The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1898-12-03
GERMANY IS
JOCKEYING
Trying to AID Spain IN Get
ting . Biz Price for
CarolIaes.
NO HITCH RAS OCCURRED
Washington Officials Have No
Fear That q Rupture Nay
Come ASo''-
AGUINALDO WILL GIVE IN
IDsurgsHt Leader rwHl Not Attempt to
Oppose Annexation Of the
Philippines.
AGUINALDO WILL GIVE IN

WARRINGTON. Dec. An can Be stat
ed that no hitch has occurred In the pro-
ceedings Of the peace commission at
Paris. and the impression TO the con-
trary In certain quarters probably arose
through misuncerst landing Of the phase
those proceedings have reached. With
the acquiescense Of the Spanish commls-
sIoners in the American demands set out
In the original protocol. all danger Of
failure to reach the point Of the signature
OF the peace treaty disappeared, and that
such treaty win be forthcoming. covering
at least all OF the protocol points. is con-
sidered assured.
The statement that Spain has refused 70
sell US Ceuta. opposite Gibraltar. for a
coaling and cable station. Is inaccurate.
The United States government had not
made any such proposition for the ae-
QUESTION OF that island. and would hesl-
tate very long before entering upon the
turbulent field OF activity involved in the
assumption OF territory in the neighbor-
hood OF the Mediterranean.
The case Is different respecting the
Carolines. American naval experts have
urged very strongly that this group. as a
whole. be retained. II possible. and In aa.
ditiOn that the Pelew group. lying to
westward. be purchased. They have
pointed out that the southermost island
OF the Ladrone group, Waloa, lies only
90 miles north Of PonaDe, In the Caro-
lines, and the Pelew Islands are only
about co miles distant from the Philip
pines. With these the United States would
have complete chain OF islands. located
at convenient distances, more than half
way across the Pacific.
Moreover, the vast bulk OF trade in that
quarter OF the world passes directly
through the natural channel between the
Ladrones and the carolines. Of which the
United States would have command. II
Germany is able 10 outbld the United
States for these islands she may obtain
them, but suspicion is entertained that
the naming OF S2,O00.e0O was inspired by q
friendly desire TO get the best possible
terms for Spain from the United States
by raising the price OF the goods.
One Of the pledges. which is almost as
rood as a treaty obligation in its force
even now, is that the United States. il
return for the release OF the politica
prisoners from Cuba and Porto Rico HEX
by Spain. viii secure the release Of thu
Spanish prisoners held by Aguinaldo
There has been almost daily expected ;
dispatch from General Otis announcing
the arrival Of a transport there loade,
with United States troops, and the wa
department is fairly confident OF its abil
ity now to undertake full control Of tn
islands. with the assistance Of the nava
contingent under Admiral Dewey. II
realized that the task Of inducing Aguin
aldo to surrender the captives for whom
he has demanded such an extravagan
ransom as Sl.5Oo,OOO. under the penalty Q
cutting their throats. is going to be
difficult one, but. after all, the Unltel
States commissioners in Paris have onl
undertaken that the United States gov
ernment shall use its best efforts to Sc
cure the release Of the prisoners; the
have not pledged the government I
perform the impossible.