The record-union., 1898-11-22
AN ULTIMATUM
TO THE SPANISH,

scontinued from First Page)
Tending themselves and the foreigners
IA their care from the insurgents.
Inc greatest interest was exhibited
It the State Department in all reports
xrom Paris that came from unofficial
put reputable sources. OF official re-
ports there were none, and 1t was SAID
Inat no word had come from the
american Commissioners since Satur-
day. The impression obtained among
The officials that the situation is not
quite so acute as was at first sup
posed, and that the prospects OF a
treaty being framed by the present
commissioners are not yet to be aDan-
doned. 1t was hinted that the Span
ash resistance was really spectacu-
lar exhibition intended to convince the
Spanish people at home that the best
efforts were being put forth to obtain
the most liberal terms for Spain, ana
that, at the critical point, some time
before the time limit allowed by the
american Commissioners to-day, pre-
Eented at the last moment, the Span
ish Commissioners viii succumb to the
-
lines laid down.
But even should they refuse to do
this. and the commissions part with
out result the situation would not be
30 very bad for the United States As
one member of the Cabinet put it, the
Government will be under the neces-
Eity Of taking possession of the Philip
pines by force, but it would have been
under the same necessity in all prob
ability, even We're a treaty of peace
signed, as the insurgents promise to
oppose our acquisition of sovereignty
over the islands, and will have to be
subdued. But the United States Gov
ernment would have saved the So
100000 which it had been willing to
allow Spain on account of the islands.
and further, this is no small consid-
Grafton The Administration would
avoid dragging the whole policy of the
war, at least so far as it turns on the
Philippines, into Congress, for there
would be no treaty to submit to the
Senate to excite discussion and arouse
Rntagonism.
There have been signs of opposition
to the payment to Spain even of the
small amount of money which the
President felt to be demanded by con-
siderations of exact justice and inter
national practice, and that opposition
might jeopardize the ratification of the
treaty of peace. But, of course. If
there is no treaty, that danger will
be avoided, and meanwhile the Gov
eminent can take. time to deliberate
upon the line of policy it is deemed
best to apply to the government OF
the colonies and determine just what
disposition should be made of all OF
them.
AT the British, French, German and
other foreign establishments the re-
port from Paris that Senior Montero
Rios, President of the Spanish Com
missioners, had refused to continue the
negotiations was looked upon as pre-
senting a serious crisis, although the
effect of this move was viewed from
different standpoints- At the French
Embassy, where the peace negotia-
tions were inaugurated, M. Thielbaut,
Charge d'Affaires in the absence of
Mr. Cambon, said no word had come
of the reported action, and beyond ex-
preston of profound regret at this un-
fortunate turn of affairs, he would not
discuss the situation. saying it had
reached a point where the greatest cir
cumspection was required. Through