Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1898-11-25

The differences that have arisen be-
tween the American and Spanish peace
commissioners because Of failure to
read the terms of the peace protocol
with the same meaning appear to be
quite wide and serious. Back in August
last, after Spain. beaten on land and
sea, had instituted peeoe pour parlers
through the French government and
when preliminary peace negotiations
between America and Spain, conducted
oraslf Of Spain through the medium
ID Gambon were ander way, there
came q point when the American gov
ernment categorically submitted the
conditions that Spain would be re-
auired to subscribe to before suspen-
sion of hostilities would be agreed to.
The Spanish government made reply in
. rather vague manner, accepting the
conditions but with certain general
reservations in regard to the Philip
pines that caused President Mckinley
and Mr.. Day to hesitate as to whether
to accept the Spanish 1eply as accept
ance of the American conditions or not.
But to save time and bring matters toa
point they resolved to treat the Spanish
reply a. an acceptance, drew up 9 pro
tocol embodying the American condi-
tions, assuming that the Spanish gov.
eminent had agreed to them, and pre-
sented such protocol to M: Cambon to:
sign on behalf of Spain and thus ter
inmate hostilities. Presented with:
! such protocol M. Cambon agreed thst:
!; the Spanish reply wss virtually an ac-i
eeptance of the American conditions,
sand after considering the protocolI
which had been drawn up and embody-
Inc, ,th ~,s seonditions he plead long and
" 1ra~y.y with the president to change,
.sSszyord in that protocol that it might
J, read less harshly to the Spaniaia. And
Mr. Mckinley, deeming the change to
be;in no way material, to in no way
affect the naeaning of the protocol
agreed. So in the clause Of the proto-
col bearing on the Philippines, and SET
ting forth that the future control, gov
srnment and possession of the Philip
pines should be determined by peace
commission to meet in Paris the word
..disposition" was inserted for '1possss-
SION Then the protocol was traDs-
mitted By cable to Spain, M. Camhon
was duly authorized to sign it on be-
half of Spain, and on the 18th day of
August, the suspension of hostilities
was announced. $3.50 /
And now there is clash in tho peace 1
commission al over this one word the
Spanish claiming that the word dis.
position as used in the protocol does
not mean possession, that Spain in !
agreeing to the peotocol did not agree
that the future possession and owner
ship of the Philippines should be left to
the peace commission did not agree to
asszeS peace commission power to
glSe Away her sovereignty; our COM
m missioners insisting that they under
stood that in authorizing the signature
of the protocol the Spanish government
did go agree The clas ii can only be
healed by one side or the other giving !,
wav and in the natural order of things /,
;t il the weaker side that gives. So
Spanish commissioners will in all prob
ability give way, withdraw from their
contention. If they do not they will
have to withdraw from the peace con-
farence. And then the question will be
settled in favor of the strongest
II is true that the Partisan and Ger
m.n press talk Of outside interference;
~ aMtdld that the question OF the
.d( snty over the Philippines il one
lalaA5 5aip not interest Spain saly sneng