The record-union., 1898-11-21
PRESSURE BROUGHT TO BEAR.
COMMERCIAL AND MERCAN-
TILE FIRMS WANT PEACE.
Sagastn Instructs the Commissions
ers to Yield, But to Make
Protest.

NEW YORK, NOV. IA QlSpatch 10
the Tribune" from Madrid says:
The meeting at Saragossa of dele
gates from all the Chambers of Com
merce of Spain discloses deep and bit
ter dissatisfaction at the delay of the
Paris conference to reach definite
agreement as to the terms of peace.
II anything could be gained by Spain
in attempting to elude the American
demands, the business communities
would offer no objections, but the
Chambers of Commerce, which repre-
sent the practical common sense of the
country, are. unanimous in denouncing
the systematic obstruction and pro-
crastination planned by Sagasta and
carried out by Montero Rios. The mer-
chants and manufacturers consider the
Philippines already lost to Spain, and
urge that the only wise course is frank
ly to acknowledge that fact and as
speedily as possible to get the best
terms the Americans are willing to
give.
The President of the Barcelona
Chamber of Commerce even goes so far
as to say that the pettifogging techni-
calities and bubbles with which Mon
tero Rios, as he understands. has op-
posed the demands of the United States
Commissioners, are likely to irritate the
Americans. and induce President Nc
Kinley to reconsider the indemnity he
may intend to offer in regard to the
Philippines.
These viewss which accurately reflect
the convictions of the commercial and
mercantile communities, are shared by
the masses of the population. 1t is the
functionaries, the monastic orders and
the politicians who support Sagasta
and Montero Rios in their suicidal OBJ
stinacy for retaining the Philippines.
Weyler, whose influence with the
army is greatly increasing, owing to
the discomfort of the returned and un-
paid officers, and who was recognized
by Sagasta as an independent factor in
the political situation, has strongly
urged the Premier, with whom he is
nov, singularly enough, on very friend
ly terms, to stand to his guns on Mon
tero Rios Interpretation of the third ar
ticle of the protocol, even at the risk
of renewing hostilities. The Queen Re-
gent remains convinced that any fur
ther obstruction at Paris is not only
useless but harmful.
Financial and commercial pressure
has been put upon Sagasta, who is now
believed to have instructed Montero
Rios to proceed to the discussion of the
amount of indemnity to be paid by the
United States in regard to the Philip
pines, after having placed on record an
emphatic protest against the American
Interpretation of Article 3, coupled with
declaration that Spain yields solely to
superior force. These diplomatic in
structions mean in plain English that
the Spanish Commissioners at Paris
will consent to give up the Philippines
rather than have Spanish seaports
bombarded by an American squadron.
but will do SO haughtily, as insolently
and sulkily as possible Sagasta is con-
fident that MonteroaRios will carry out
these instructions In spirit and letter.
1t is impossible to conceal the fact
that animosity in official circles here
against the United States is more bit
ter now than during the war. This
feeling does not exist among the masses
of the people. Apprehension prevails In
financial circles lest the childish sulki-
ness which Sagasta and Rios are about
to manifest in their mind of yielding to
the American demands may induce
washington to cancel or diminish the
Philippine indemnity, in regard to the
amount of which the widest exaggera-
tion are, current. Fqrty million dollars
is considered the smallest sum that can
be proposed. In esanguine Quarters
SlUUOOO,OOO and even $500, 900, 900 are
spoken of as the amount Of the indem-
nifty.