The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-12-06
DICTATED BY V|cT0RS
Day Epitomizes the Contents of
the Treaty.
IT'S AN END TO QUIBBLING
The American Commission Will Not In
sist Upon an Island in the Caro-
lines-Spaniards Fighting
Tooth and Nail.

Nhi'h tfftit tnt Ddt--
ing Of the oldest colonial power in the
world and the advent OF the newest
was epitomized by Judge Day this
evening in a single sentence:
"A peace treaty to contain anything
the victors put into it,"
The Americans had listened for
hours with their customary patience
to the technicalities convoked by the
spaniards. with their customary
shrewdness and persistency. against
every proposal for the dismemberment
of their empire. Darkness had come ON
and the liveried attendants mobilized
by the French authorities had placed a
tiny lamp at the elbow of each COM
missioner. Senator Frye. whose un-
concealed contempt for diplomatic
quibbling excites the establishment of
the punctilious Castilians, had stalked
home. his patience exhausted. The
burden OF the Spanish arguments was
that matters outside bare cession and
evacuation OF the conquered territories.
which the Americans proposed to cover
by the treaty, were beyond the legiti-
mate and customary scope of a peace
treaty. Behind this bulwark Senor
Montero Rios, president of the Spanish
commission. fortified himself, bonn
harding his opponents with a supply
OF arguments and precedents which in
spired the freely expressed admiration
of the Americans. Finally. Judge Day
summarized the American position in
the foregoing memorable utterance. IL
was given and taken in good spirit. and
from that moment the proceedings were
entirely friendly. The session accom-
plished much. Eight open questions
were canvassed. seven being practically
settled without noteworthy friction
The commissioners decline to say
what conclusion was reached. but the
bargain for coaling station in the
Carolines was not cemented. and ac-
cording to present prospects IL Is likely
to fail. The temper OF the Americans
in this matter is:
I'VE made you a good offer for an
island. You may take IL or leave IT,
The Spaniards seem disposed to leave
IL. The American do not regard IL as
a prize which they can demand as one
OF the natural fruits OF the war. while
the whole policy OF the Spaniards Is to
confine the negotiations as narrowly as
possible to the letter of the protocol
signed in Washington and to exclude all
extraneous matters. The result OF this
policy may be the leaving of many
details involved in the change OF SOW
ereignty over the various possessions
to settlement by the regular diplomatic
processes when normal relations be-
tween the two governments have been
resumed
The Spanish commissioners insisted
at the previous meeting that the set
tlement of the status of the Spaniards
who remain In colonies was problem
so closely akin to cession that IL could
not be logically separated from the mat
ter. but should be considered next to
h.. of nesafnn and hpfOr.a Sneh
matters as coaling stations and relig-
ious liberation. They appealed TO the
Americans, having gained all the great
points, to be generous on the minor
ones Accordingly. the American COM
missioners, as foreshadowed by the cor
respondent Of the associated press. were
conciliatory to-day on the order of
procedure as TO the status of Spaniards
remaining in the lost colonies.
The Spanish commissioners continue
fighting with tooth and nail to procure
every possible pecuniary and other con-
cession. The Americans had already
promised 10 guarantee the return OF
Spanish prisoners in the hands OF the
Filipinos. To-day Senior Montero Rios
proposed that the United States should
pay the expenses of shipping them 20
Spain. arguing with his customary in
senuity that tins was the duty OF the
Americans, as a matter OF course. The
Americans thought the request unreas-
enable. and a good deal of time was
consumed in discussing the question.
Another problem entailing long de-
bate was the disposition to be made OF
the Spanish munitions of war in
number of military posts outside OF
Manila. which the Americans have not
captured. The Spanish commissioners
contended that Spain should be per-
mitted TO ship such munitions home
The Americans replied that. as the
United States had conquered the Phil
ippines. these munitions were spoils OF
war. The Spaniards finally waived this
quibble.
They appear resigned to the newt
able and now seem to realize that their
best policy is TO save as much from the
wreck as their keenness in raising tech
nicalities can secure for them. The
question OF the status of the Spaniards
in the West Indies and the Philippines
who wish 10 remain there was nearly
settled. as well as certain commercial
questions involving the rights OF ship
ping under the spanish flag. which Will
be given advantages.
The joint commission was in session
for over four hours. Much OF the dis
cussiOn concerned details as to the
guaranteeing OF the rights of Spanish
citizens in the ceded colonies. The de-
bate was occasionally energetic and the
Spaniards. on adjourning. appeared To
be detected.
Secretary Ojeda of the Spanish COM
mission. when questioned after the
meeting as to the progress made. an
swered excitedly:
II am almost mad. l cannot talk.
We are making progress"
The American commissioners de-
clined 10 say anything further thaa
that the progress made was satisfac-
tory.
The Spanish commissioners have re-
ceived authority TO bind their govern
ment on certain matters. but there are
yet important questions on which their
instructions are unsatisfactory. and 10
is not unlikely that many Of the details
involved In the change of sovereignty
in the spanish colonies will be left for
settlement in the regular diplomatio
process when relations between the
two governments are resumed.