Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1898-11-17
PEACE CONFERENCE.
Spain Will Not Accept the Terms
Of the United States.
TIE BELIEF HELD At WASHINGTON.
oeate Department Think the SpMn,ards
wiz Come In 1t Last With m Uncon-
ditionsi Acceptance Of Our Terms
War Talk.

their present attitude in regard TO tn
philippine islands and will certainl,
not accept the conditions OF the Unite,
States Further, II the discussion doe
mot return to the limits Of the protocol
- viewed by the Spaniards, the Span
ish commissioners have decided, il
spite Of contrary reports, not to sigr
streaty Of peace. 1t is also learned
from the same sources that complete
accord prevails between the Spanish
government and its peace commission.
ers
The Spaniards declare that their re.
fusal 10 sign q treaty based on any
Philippine terms thus far suggested
by the United States Is irrevocable.
They say that they do not and cannot
view the taking Of the Philippines as
anything else than wanton ravish.
ment OF their possessions. unless it is
accompanied BY financial considera.
ton OF appreclsble size. Therefore,
the turn Of events In the peace confer.
ence depends upon the purpose or the
willingness Of the American commits
sioners to extend their financial terms
Spanish sovereignty in the Philip.
pines Is now chung to by the Spaniards
chiefly as a means TO obtain financial
relief II possible. II is almost pure
matter OF money now, II the amount
b. large enough to absolve the Span.
NIB government from possible charges
ny their creditors that the collateral
has been given away. Persons near
to SPANS heaviest creditors believe
that, should America assume the
Philippine debt or pay Spain It's face
amount in cash, the Spaniards would
sign.
This view Is new in the quarters
where II now prevails. because time
has been required for the Spaniards TO
become convinced that the American
commissioners do littlc, II any dplo.
matte jockeying, and that their final
attitude may be found identical with
their first.
II they have not already done SO, the
Spanish commissioners will ultimate.
" advise the Americans that thew
must not permit any controversy a. to
the binding character OF the mortgage
sesting upon the revenues Of the Phil.
4ppines to pay the so.called Cuban
debt Tenacious adherence to this
claim would set upon the Spanish side
~ ultimatum under which no treaty
would be signed which did not stipu.
bate that the Philippine revenues
should pay the Philippine debt In
such event, the Americans would prob
ably claim that the Philippine debt Of
eao.0oo,oOO amounts to $40, 900, 900 in
gold, Of which about sll,OOO, 900
has been employed in fighting
the United States, leaving less
than $lo,oOo,Ooo chargeable in gold to
the Philippines. Indeed, the United
States would doubtless contend that,
even the reduced amount was used In
sighting the Filipinos and object to
theaSpanish conclusion that 1t Is fair !
charge against the Americans. Trouble
will arise, however, before that stage
- reached, as the Spanish commission.
era willundoubtedly inform the Amer
scans that the latter have no right to
exact schedule Of SPANS expendi.
lures or any explanation regarding
the destination Of the money secured
on these loans
BELIEVES SPAIN WILL SUBMIT.
Washington, Nov. le The officials
Of the state department do not expect
that to-day's meeting Of the peace
commissioners In Paris will be the
last On the other hand It is not ex.
pected that the Spaniards will come
Ia with an unconditional acceptance
OF our last demand. Still substantial
progress may be regarded as having
been achieved II the Spaniards show
: disposition to discuss in any phase
the cession Of the Philippines
70 the United States, even in
connection with money indem-
nity. The amount Of that indemnity
after all. 1t is believed, will be the
principal point Of difference between
the two sides. In other words, the
Spaniards might claim justification for
demanding sum as large as 5000, OOO,.
300 II they could point to the fact that
syndicate stood ready to pay double
that price for the islands. However.
4his has not led to any modification Of
the American demands as far as can be
learned aud 1t Is probable that several
sessions OF the JOINT commission will
Be consumed In haggling over the
amount Of money to be paid over on
account of the Philippines
RENEWAL OF WAR TALK. ,
London, Nov. l6.--The rumors circu.
lated here yesterday that the Amer
lean feet was on the point Of starting
Tor Europe caused great excitement In
commercial circles. The Daily Graphic
Iays this morning: "The Spanish
transatlantic feet has been ordered .
70 be prepared for renewal Of hostil.
tiles and the forts In the Canary is.
lsnds are being rapidly manned"
GEN. MERRIAM LOOKS FOR WAR
San Francisco, Nov, l8.-Maj. Gen. S
Merriam is quoted as saying: 4
II would not surprise me to see that the ne. n
|otiations between the United States and Spain Il
ave been broken Of. II the work OF the COM I
Mission proves fruitless 1t means renewal Of /,
be war II Spain refuses To accede to our de. II
nands Il Will show that she has sae,,raa s.h s