The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-12-02


Paris, November 3O.-The joint peace
commission devoted two hours and a
half today, from to 4:3O o'clock p.
m, to drafting the three first articles
of the peace treaty protocol dealing
With the cesson Of Cuba, Porto Rico
and the Philippines, upon which the
commissioners agreed in principle.
\ general discussion on the other ar
ticles followed, but no decision was
reached and the joint commission ad-
journcd until tomorrow
ARTICLES OF THE TREATY.
There were thirteen articles laid be
fore the two commissions, covering the
following subjects:
/. The REIMBURSEMENT of sovereign
ty over and claim of title to Cuba.
2. The cessiOn of Porto Rico and
other Spanish possessions in the West
Indies, together with Guam, in the La
drOnes.
3. The cession of the Philippines.
4. The terms of the evacuation OF
the Philippines.
5. The pledge of the United States
to preserve order in the Philippines,
pending the ratification of the treaty
6. The release of military prisoners
mutually.
THE cession by Spain of the is
land of Kusane, or Strong island, in
the CarOines.
s. The mutual REIMBURSEMENT of in
demnity claims
9. The religious freedom of the Car
OlineS, assuring the rights of Ameri-
can missionaries there.
10. Gable landing rights al points
within the Spanish jurisdiction
II. The release by Spain of pOliti-
cal prisoners for offenses in Cuba and
the Philippines.
II. The pledge of the United States
to inaugurate in the Philippines an
"open door" policy and to guarantee
the same to Spain for at least twelve
years
13.-A revival of the treaties broken
by the war.
The first three articles were mutual
ly agreed upon today, as was also the
article embodying the terms of the
evacuation of the Philippines, which
will be practically the same as in the
evacuation of Cuba and Porto Rico.
The mutual release of military prison.
ers was agreed upon, Spain liberating
the rebel prisoners and the United
States liberating the Manila garrison
and the Spaniards held by AguinaldO.
The political prisoners to be released
by Spain are such as are now in exile
at Ceuta. in Morocco and at other
Spanish prisons.
Daily sessions will be held hereafter.
and it is now believed that the work
may be possibly concluded this week,
although so early a termination is not
probable.
The foregoing list of subjects under
conSidera ton does not show the pre-
else order on which the articles were
laid before the Spanish commissioners
today and in fact only eight of the
thirteen articles were discussed. Four
points arose about which the Spaniards
desired to consult Madrid and two
upon which the Americans will con-
suit Washington
After the session and the departure
of the Spanish commissioners the
Americans remained in the conference
chamber for an hour in an executive
session. The adjournment was taken
until o'clock tomorrow.
INSTRUCTIONS FROM SPANISH
CABINET
Madrid, November 80 The cabinets
instructions to Senor MOntero Rios,
which were drawn up last evening
were to request the immediate release
of the Spanish prisoners in the Philip
pine islands: to negotiate navigation
and tariff advantages in the Philip
pine islands in favor of Spain; to OBJ
tain a. ratification of several treaties
of commerce wish former Spanish pos
sessions, and an arrangement of the
debt OF the Philippines, and if pos
-sibe of the Cuban debt. The govern
nent also agreed to refuse a ratifica-
Zion of the protocol of 1877.
The minis terS also considered the
action of the carliSts and further de-
liberated upon the repatriation of the
Spanish troops in she Philippine Is
lanes 1t was decided that constitu-
tional rights Will. fo~ the present, re
mali suspended
THE CARLISTS.
The minister Of the interior, Senior
s'apdepOn. in an interview. is quoted
as saying the carlists have no chance
sIf success. He added: I'VE are close
y" watching their proceedings in the
Basque provinces and in Catalonia and
Aragon, and we are ready 10 repress The
first sign of insurrection. Don Carlos
only has a chance in the mountains
of Catalonia, where the people suffered
less during the last carlist war. The
carlists are working desperately to
win the support of some of our regi-
ments and some of our generals, but
these attempts have failed. Not
single general has listened 20 their pro-
poSalS."
The impartial announces that the
government intends to retain the Caro- |
lines and Will only sell them in case |
il receives an advantageous offer and !.
they become burden to Spain. The
paper adds: THE government hereto. /
has not received such a proposition. /
but expects to do So"
THE PROTOCOL OF 1877. |
WASHINGTON Noyan,har On -rbo ,,a