The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-12-10
SPAIN YIELDS TO FORCE.
Peace Commission Will sign Treaty But
Not Willingly.


Paris, December 9.-Senor Montsro
Rios, president Of the Spanish peace
commission, and Senior Ojeda, secretary
of that commission, are still confined TO
their beds. The illness OF Senior Ojeda
delays engrossing the treaty, and 1t is
doubtful whether it will be signed before
Monday.
The Americans held their usual session
this morning.
The Spaniards continue making bitter
comments concerning President McKin-
lsy,s reference to the Maine. When COR
respondent of the Associated Press ap-
preached Senior Garnica of the Spanish
commission, for further details of the
treaty, he said:
1.-THE fact that you represent all the
American and English papers is really
a reason why could say nothing. But
what you show me as having been cabled
Is substantially correct. The exact num-
Der of articles is still undetermined. 1t
depends upon how Secretaries Ojeda and
Moore divide the treaty. 1t may be that
there Will be 12 or 20 articles The
Americans are to pay the indemnity with
in three months of the ratification. We
shall appoint consuls in Cuba, Porto
Rico and the Philippines without delay.
The Cuban consul will be accredited to
the powers that be-
grant the United States coaling station
in the Caroline islands, Senior Garnica
said:
'sThe Americans could hardly expect
that we should agree to discuss matters
outside of the prosocol after the lessons
we have had from them on this point.
When we wished to discuss the Cuhan
dnh heal f11Ir ca1 ff,o n
IL and then asked us for whatever they
want. Quelle toupet (what cheeky Yet
the Cuban debt remains All important
question for settlement"
In regard to the Spaniard's final protest
on the su bject of the Maine. Senior GarDica
remarked that the protest now tecomes
history, az it is embodied in the protocol.
I'VE do not wish to remain under an
imputation which would perpetuate
animosity and hatred against us and
which would be q source of constant lrr1-
tation in Spain. 1t is neither loyal nor
jas5 that this thing should hang over
the reputation of Spain. We cannot sub
NIT to it. 1t must be- cleared up in Justice
to ourselves. There are many other
causes to bring hatred between the two
nations without the addition of such a
one as this. AS to the future relations
of the two countries that is one OF the
things history alone can determine. Many
nations which have been deadly enemies
are speedily reconciled."
Senior q arnica was then questioned as
to the future of the Philippine islands
and he said:
'tThe United States has inaugurated a
policy which will bring it much more
trouble and many responsibilities. The
Americans are not prepared for the work
they are about to undertake. Your de-
mocratic system must inaugurate an i'm
I,,ro nd
you must increase your army and navy.
with the result that there will be con-
slant friction between yourselves and the
European powers.
The American preserves secrecy regard
ing the terms of the treaty. This is part
ly through the influence of three senators
in the body, who represent that it would
the terms before the treaty is presented to
that body by the President.
The protocol of the treaty will almost
reach the dimensions of volume, as 1t
will contain every written statement
presented on both sifles during the con-
ferences. The Spaniards made last
contribution yesterday in the assem- bling
of the commission.
Senior Montero Rios then presf nted a
vigorously worded protest in which the
Spaniards declared they had yielded to
force but that they invoked the conscience
of the nations against the abuse OF the
rights of nations of which they were the
victims. This protest was for the pur-
pose of record and consisted of an ar.u-
ment in support of every concession
demanded by the Spaniards and which
the Americans refused, some OF them
peremptoiily and without an opportunity
for discussion. The protest concluded;
but these concessions which we are
obliged to make touch us less than the
insult which has been inflicted on our
nation by President Mckinley in his
message We again protest soiemnly
agains5 the accus alton hurled against us
in connection with the Maine, and we
inrand to again submit the question tc
an international tribunal. comprised oil
England, France and Germany to deter
mine who shall lear the responsibility Of
the catastrophe.