The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-11-14
RESERVED THE PHILIPPINES.
CLAIM MADE BY SPAIN UPON THE
PEACE COMMISSIONERS.
Duke AlmodOvar del Rio, Spanish
Minister of Foreign Affairs Wrote
. Note to Secretary Day, Which

may stia insist that she effectually re-
served her Philippine sovereignty from dis
cussion or disturbance by The United states
in a note from Duke -Alnodovar lie Rio.
the Spanish minister OF foreign affairs 10
Judge Day, the then United States secre-
tary Of state, dated Madrid on August Z,
II Is by this message that Spain presuma
oly accepted the terms of peace which al
SPANS request had been set forth by Pres
idenE Mckinley through Secretary Day
under date OF July 80. And il is by this
message OF Duke A,Inodovar de RIO and by
the response OF Secretary Day that Sgain
seeks 10 prove 10 the United States peace
commission and 10 the tribunal Of nations
that Spain's sovereignty over the Philip
pine islands was reserved from any discus
sion here and without protest from the
United States.
In the letter in question Duke Almodovar
de Rio says Spain did not declare war and
only engaged in ii 10 defend her rights. He
acknowledged the necessity Of SPANS quit
ting the island of Cuba and says she VIII
do So Continuing he says:
THE United States require as an indern-
nifty for or equiv 10 the sacrifices they
have borne during this short war the ceS-
sion of Porto Rico and other islands now
under the sovereignty OF Spain in the West
Indies, and also the ceSsion Of islands in
the Ladrones, 10 be selected by the Federal
government.
This demand strips US of the very last
memory OF the glorious past and expels lis
at once from the prosperous Island OF
Porto Rico and from the western hemis-
phere. which became peopled and civilized
through the proud deeds Of our ancestors.
1t might perhaps have been possible TO
compensate by some other cesSion for the
injuries sustained by the United States.
However, the intiexibility of the demand
obiiges us TO cede and we shall cede the
island of Porto kico and other Islands be-
longing TO the crown of Spain in the West
Indies, together with other islands Of the
archipelago of the Ladrones. to be select
ed by the government Of the United States.
The terms relating 10 the Philippines
seem 10 our understanding quite indefinite,
On the one hand, the ground upon which
the United States believe themselves en-
titled 10 occupy the bay, harbor and city
If Manila, pending the conclusion OF the
treaty of peace. cannot be that OF con-
quest. since, in spite OF the blockade main
tanned on the bay by the American fleet.
and in spite of the siege established on land
by native army, supported and provided
for 10y an American admiral, Manila slill
holds its own. and the Spanish standard
still waves over the city, On the other
hand. the Whole archipelago OF the Philip
pines is III the power and under the SOW
ereignty o. Spain.
Therefore, the government Of Spain
thinks that the temporary occupation OF
Manila should constitute a guarantee. IL
Is asserted that the treaty Of peace shall
determine the control, disposition AMI gov
ernment of the Philippines but as the in
tentions OF the Federal government by re-
sressioh. remain yelled, the Spanish gov
eminent must, therefore, declare that,
while accepting the third condition, they
81 sCf n. aitr,1+,
OF Spain over the archipelago leaving 1t to
the negotiators 10 agree as TO such reforms
as the conditions OF these possessions and
the level of the culture of their natives may
render desirable.
The government OF her majesty accepts
the third condition, with the above men,
toned declarations.
Such are the statements and observa-
tons which the Spanish government has
the honor 10 submit In reply to your ex-
ceIlencys communication. They accept the
profered terms. subject 10 the approval of
the cortes OF the kingdom, as required by
their constitutional duty
The agreement between the two gov
ernments implies the immediate suspension
Of hostilites and the designation OF COM
missoners for the purpose OF settling the
details OF a treaty OF peace and of signing
Il under the terms above indca ed"
Secretary Days response, through NJ
Cambon, under date of August 10 and
which Spain declares embodied ac0uies-
cence OF her reservation of the Philippine
sovereignty from discussion in the peace
commission says:
Your EXceliency: Although 1t IS our
understanding that the note OF the Duke
Almodovar de Rio. which you left with
the president on yesterday afternoon. is in-
tended to convey an acceptance by the
Spanish government Of the terms SET forth
IN my note or the 12th uitmo. as a basis
upon which the president would appoint
commissioners 10 negotiate and conclude
with commissioners on the part Of Spain A
treaty of peace. | understand that we CON
cur in The opinion that tho dukes note
doubtless owing 10 the various trarsforma.
tons which II has undergone III the course
of its circuitouS transmission by telegraph
ard II cipher, is not In the form In which
Il reached the president entirely exnlfcl.
Under the circumstances IL * considered
mat The most certain way Of avoiding mis-
understanding is to cmhody IN a protocol
- be signed Ivy US as the representatives.
respectively Of the United States and az
spain. the terms upon which the Degotla-
liens for peace are to be undertaken.
L therefore inciOSe herewith the eFragt Of
such Il protocol, in which I have embodied
the precise terms rendered 10 Spain in my
note Of the 3}'h ultino together with an
pf"prlate snpuiaticns, appointing Il COM
mission TO arrange the details Of tho i'm
mediate evacuation Of Cuba, Porto Rico
and ether islands under Spanish sovereign
y IN the West Indies. as Well as Tor the
appointment Of commissioners 10 treat Of
peace
The Americans hold that Spain saw tina,
Philippine sovereignty vas involved in the
basis Of peace lai1 down ty che United
States. and that her attempted reservation
If August il evidence thereof \ gus-
pension ~ host;lities was deferred because
- this fact. \ protoeoi IN precise terms
was demanded because Of th!z facf ana
Camboa c4h.ed Madrid on the same dav ~
Secretary Days response that thu. FED
egal government mad decided TO state rr4-
csseiy In the protocol TIRE hasis upon vhieh
pra1e must no negotiated. r was only
when the United States regarded Spain as
having made az unquah fied coFnnact -
leave Philippine sovereignty to a con7n,s-
sion ~ signing the protocol that h0sslll,ies
were suspended.
col. u. tfLIIs DEAD.