, 1898-11-05

'Ni9' III lIc course OF a two
hours session of the peace conference
to-day, fatty refused to accept Mondays
proposition by the Americans to take
the entire Philippine group and to re-
imburse Spain for her Pacific" expen-
ditures there.
This negative action was expected.
The Spanish commissioners had also a
number Of positive declarations, which
filled some thirty-seven sheets Of a
typewriter presentment. In this
statement the Spaniards held that the
United States had no ultimate rights
in the Philippine islands. and could
have none save by the consent of Spain
in these negotiations and upo terms
satisfactory to her.
According to the Spanish contention
in the formal statement. the United
States entertained no thought of an
nexing the Philippines when the pro-
tocol was signed, or it would have been
expressed in the protocol as clearly as
the conditions regarding the cession
OF territory in the Antilles and the
Orient.
NJ. Cambon. before the signature of
the protocol. received from Madrid
the ~presentment alleged-a cable mes
sage clearly setting forth that the
maintenance CT Spain's authority over
the Philippines should not be affected
by the protocol, to which reservation
the United States made at that time no
protest or objection.
This dispatch to M. Cambon, as the
S%paniards claimed to-day, embodied al
so the view that the United States had
no valid basis for Chains IN the archi-
pelago.
1t was further held today by Senior
Rios and his colleagues that the capt.
"ulation Of Manila, having occurred ar
ter the signing of the protocol, and
thus after the suspension of hostilities,
was invalid.
With all this for a ground work, the
S~paniards made their first positive
move against the Americans, and it
constituted their counter proposition.
They charged upon the United States
a wrongful appropriation Of public
moneys belonging to Spain by seizing
the tariff duties at Manila, and they
formally demanded the return of these
moneys, in the sum nearly 81, OOO. 900.
On the same premises the United
States was today declared to have made
and held as prisoners the Spanish
troops at Manila in violation Of inter-
national law, because it was done after
the suspension Of hostilities under the
protocol. A further charge was that,
by the Imprisonment Of the Spanish
troops at Manila, the United States
had prevented Spain from quelling the
irsurrection and had thus contributed
to the violence against Spain after the
cessation OF hostilities.
Today's Spanish presentment also
cited the refusal of the Americans to
consider the Cuban debt, on the ground
that it was not sanctioned in the proto-
col, and demanded an adherence to this
as a precedent to the discussion of the
Philippines. regarding a cession OF
which the Spanish commissioners held
the protocol to make no mention.
In support Of these assertions. argyll
ments and demands, the Spanish pre-
sentiment invokes SPANS record in the
correspondence by mail and telegraph
though it is not known unofficially
whether the Spaniards produced the
message said to nave been sent from
Madrid to NJ. Combon at the time tht
protocol was signed in which, it was
affirmed today. Spain reserves hel
Philippine sovereignty.
The ~presentment was read by In.
terperter Ferguson, being rendered
from the Spanish, in which it was
written. into English. At the close
of the reading the Americans said they
wished to have the Spanish statement
rendered into written English for more
careful consideration and an adjourn
ment was taken to Tuesday.
This evening the Spaniards affect tC
believe that the Americans had plan
ned to develop the spirit of their Phil,
ippines demands before the American
elections, but they decline to say
whether they expect easier terms after
the election.
The entire clerical force Of the
American commission will be busy the
greater part of the night handling the
Spanish presentment. and the council
to the commissioners will at the sam<
time examine it with a view to tomor
rows private session Of the American
commission, when a response will b.
formulated.
1t nay again be asserted on thu
highest authority-as bearing on thu
spanish argument-that when the pro
tocol was signed there was no under