitude in regard to the Philip
pine Islands, and vii certainly not &C
cept the conditions of the United States
Further, if the discussions does not re
turn to the limits of the protocol. as
viewed by the Spaniards, the Spanish
commissioners have decided. in spite OF
contrary reports, not to sign a treaty OF
peace.
1t is also learned from the same
sources that complete accord prevails be-
tween the Spanish Government and its
peace commissioners.
The Spaniards declare that their re-
fusal to sign treaty based on any Phil
ippine terms thus far suggested by the
United States is irrevocabIe They say
that they do not and cannot view the
taking of the Philippines, as anything
else than wanton ravishment of their
possessions, unless it is accompanied by
a financial consideration or appreciable
size.
Therefore the turn of events in the
peace conference depends upon the viii
lingness of the American commissioners
to extend their financial terms. Spanish
sovereignty in the Philippines is now
clung to by the Spaniards chiefly as II
means to obtain financial relief, if posi-
BILE.
Persons near to Spanish bondsmen
believe that if the Americans assume the
Philippine debt or pay its face amount in
cash, the Spaniards would sign.
If they have not already done so, the
Spanish commissioners will ultimately
advise that they must not permit any
controversy as to the binding character
of the mortgage upon the revenues of the
Philippines to pay the so-called Cuban
debt. Tenacious adherents to this claim
would lset up on the Spanish
side an utimatum under which
no treaty would be signed which
did not stipulate that the Philippine
revenues should pay the Philippine debt.
In such event the Americans would
probably claim that the Philippine debt
of $40.000,000 amounts to $4,000, 600
in gold, of which about S11, 10000 has
been employed in fighting the United
States leaving less than $10000.000
chargeable in gold to the Philippines.
Indeed. the United States would doubt
less contend that even the reduced
amount was used in fighting the Philip
pines and object to the Spanish con-
clllsion that it is a fair charge against
the Americans.
Trouble will arise, however, before that
stage is reached, as the Spanish COM
missioners will undoubtedly inform the
Americans that the latter have no right
to exact a schedule of SPANS expendi-
lures or any explanation regarding the
destination of the money secured on
these loans.
A Spaniard who is posted as to the
exact status of affairs informed the cor
respondent of the Associated Press this
evening that he did not believe the
Spanish commissioners would take their
final stand at tO-morrow's session, al
though he thought it possible that they
might finally decline to continue the dis
cussion except within the limits of
Spain's construction of the protocol. This
is another way of saying Spain may
cease her contentious. Should she do
so she would make an open protest to
the world against ''spoliation."