The record-union., 1898-11-04

NEW YORK, Nov "a dispatch to
the Evening Post" from Paris says:
The reported rupture of peace ne
gotiationS between Spain and the
United States is not credited in the
French Foreign Office. France willingly
will serve again as an intermediary,
in the hope of putting Spain under
permanent moral as we'll as financial
obligations, thus strengthening her
own position in the European balance
of power.
Paris and Brussels bankers are TAX
ing active interest in the question of
Spanish debts.
The Spanish members of the COM
mission are offended by the curtness
of the memorandum of the American
claims.
The American members will well
come a change in the Spanish side, as
they are not a match in legal subtleties
for Senor Rios. Whether there is
rupture tomorrow or not, Senor Sa-
gasta is likely to continue to dictate
the negotiations. I have high authOri-
ties for prognosticating the course of
the first dispute over the American
Interpretation of the third article OF
the protocol, that the claims upon the
Philippines for war indemnity are in
consistent with the previous articles,
and also with the original diplomatic
correspondence through Messrs. Cam
bon and Patenotre.
''Senor Sagasta will say that he con-
siders that Porto Rico is a sufficient
indemnity. In the second place, if nom
suited, he will proceed to put a value
upon the Philippines far in excess of
any possible war indemnity, on the
ground that Germany and England, or
even France. would offer terms higher
than the Americans take as the basis
of negotiations. He will plead that
no Spanish Ministry could live if they
accepted the American terms. AS a
third step he would resign office, leav-
ing the negotiations to begin over
again, and under a Conservative Min
istry.
Thus a speedy termination of ne
gotiations is not expected. The Com
missioners are renting apartments
outside the hotel''
TALK OF A COUNTER PROPOSE
TION.
PARIS, Nov. 3. - The general ac-
cepted view here of the peace negotia-
tions is that the Spaniards will not
agree to the propositions submitted by
the Americans to take the Philippine
Islands and to reimburse Spain the
money spent upon permanent improve
ments in those islands. But there is a
conflict of opinion as to whether the
Spanish Commissioners will present a
counter proposition. This matter. it is
added. was undecided at > o'clock this
afternoon
The Echo de Paris to-day ex-
presses strong approval of the speech
delivered at Worcester, Mass, by Sen
ator Hoar, in which he denounced the
so-called policy of American eX-
tension The paper mentioned quotes
the speech fully. and remarks that all
American political men apparently do
not agree with the policy of conquest"
The Figaro" says: The peace ne
gotiations have reached a very critical
point Up to yesterday the Spanish
delegates had received no definite in
structions from Madrid. Will the
Spanish Government accept the Amer
lean proposition? We doubt it,
The Petit Bleu" remarks: "One must
admit in looking beneath the surface
that the late war has completely
changed the American character. Out
side of being anxious merely for COM
merical supremacy and playing a small
political part. save regarding the
South American Republics, the
United States felt no desire to inter
fere in European politics. But every
thing changes very suddenly. After
the success against Spain. the Amer
lean Government felt itself capable of
taking part in European politics. and
the advances of Great Britain showed
to the American Ministers that they
could speak up. This popular feeling
has induced the American Government
to demand the whole of the Philippine
archipelago. when at the outset part
of the Philippines was all that was
demanded.
This new demand exceeds war in
demnity. and this is the weak point
which American diplomacy has TO en-
counter. The Spanish Government is
at the end of it's resources, and hope
less as it is for her to attempt to
master the insurrection in the Philip
pine Islands, even if they were handed
over to her tomorrow. it is evident
that if. instead of using the word
abandonment 'cession' against a cash
indemnity is spoken of, the Spanish
terms.
THE American delegates have made
several offers. and have at the present
time proposed the sum of S40.000,o0o.
The Spaniards want more, and have
demanded S100000.000.
The Spanish delegates. for whose
sad condition one must feel pity. had
for q moment an illusion that Europe
would intervene and defend the inter
ests of Spain. They must have lost
this illusion by now. American diDlo-
macy has played its part with great
cleyerness, and has from the outset
gained an extraordinary position. AT
the present moment the United States
Is taking advantage of the hatred
against England. which is growing up
on the Continent. and offers its neu-
trality if Europe will leave the United
states free hand with Spain. Besides.
Europe really has no interest to inter-
fere The various European Govern
ments foresee what will inevitably