Evening journal., 1898-08-22
THE COMMISSIONERS
Spain Preparing Instructions
For It's Representatives.
WANT TO KEEP PUBLIC WORKS.
Holds That Crown Property Doesn't Co
with the Islands The Philippine
Question-stll Hoping For
German Interference.
LONDON, Aug. 22.-rhe Times cor

LONDON. Aug 22-The Times cor
respondent in Madrid says:
"A committee composed Of Duke AL
modovar de Rio, the foreign minister;
Senor Romero Giron, minister of the
colonies; Lieutenant General Correa,
minister Of war; and Captain Aunon,
minister Of marine Is preparing in
structions for the Cuban and Porto Ri
can commissioners. which win be dis
patched on Aug. 81 so as to arrive with
in the time fixed by the protocol.
"In these Instructions attention will
be called to the distinction between
cession of territory and cession Of SOW
ereignty. In the latter case it seems TO
be maintained here that buildings and
public works remain the property of the
sovereign power until they are paid for
by the new government.
Certain members Of the cabinet are
OF the opinion that the commission will
have first OF all TO determine some legal
and administrative modus vivendi dur
ing the transitional period until the
evacuation Is completed. Meanwhile the
government viii probably call the at
tention of the cabinet at Washington to
the fact that while the insurgent lead
ers profess to accept the armistioe their
subordinates continue to carry on hos
tilities against outlying Spanish garri-
sons.
while the government thus devotes
its attention for a 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
culties. on this subject very little
guidance is afforded by the studously
vague terms employed in the protocol.
These words have been carefully exam
ined with the aid of all available die
tionaries not only by the Spanish min
listers, bat also by the diplomatic repre-
sentatives Of several foreign powers,
and all seem agreed that in drafting
this part of the protocol President Nc
Kinleys aim was simply to keep a free
hand for himself until he should have
time TO cokect Information, and decide
what policy the United 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
opinien 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 territo-
rial changes without having something
to say therein.
"The ministers still declare that Off
cial dispatches respecting the captula-
tion of Manila have not been received.
Therefore the Augustin incident is un-
explained. Mail advices confirm the
transferrence Of administrative author
ity from General Augustin TO the gov
ernor of the Visayas islands.
''The Heraldo of Iloilo Of June q pub
fishes an official telegram from the min
lister of war, Lieutenant General Correa,
investing General Rios with all the at
tributes and power exercised by the
captain general of the archipelago in all
the islands under his command. Cen
eral Augustin. therefore, even if 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 make difficulties about
admitting this doctrine. Fuller informa-
tion ought very soon to be available"