The herald., 1898-11-22
SPAIN LEARNS TERMS
{ Continued From Page One.)

mas Deen accomplished under the terms OF
the protocol. Each article of the protocol
must stand, for it is in no respect de-
pendent on what would follow at Paris, save
the one clause touching on the Philippines.
Spain, for instance, agreed positively to re-
linquish her sovereignty over Cuba and
Porto Rico and evacuate those islands and
to cede to lis one of the Ladrone Islands for
naval station. Those agreements are be.
yond recall and all that was left to be settled
at Paris related to the Philippines. That is
the ultimate position of the United States
government announced at the State Depart
ment.
AS to what will now follow-peace or
war--the officials are not clear and earnest
consideration will be given to this subject
before any decision is announced. 1t is
believed that the Spanish forces in Cuba
will continue the evacuation of the island,
now in progress. 1t is not thought probable
that they will attack the United States
forces. The latter will not attack SO long
as the Spaniards continue to carry out the
terms of the protocol.
There is no problem connected with
Porto Rico, which is now completely in our
possession. Guam, one of the Ladrones,
can be easily garrisoned at any time, the
Spanish forces there having surrendered.
This leaves about the only questions to be
determined those in connection with the
Philippines. 1t is not believed that Spain
will make any effort to reconquer these is
lands. Meanwhile the United States mill
tary and naval commanders probably will
na toJ 10 ox,tapJ THAR at
once to the whole group of islands, though
lit is not clear that this can be accomplished
without much trouble and perhaps hos
tile clash with the insurgents.
For some reason a speedy decision to un-
dertake this work would be acceptable to
the State Department. There are foreign
interests and lives and property at stake
there for which the United States assumed
a moral if not technical responsibility.
Such, for instance, is the situation in the
city of Iloilo, the second of Importance in
the Philippines, which is beseged by large
number of insurgents. The small Spanish
garrison is inadequate to defend the for
eign interests in the place, and although un-
der our construction of the rules OF war, we
are not permitted to act there so long as
hostilties are suspended, yet there is some
force in the Spanish plea that we have pre-
vented them from defending themselves
and the foreigners in their care from the
insurgents.
LOOKS LIKE A CRISIS
At the British, French, German and other
foreign establishments the report from
Paris that Senior Montero Rios, president OF
\. had n,
continue the negotiations, was looked upon
as presenting a serious crisis, although the
effect of this move was viewed from differ
ent standpoints. At the French embassy,
where the peace negotiations were inau-
gurated, NJ. Thiebaut, charge d'affaires in
the absence of NJ. Cambon, said no word
had come of the reported acton, ard be-.
yond expressions of profound regret at this
unfortunate turn of affairs, he would not
discuss the situation, saying it had reached
point where the greatest circumspectlon
was required Throughout diplomatic
quarters the view prevailed that Montero
Rios spoke for the commission and Spain,
and that the only Interpretation to be put
upon his course was that Spain had de-
termined to break off negotiations, taking
the chances of a renewal of war.
1t is universally conceded, however, that
ia the end Spain will have to yield, as she is
practically without a navy, with disorgan-
lied and rebellious army, and with pros
poets of internal disorders.
Some of the diplomats hold that serious
question arises as to the validity of the
protocol in case the peace negotiations fail.
1t was, it is said, only preliminary step to
IL treaty, Sad if the treaty fails, so, too, this
preliminary step hssomes nugatory, except
so far as it has been cafFisd lsto actual eff
feet by the transfer of Porto Ricv.
Hopes were expressed through diplomatic
quarters that the full reports from Paris
would show the crisis less acute than the
brief early reports indicated, and that some
plan could yet be adopted to continue the
negotiations to a successful end.
The greatest interest was exhibited at the
state department in all reports from Paris
that came from unofficial but reputable
sources Of official reports there were
none, and it was said that no word has come
from the American commissioners since Sat
urday. The impression obtained among the
officials was that the situation is not quite
so acute as was at first supposed, and that
the prospects of a treaty being framed by
the present commissioners are not vet to be
1t was limited that the Span
sh resistance was really a spectacular ex-
hibition intended to convince the Spanish
people at home that the best efforts were
being put forth to obtain the most liberal
terms for Spain, and that, at the critical
point, some time before the expiration of
the time limit allowed in the note presented
by the American commissioners today, pre.
sented at the last moment, the Spanish
commissioners will succumb to the newt
able and accept a treaty on the lines laid
down. ..t,' .,
MAY SAVE SOME MONEY
But even should they refuse to do this,
and the commissions part without result
the situation would not be SO very bad for
the United States. As one member of the
cabinet put it, the government will be under
the necessity of taking possession of the
Philippines by force, but it would have been
under Cie same necessity, in all probability,
even were treaty of peace signed as the
insurgents promise to oppose our acquisi-
ion of sovereignty over the islands and will
have to be subdued. But the United States
government would have saved the $40 600, 900
which it has been willing to allow Spain on
account of the islands, and further this is
no small consideration. The admnistra-
tion would avoid dragging the whole policy
Of the war into congress, for there would be
no treaty to submit to the senate to excite
discussion and arouse antagonism.
There have been signs of opposition 70
the payment to Spain, even of the small
amount of money xyhirh fha proo;J ~ foi4 J..