The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1898-08-22
SPANS SOVEREIGNTY
Over Manila Will Be Strongly
Urged at Paris. .,,..j.
ANENT CUBA AND PORTO RICO

A Committee OF Leading spaniSfds
Preparing Instructions For the StAn-
fish Commissioners VIII Prolpst
Against Hostility of Insurgents. III
London. Aug. 22.-The Times er-
respondent in Madrid says: A conf It.
tee composed of Duke Almodoverf ade
Rio. the foreign minister; Senor o-
nero Giron, minister Of the colon n:
Lieutenant Gencfal Correa, ministe af
war and Captain Aunon, minister Df
marine. is preparing instructions pr
sioners. which will be Disqualification
Aug. 81. so as to arrive within the pme
fixed by the protocol.
In these instructions attention kill
be called to the distinction between
the cession Of territory and the ees-
sion Of sovereignty. In the latter case
1t seems to be maintained here thatlthe
commission will have first of all to
determine some legal and administra-
tive modus vivendi during the trans
itional period until the evacuation is
completed. Meanwhile the govern
ment will probably call the attention of
the cabinet at Washington to the fact
that while the insurgent leaders pro-
fess to accept the armistice, their SUBJ
ordinates continue to carry on hostili-
ties against outlying Spanish garri.
sons.
While the government thus devotes
its attention for q moment chiefly to
questions of detail relating to the An
titles, much anxiety is felt with regard
to the Philippines question. which is
likely to create much more serious diff
ficulties. On this subject very little
guidance is afforded by the studiously
vague terms employed in the protocol.
These words have been carefully ex-
amined with the aid of all available
dictionaries, not only by the Spanish
ministers, but also by the diplomatic
representatives Of several foreign pow
ers. and all seemed agreed that in
drafting this part of the protocol Presl-
dent McKinley's aim was simply to
keep free hand for himself until he
should have time to collect informa-
ton and decide what policy the Uni
ted States should adopt in the far east.
All possible questions regarding the
future Of the archipelago are thus left
open, and both government and public
opinion here seem In doubt as to what
line shall be taken by Spain in the
forthcoming negotiations. Much will
depend, of course, on the attitude as.
sumed by the United States govern
ment, and consequently the conflicting
currents of American public opinion are
watched here with the keenest in
terest. The attitude of the powers hav-
ing far eastern interests is also much
speculated upon. 1t is believed that
Germany will not allow great territorial
changes without having something to
say therein.
The ministers still declare that Of
fetal dispatches respecting the capitu-
lation Of Manila have not been re-
ceived. therefore the August incident
is unexplained. Mail advices confirm
the transference Of administrative au-
thorty from General August to the
governor of the Visayas Islands.
The Heraldo, Of Iloilo of June 21,
publishes an official telegram from the
minister of war; Lieutenant General
Correa, Investing General Rioa with all
the attributes and power exercised by
the captain general of the archipelago |
in all the islands under his command.
General August. therefore. even II
he had remained In Manila. had, in the
opinion of the Spanish government. no
right to surrender anything but the
city and its immediate environs, but |
the Americans might perhaps mako
difficulties about admitting this doc !
trine Fuller information ought very |
soon to be available.