The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-11-18
SPAIN MAY WEAKEN YET
President Mckinley Hop sful of q
Satisfactory Understanding.
OUR PRESENT POSITION
Tho Precise Contents OF spain's Answer
Known Only in omcisi Circles-rwo
Propositions That epain's Com
missioners Probably Made.

Washington. Nov. 1.-THE admins
tration feels encouraged over the out
look for a successful termination Of the
labors of the peace commissioners in
Paris. Whether this renewed conf
dence is based upon the abstract Of the
Spanish reply which was submitted at
yesterdays meeting. or is founded upon
private advices indicating q weakening
Of the Spanish position is not known.
but 1t Is probable that both Of these
had an influence In Frightening the
prospects. The Spanish reply was no
surprise to the American commission
ers, who in fact had prepared them
selves in advance. with instructions re-
ceived directly from the president and
Secretary Hay for a complete answer.
The attempt of the Spanish commits
sioners to induce the Americans to
adopt their construction of the meaning
Of the protocol where II touches on the
Philippines has been a fiat failure. The
president himself was a party to the
preparation of the protocol. 1t was he.
who, suspecting the purpose on the
Spanish side to becloud the issue and
leave open a door for future escape
from the consequences of war. swept
aside as so much chaff the message of
the Spanish Duke Almadovar del Rios.
United States to what Is called a pre-
cisis. declared the Spanish government
might accept that as the exact state
ment of the demands Of the United
States. Having made the document the
president believes himself to be the
meaning and the American commits
sioners are consequently acting in con-
formity with his views.
Paris. Nov. 17.-At the daily session
of the American peace commissioners.
the Spanish memorandum presented at
yesterdays joint session was up for
consideration. No unofficial person
knows the contents of the document,
but ii is safe to assume that added to
her fnsistence on the reservation of her
Philippine sovereignty and her propo-
sition to arbitrate the construction of
the third article of the protocol. Spain
has made two other important state
ments: ?.
First-That on the high ground Of
financial probity she cannot allow any
discussion here of the validity of her
action in pleading the resources Of the
Philippines for payment of the Philip
pine debt.
American proposal to reimburse Spain
for her pacific expenditures In the
Philippines. she cannot admit of any
inquiry as to how she has spent the
proceeds of loans based on Philippine
pledges.
If Spain has assumed this attitude,
and IL Is believed she has done so. she
practically compels the American COM
missioners to consider at least the en-
tire Philippine debt and its assumption
by the United States. II is difficult to
understand how the Americans can re-
ply to this in any other manner than
by strictly outlining their position and
giving the Spanish a time limit in
which to accept the propositions of the
United States.
Madrid. Nov. 17.-Almost all the pa
pers deprecate the dilatory proceedings
at Paris. expressing their belief that
the United States will decline arbitra-
tion and urging the government to yield
quickly. since IL is impossible for Spain
to renew the struggle. or to expect
European assistance. and furthermore
because it would be better to cease
wasting money and to concentrate at
tention upon Spain's domestic affairs
and the restoration of her finances.
London. Nov. 17.-All the special dis
patches to the London papers this
morning from Paris express the belief
that the Spanish commissioners will
finally yield. although under protest.
to the American demands.