Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-10-31
MARKED CHANGE IN ATTITUDE OF
MADRID PAPERS.
DEMAND TREATY TO BE SIGNED
HOWEVER. THE PEACE NEGOTIA.
TIONs MAY YET FAIL.
Americans in Paris Will Not Be Sur
prised if One or More of the
Spanish Peace Commissions
ers SpoiIs Everything
by RcsiEning.

PARIS, Oct. 30-Senor Montero Rios,
president of the Spanish peace commission,
is i'll. This causes some doubt this even
ing as to whether there will be n joint ses-
sion of the commissions tomorrow. If
he is unable to attend, 1t is unlikely that
the Spanards would consent to enter the
conference to take up the Philippine ques-
tion for initial consideration.
The strong impression, which has been
growing here recently, that the Spanish,
upon receiving definite assurances of the
American determination to take the entire
Philippine group. would quit the confer
ence and all negotiations, is modified by the
attitude of the Spanish newspapers arriv-
ing here to-day. These are found to have
wheeled into line with the Epoca of Oc-
tober q, which demanded that the Span
ish commissioners should sign q treaty in
Paris. no matter how onerous the condi-
tions imposed by the Americans.
Nevertheless, despite this attitude of the
Madrid press and despite the denial given
on Friday last to the correspondent of the
Associated Press by a Spanish commits
sioner, who denied that the Spaniards had
any intention of withdrawing, the Ameri-
cans here will not be surprised If one or
more of the Spanish commissioners resign
and practically close the negotiations.
This feeling is based upon the fact that
Senor Rios early last week would nave re-
signed If his so doing would not have i'm
periled the Sagasta ministry; and the rea-
soning is that, if, while pressing the Cuban
debt, which is not mentioned in the pro-
tocol, and which the Spanish commission
ers insist should not be left to Spain alone,
Senior Rios were inclined to resign. he
might, in the open field of contention as to
the Philippines feel that resignation would
help Senor Sagasta, on the ground that
the demand of the United States for the
entire Philippine group would be eXtortion-
ate. 1t is believed here tonight, on the
eve of taking up the main question, that
the Spanish commissioners are not likely
to acquiesce here in any treaty that the
Americans would sign.
In the Philippines discussion, two weari-
some questions are likely to be raised
early by the Spanish. The first is on the
protocol phrase control. disposition and
government of the archipelago. the Span
iards doubtless holding that the word dis
position does not involve possession,
though they know that possession was
originally written in the protocol and
changed to disposition" on NJ. Cambon's
insistence in behalf of Spanish sensibil-
tiles.
Collateral to this is q second contention,
possibly to be merged with the first. that.
When the protocol was signed, there was
an exterior moral agreement between NJ.
Cambon and Judge Day that neither the
protocol nor its terms should, in the treaty
negotiations, involve spanish sovereignty
in the Philippine archipelago
On this point Judge Day, through the As
sociated Press, has already pointedly de-
MED the existence of an actual construct
i've or implied understanding outside of the
protocol, either verbally or in correspond
ence, and this denial is supported by the
French yellow book.
NJ. Cambtri however. has given the mat
ter some Significance by emitting to deny
the report, although the alleged existence
of a secret understanding, exterior TO the
protocol, was first printed in the Paris
papers and reiterated directly and by in
ference.
The joint session. if it is held tomorrow,
will begin at 2 p. M. The American case
is ready for presentation.
LONDON. Oct. 31.-The Madrid corre-
spondent of the Standard says:
There Is much anxiety in Madrid as to
the result of Mondays joint sitting of the
peace commission. Inasmuch as Spain ac-
cepted the Cuban articles of the protocol
only on condition of subsequent agree
ment being arrived at on the Philippine
question, she will strenuously resist any
infringement of her rights in the Philip
pines without COMPENSATION