The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-08-16
MORET CAN'T SEE
How Peace Commission Can Do With
out an Empire.

New York, Aug. 16.-A dispatch to
the World from Madrid says:
Senior Segismundo Moret is generally
regarded as the best equipped man in
Spain for a member of the Paris peace
commission. He was the minister of the
colonies when the war with the United
states began, a time when colonial con-
ditiOns required the deepest study, the
most tactful management. 1t was his
scheme of autonomy which was applied,
though too late, to Cuba and Porto
Rico. He had also, thought out a plan
Governor General August was trying
to win the natives over to it when Adj
miral Dewey sailed into Manila bay.
Senior Moret said to the World cor
respondent:
Il can not see how the commission
can work with an equal number of
members on each side and no umpire to
give the casting vote.
L have not been asked by the gov
eminent to go to Paris as member of
the joint commission to negotiate a
treaty of peace. If had been should
have made my acceptance depend upon
conditions such as would enable my
country to enter upon negotiations re-
garding the Philippines under as favor
able circumstances as possible and not
be obliged to yield to every American
demand.
1.-The negotiations will last for weeks.
There are so many important points yet
to be settled. For instance, the eVac-
uatiOn of Cuba, the settlement of the
Cuban debt, which there are many sub
stantial reasons for believing is likely
to get a hearing even with the Amer1-
can government and the Philippine
questions which are of the greatest inn
pOrtance from the Spanish and interna-
tiOnal points of view.
while I was minister of the colonies
we sent General August to Manila on
the understanding that he was to offer
to the natives practically the greater
3 ID 0srr1
had promised to Aguinaldo but did not
carry out. August was to tender to
the natives a share in the general ad-
ministration of island affairs, including
an elective insular assembly chosen by
select body of electors and seats in
both branches of the imperial cOrtes
were to be set apart for Filipinos. These
things the better class of natives had
asked for but in vain.
I'VE did not contemplate the Danish
ment of the religious orders but they
would have continued to exercise an
all-pOwerful influence upon colonial
life from the moment we gave the is
land authorities and the natives so
much liberty of action on modern pr1n-
ciples of government.
Nobody in Spain except very few
medieval people, believes things could
go as of yore in the Philippines.
L do not think conditions of peace
are likely to provoke much opposition
from Spain in her present weary, dis
gusted, disillusiOned frame of mind.
I think Premier Sagasta has greatly
strengthened his position. Events have
proved that he can not easily be Ousted
by the opposition or replaced by any
body, even from his own party.
IF after a peace treaty is executed,
he chooses to retire from active life, he
will still be the controlling spirit in the
Liberal party.
In that case the Liberals will remain
in office during the life of the present
cOrteS with a cabinet formed with espec-
ial regard to the dispatching of pubic
business and the reconstruction of the
many things which must be remodeled
in our finances, politics and admin1stra-
ton after the war.
Il have confidence in the recuperative
powers of our nation and in the suf-
ficiency Of our national resources, II
they are properly managed
4 do not fear any Carlist rising i'm
mediately as our rural population IS
eager for peace, as well as the people
of the cities
say they will not resort to guerrilla war
fare but will fly their hawk high They
believe they can start a military, po-
Iitical and religious movement like that
which placed AlphOnSO XII on the
throne in 1874 The Car1ists even boast
of having successfully tempered with
the loyalty of the army itself"
Though the opposition press insists
in affecting to believe that the Cortes
will convene Senior SagaSta and all the
most influential statesmen and generals
of both the monarchical parties believe
that it would be inadvisable to conVoke
that body until a peace treaty mas been
concluded as the extreme parties would
not scruple to stir up the country ana
perhaps interfere with the negotiations
bv violent debates which is the only
object they really have in view In
cIan0rine for the convoking of parlia-
ment.