The Indianapolis journal., 1898-12-02
And in Support of Their Petition They
Refer to Treaties and Point to the
Proposed "Open-DOOr" Policy.
INSTRUCTIONS FROM MADRID
THAT INDICATE SPAIN INTENDS To
EHOLD UP" UNCLE SAM.
Confirmation Of the Report that Ger
chase of the Caroline Islands.

PARIS, Dec. 1.-Anxious as both are to
conclude their work, the United States and
Spanish peace commissions did not hold
joint session to-day. Their next meeting
will be held at o'clock tomorrow after
noon The delay was due to the fact that
the Spanish commissioners at yesterdays
session offered several urgent propositions
which called for special deliheration on the
part of the Americans. Spain asks the
Americans to grant for term of five years
TO Spanish ships carrying Spanish goods or
products to Porto Rico and Cuba the same
privilege as American vessels engaged in the
same trade may have and she qualities this
request by a proviso that trade privileges
be extended to Cuba SO long as the United
States government dominates over the is
land.
In support OF this request the Spanish
commissioners assert that Spain cannot
without vital harm Immediately abandon or
cut the business relations so long MAIN
tanned between the mother country and the
West Indian territories. They declare that
family ties and social relations, added to af-
fairs of trade maintained through centuries
require gradual dissolution. They invoke
the terms of the treaty of 1919, by which the
United States took over Florida from Spain
and in the ffteenth article of which granted
Spain for twelve years the right to send
her goods and products to Florida in Span
ish ships on the same terms as the ships
carrying thither goods and products of the
United States. The Spanish commissioners
cite further the fact that the treaty of 1903
with France for the cession of Louisiana
granted French and Spanish goods an
produce the same terms as American in
New Orleans and other ports in the ceded
territory. Finally, Spain points to the
American proposed "open-door" policy in
the Philippines and asks a guarantee of the
same advantages in her West Indian col
onies until trade relations can by degrees
accustom themselves to the change Of
sovereignty. This proposition and the argu-
ments by which it was supported are con-
Eidered strongly stated, and the American
commissioners desired time for deliberation
Thus, though busy until nearly o'clock
: this afternoon, they were not fully prepared
and Judge Day sent a message to Senior
Montero Rios requesting that the joint ses-
sion fixed for this afternoon be postponed
until tomorrow. Meanwhile the Spanish
commissioners had been preparing a list of
subjects for negotiations, supplemented by
suggestions counter to and amendatory Of
the subjects the Americans submitted yes
terday. This came to the American COM
missioners to-day in Spanish, rendering it
even more desirable to postpone the joint
session in order to give time for translation
and consideration. The translation is being
made this evening and the subject will be
laid before the American commissioners to-
morrow morning. Now that the first gust
of grief and chagrin has passed the Spanish
commissioners are meeting the Americans
in frank spirit that is helpful to an early
completion Of the negotiations.
Gen. Wesley Merritt, who arrived here
yesterday from London, leaving his wife
convalescent there. was in consultation with
the American commission all this morning
relative to the conditions and necessary
measures in the Philippine islands General
Merritt expects to sail for New York on
Dec. 10 and hopes to resume his duties in
California or New York until his retirement
eighteen months hence.
Major Hale, Of General Merrtts staff,
who is now here, believes the United States
having taken the Philippine islands, will
now have no trouble in securing the release
of the Spaniards who are held prisoners by
Aguinaldo.