The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-11-23
sPANIARps IN A ouANpARY.

SPANlARDS in A QUANDARY.
Don't Want to Agree TO ccssion of Philip
pines but Hate to Lose S2O,0O0,Oo
Paris, November 22-The Spanish peace
coum issioners last night telegraphed to
Madrid the substance of the United States
memorandum presented yesterday and
late in the evening they were discussing
it among themselves AS late as one
O'Clock this morning Spanish commits
sinner affirmed that he and his colleague
did not know what to do regarding the
American offer. There ia difference OF
opinion among unofficial people near the
commissions. But the prediction is made
that Spain will decline the American
offer of money, that she will refuse to
cede the Philippines and will say to the
United States:
'fYou may take the archipelago, because
you have the power to do SO. As you ad-
vance. 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 discussion under
the terms of the protocol, but you ev1dent-
ly meant when drawing up that docu-
ment to provide conference in which,
though we differ man to man you pro-
posed to announce at the proper time,
what you will do, whether we accept or
reject. Such an attitude robs the con-
ference of negotiative character and set
up the United States as dominant power
whose first purpose is to listen but whose
ultimate determination is to do It's own
will"
AS matter Of fact Senior Montero Rios
Is reported to have used virtually such
language and arguments as the forego-
ing. He said more even indicating
high degree of evaporation at the Anne
rican offer of $40, 900, 600. His manner,
no less than his words, betrayed his re-
pugnance His display of feeling and his
utterances, however, are not wholly ap-
proved by his Spanish colleagues, who
did not hesitate to say as much after yes
! terday's session.
Utterances later by Spaniard of i'm
portance, whose name is withheld for the
present, indicate another line OF action
a treaty cession of the Philippines.
| "Suppose, said the speaker in ques-
tion, THAT Spain says to the United
States: "We are exhausted We have no
funds with which to continue the war.
We do not want to continue it and we
| cannot. You serve us with an ultima
tum. We must submit to your power.
Prepare your treaty; and when you want
us to sign we will sign. We must bend
to a physical force. You have the An
titles, and you will possess the Philip
pines as q conquest from helpless peo-
\ pie. We yield, but we decline SS0, 000,OOo
| 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 because
| forsooth we decline your S2v,0e0, 0O0.
Surely this waiver by US 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
permitted to retain the privilege OF as
1 n1rr no
| itors that we at least have not stolen
and resoId territory we had pawned. -
| Should Spain oede by treaty Or, on the
other hand, should she refuse and break
! of the negotiations here, her protests will
| embody some such declaration as this.
| AS against such sentiments it is argued
that the business In hand is work for
grown men, that it would be childish fol-
| " to refuse $40, 600. 600 and that the
| Spanish government could not justify
| such refusal before the Spanish people
or the public creditors of Spain-a delib.
crate throwing away of $40. 900, 600 in ad-
dition to the loss of the Philippines.
Last night the Spanish commissioners
sent the American proposition by spec,
ial messenger to Madrid, where it Will
arrive tomorrow. 1t is felt that the Span
tish government must now answer the
American ultimatum; but, as IL is not
likely that the answer OF Madrid VIII
arrive tomorrow IN t1me Iof One colu
missioners to formulate their reply 20
the Americans by the afternoon it is
probable rTo tnat the Joint meeting will be
Seferred from tomorrow to day later in
the week. nr4
Rios. president of the Spanish commls-
sion at the conference yesterday. re-
marked. after having heard the Ameri-
can offer, that If the vital portions were
read the Spaniards could answer it in
stantly, but as the memoradum was very
WaSnasdav adding that it would be easily
nossible to- makeit within forty-eight
% On the other hand it is said the Span
iards cannot justify themselves before
their people ana 4onsps ~ bs I loss Of the Phlin
pines.
REPLY EXPECTED TO-DAY.