The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1898-11-12
Strong Words
Of Connillas.
THE PHILIPPINES.
He Predicts Disaster tc
Americas Rule There.

Paris, Nov. IT, 10 p. m.-Marquis de
Comillas, the strongest individual fact
or in Spains financial and commercial
world, who is now in this city, made a
statement today to the correspondent
of the Associated Press of his personal
views regarding the Hispano-American
situation.
He is here primarily as the repre-
sentative before the Spanish peace
commission of La Production Natio-
nala, society organized to protect the
interests of Spanish products, but he
also directly represents the Spanish
association of ship owners and brokers,
and he is president Of the Spanish CO.
ionia1 Bank Of Barcelona, the institu-
tion which pays the interest on the So
called Cuban bonds.
Obviously, Marquis de Comillas is
profoundly interested in the results Of
the peace negotiations. While he has
been distressed at the immediate effect
Of the war upon the undertakings he
represents, he is even more concerned
about the consequences which might
ensue upon a. treaty Of peace embody-
Ing terms that he deems oppressive to
Spain. The marquis has never held a
political position, and, thus far, has de-
clined to be interviewed, lest his utter
ances be considered as in some degree
those Of the Spanish government.
When asked today by the correspond
ent of the Associated Press to make an
exception to his rule of silence, he con-
scented ON the distinct understanding
that he spoke for himself only and as
a private individual, confessing frank
" that he wished to secure from the
American people protection for the
private interests he represents so far as
the unavoidable results of the war will
allow of their protection. Marquis de
Comillas said:
.'Spaniards are not unmindful of the
noble and generous treatment Spanish
prisoners of war have received at the
hands Of victorious army and navy at
the moment of our defeat and of sub
sequent generous care and treatment,
not legs generous than that accorded
Lieut.. Hobson by Admiral Cervera.
They have been touched by the court
esy and kindness with which Spanish
officers have been received in America,
and they almost dare to hope for the
same just and generous treatment Of
Spanish financial, commercial and in
dustral interests. Whatever antag-
onism may have been engendered in the
minds of the American people toward
the Spaniards as political enemies,
cannot believe any substantial portion
of the American people will wish to see
unnecessary hardship inflicted upon the
vast number of Spaniards whose prop
erty and income may be destroyed as
the result of this war.
ut is not a question of the rich only,
but of the small merchants and manu-
facturers, their employees and laborers.
In the hope of securing some better
understanding of these interests, on the
part of the American people and thus
better protection of those interests,
feel bold enough to speak as to my
views and wishes regarding them as at
fected by a treaty of peace.
'"The Philippine question presents very
different features from that of the
West Indies. In the Philippines Ameri-
cans have no interests of considerable
Importance The Monroe doctrine does
not apply there. In sending Admiral
Dewey's squadron to the Malayan seas
the Americans could have had no rea-
eonable aim except to divert the atten-
tion of the Madrid government and of
the rneagre naval reserve forces of
Spain, a piece of strategy which was
highly efficacious in breaking down the
moral and material forces of Spain.
been obtained / cannot comprehend
what reason the Americans ihave to re-
tain that land in their POWER. Spain is
suffering severely from her defeat, after
the prolonged and disastrous insurrec-
ton in Cuba and she is morally hurt
in her commerce and industry. The
American are absolute strangers to the
Philippines and their population. They
are unprovided WI h the immediate or
,iz nv n 1>lfI hof aS--
tensive and remote territory and to ex-
cercise authority there. The Filipinos
have certain degree of culture and
some rudimentary ideas as to public
administration, but as a whole, the
country is not yet capable of self gov
eminent
'4The cession of sovereignty over the
Philippines to the United States would
be disastrous to all those having bust
ness interests there, as Well as for the
natives as for Spaniards and for Euro
peans Of every nationality. Spain can
not transfer her Philippine sovereignty
to the United States by a mere clause
in peace treaty. The United States
would be confronted with war for the
subiugation of eight million Malayans.
This would mean the destruction of all
property in the Philippines. Trade and
commerce would be paralyzed there.
The merchants and manufacturers of
Spain would lose the markets they nov
enjoy, their factories would suspend
and their employees lie idle. The mar
kets for their products would have van
ished.
"But the United States would not gain
these markets. AT least, they would gain
them only by fire and sword. The case
Of the Philippines is entirely different
from the cases of Cuba and Porto Rico.
The only obstacle which the United
States had to overcome in order to set
up their sovereignty and to render it
effective in the Antilles was the power
OF Spain
"As to the attitude of the Tagalos,
already risen in arms against Spain,
there can be no doubt Habits of
fighting already acquired. ambitions
awakened by the assurances of the
chiefs who have trained the masses to
cry for independence and the hopes
which the United States government
itself has raised in them, would all tend
TO make the Tagalos the bitterest enc
mics of the United States.
The result of this would be a war
of subtugation in our islands of Ocean
lea. war which would be very cost
lv in men as well as money for the
Tinted States, a war of desolation and
rlin for the Philippines and their in
-+S in apar nrootar nrOport1OnS