The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-11-13
Is the Only Question That Our Com
missoners Can Now Debate.
SPAIN PREPARING HER CASE.
Its Presentation Demands Attention
That May Postpone the Next
Session Until Tuesday-Sho
Claims that the Philip.
pines are Outside
the Protocol.

| WASHINGTON, d. c., Nov. 12.-The
Cabinet held a special session tonight,
at which instructions, understood to be
Philippine question, were drafted for dis
patch to the American commissioners in
Paris. These instructions were the out
| come OF conferences held early In the
day, and instruct the American repre-
sentatives to admit of no further discus
| sion as to the right to consider the dis
| position Of the islands, and state that
on that point the instructions already
sent must stand, the only matter for
| discussion from the American view being
| the manner of giving over the islands.
There were only four members OF the
| Cabinet present-Secretaries Hay, Alger
| and Wilson and Postmaster-General En-
| ory Smith.
AN IMPORTANT MATTER.
PARIS, Nov 12-It is now believed
| that the next meeting of the Peace Com
missions may be postponed until Tues
day, though no definite decision has been
arrived at on the subject. The Spanish
commissioners are still busily engaged
in the preparation OF the documents,
which they will submit at the next ses-
sion of the commissions, and 1t Is under
stood that their presentation will cover
matters which render their careful pre-
paration unusually important. Some OF
the original papers and transcripts ne
cessary for the next presentation OF
SPANS case Will probably not arrive
here until too late on Monday to permit
Of a meeting that day. which, OF course,
would necessitate the postponement OF
the next meeting until Tuesday.
The health of Judge Day was much i'm
proved this morning.
SPANS CONDITION.
Spain has held and may still maintain
that she had successfully held her Phil
ippine Sovereignty from discussion or dis
turbance by the United States in a note
from Duke Almodovar De Rio, tho Min
ister of Foreign Affairs TO Judge Day,
the United States Secretary dated Mad
rid on August 7th. 1t is by this mes
sage that Spain Presumably accepted the
terms of peace which at Spains request
had been set forth by President McKin-
ley through Secretary Day under date OF
July s0th and It is by this message OF
Duke Almcdovar De Rio and by the re-
spOnse OF Secretary Day that Spain seeks
10 prove to the United states Peace Com
mission and to the tribunal Of nations
that Spains sovereignty over the Philip
pine Islands was reserved from any dis
cussion here and without protest from
the United States. While the vital parts
OF both these historic papers were treat
Cd in these dispatches on the day Of the
last Joint session these communications
are set forth in full and in chronological
sequence
THE NOTE.
The following IS the August 7th note
NJ Dulxe AlmOdOVar De Rio.
"Mr. Secretary of State;
THE French Ambassador at Washing
ton. whose good Offices have enabled
the Spanish government TO address a
message 10 the President Of the United
States has forwarded by cable Your EX-
cellency's reply to this document
I'm examining the arguments used as
preamble TO the specification OF the terms
upon which peace may be restored be-
tween Spain and the United States II le-
hooves the Spanish government to de-
duct from the order Of events that the
severance Of diplomatic relations with
the United States had no other purpose
than to decline the Acceptance or an III
timatum, which Spain could only con
slider as an attempt against her rishtful
sovereignty over cuba.
WAR FORCED o NHER.
because IT was the only means of de-
Tending her rights in the greater Antilles.
Thus did tho Queen and the United
States see fit TO transform and enlarge
the purely local question of Cuba.
From this fact Your EXcellency draws |
the conclusion that the question at stake |
is no longer. only the one which relates |
to the territory Of Cuba but also that |
the losses of American lives and fortunes |
Incident to the war should in some man. |
ner be compensated
"As TO the first condition relating 20 |
the future of cuba, the two governments |
reached similar conclusions In regard 70 |
the natural inability OF its people 10 es- |
tablish an independent government; be |
IT by reason of inadequate development, |
as we believe: or. on account or the pres
ent distracted and disturbed condition OF |
the island az Your Excelency stated. |
the fact remains that Cuba needs guild |
ance The American people are willing |
to assume the responsibility OF giving this |
guidance by substituting themselves for |
the Spanish nation; whose right to keep /
the island is indisputable. To this inti-
nation we have nothing TO oppose. The |
necessity OF Withdrawing from the terri /
tory of Cuba being imperative, the nation
assuming Spain's place must as long as
this territory shall not have fully reach
tl tut l'IuH'u ~ ethNN iohn
among other sovereign powers, provide
for rules which will insure order and
protect against all risks the Spanish res
idents as we'll as the Cuban natives still
loyal 10 the Mother Country.
I'm the name OF the nation the Spanish |
government hereby reinqushs all claim
sovereignty over or title 10 Cuba, and
engages 10 the irremediable evacuation
of the island. subject to the approval OF
the Cortes-a reserve which we likewise
make with regard TO the other preferred
terms-just rs these terms will have TO be
approved by the Senate OF the
United States.
OUR DEMANDS.
"The United States require as an In
demnity for or equivalent 20 the sacrifice
they have borne during this short war.
the cession OF Porto Rico and other ISL
ands now under the sovereignty OF Spain
n. the West I,dies and also the cession
OF islands In the Iadrones TO be selected
by the Federal government
This demand strips us OF the very la@t
memory of the glorious task and cxpeis
Us a. once from the prosperous island