The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-11-12
VIEWS OF A LONE SPANIARD.
MARQUIS DE COMILLAS ON SPAN
IsH-AMERICAN AFFAIRS.

Philippine Question Different From
That of the West Indies, and He
thinks the Monroe Doctrine
should Not Apply There - Can't
Comprehend No Reason Why
Americans should Retain the
Group-FiIipinOs Not Capable of
seIf-GOvernment.
Paris. Nov II, 10 p. m.-Marquis de
Comillas, the strongest individual factor
in Spain's financial and commercial world,
who is now in this city, made state
ment to-day to the correspondent of the
Associated Press of his personal views re-
garding the Hispano-Ameriean situation.
He is here primarily as the representative
before the Spanish peace commission of
La Production Nationala, a society organ
lied 10 protect the interests of the Span
ish products But he also directly repre-
sents the Spanish association of shlpown-
ers and brokers, and he is president of
the Spanish Colonial Bank of Barcelona,
the institution which pays the interest on
the so-called Cuban bonds.
In the commercial world of Spain ne is
not less prominent than in her financial
affairs The marquis is president of the
Credit Mercantile, an association Of Span
ish commercial mines, of the largest life
insurance company in Spain. of the Phil
ippines Tobacco Company, whose fields are
in the Island of Luzon, of the Compania
Trans Atlantica of Barcelona, (which car
ried the greater part of Spain's troops to
\ TOoEt \ 80 main
Besides this, he Is honorary president of
the National Council of Laborers Corpo-
rations, and of certain laborers' unions
Obviously Marquis de Comillas is pro-
foundly interested in the results of the
peace negotiations. While he has been dis
| tressed at the immediate effect of the war
upon the undertakings he represents, he
is even more concerned about the conse-
quences which might ensue upon a treaty
of peace embodyng terms that he deems
oppressive to Spain.
The marquis has never held a political
position, and thus far has declined to be
| interviewed, lest his utterances be consid-
cred In some degree as those of the Span
| ish government.
When asked to-day by the correspond
ent Of the Associated Press to make an ex-
ception 90 this rule of silence. he consented
| on the distinct understanding that he
SpOhe Aoi iitAisSlL oAlys anu as a private III
dividual, confessng frankly that he wishes
to secure from the American people pro-
| lection for the private interests he repre-.
| sents, so far as the unavoidable results of
the war will allow of their protection
Marquis de ComElas said: 1T is per-
| haps presumption on my part to assume
that the American people will attach any
| importance to what l say YET there are
/ circumstances, even connected with this
war, that leads me to hope 1 shall have a
| respectful hearing Spaniards are nor UNI
| mindful of the noble and generous treat
| ment the Spanish prisoners of war have
received at the hands of a victorious army
and navy, at the moment Of our defeat ard
of subsequent generous care and treat
ment, not less generous than that accord
| ed Lieut.. HobSon by Admiral CerVera
"'They have been touched by the cour-
tesy and kindness with which Spanish Off
GERS have been received in America. and
they almost dare to hope for the same
! Just and generous treatment of Spanish
| financial, commercial and industrial in
| terests. Whatever antagonism may have
been engendered in the minds of the Ameri-
can people toward the Spaniards as polih-
cal enemies, l cannot believe any
substantial portion of the American
| people will wish to see
unnecessary hardship inflicted upon the
vast number of Spaniards, whose property
and incomes may be destroyed as the re-
suit of this war.
1T is not a question OF the rich only,
| but of the small merchants and manufac-
| turers, their employees and laborers. In
| the hope of securing some better under
standing of these interests on the part OF
| The American people-and thus better pro-
! lection of those interests--I feel bold
enough TO speak as to my views and
wishes regarding them as affected by a
| treaty of peace
1T may prove difficult for me to get
| wholly clear of political and governmental
| considerations. because in Spain commerce
! and industry are SO closely allied with
| the government This condition doubtless
! will be condemned in America, but the
| commercial and industrial interests did
/ not create the system, and could prosper
only by conforming to conditions existing
| in my country.
THE Philippine question presents very
| different features from that OF the West
| Indies. In the Philippines Americans have
/ n interests a gnnafdara INN