Evening star., 1898-11-14

by some other cessioI for the injuries sus-
tained by the United States. However, the
infeXibility of the demand obliges us to
cede and we shall cede. the Island of Porto
Rico and other islands belonging to the
crown of Spain in the West Indies. together
with one of the islands of the archipelago
of the Ladrones, to be selected by he
American g. Vernment.
The terms relating to the Philippines
seem to our understanding quite indefinite.
On the one hand, the ground on which the
United States believe themselves entitled
to occupy the bay, harbor and city of Ma
Mia, pending the conclusion of the treaty
of peace. cannot be that of conquest, since,
in spite Of the blockade maintained on sea
by the American fleet, and in spite of the
siege established on land by a native, sup
ported and provided for by American
admiral, Manila still holds its own, and
the Spanish standard still waves over the
city. On the other hand, the whole archi-
pelago of the Philippines is in the power
and under the sovereignty of Spain.
Therefore the government of Spain thinks
that the temporary occupation of Manila
should constitute guarantee. 1t Is as
serted that the treaty Of peace shall de-
termine the control, disposition and govern
ment of the Philippines. but as the mten-
tions of the federal government. by re-
preston. remain veiled, the Spanish gov
ernment must, therefore, declare thai,
while accepting the third condition, they
do not, a prior, renounce the sovereignty
of Spain over the archipelago, leaving it
to the negotiators to agree as to such re-
forms as the conditions of these posses
sions and the level of the culture of their
natives may render desirable. The gov
ernment of her majesty accepts the third
condition, with the above mentioned decla-
rationS.
Such are the statements and observations
which the Spanish government has the
honor to submit in reply to your excel
lency's communication. They accept the
proffered terms, subject to the approval of
the cortes of the kingdom, as required by
their constitutional duty.
The agreement between the two govern
ments implies the immediate suspension of
hostilties and the designation of commits
sioners for the purpose of settling the de-
tails of a treaty of peace and of signing
1t under the terms above indicated.
L avail myself of this occasion to offer to
your eXcellency assurances of my highest
consideration.
Following is Secretary Days response
through NJ. Cambon under date of August
10, and which Spain declares embodied ac-
quiescence to her reservation of Philip
pine sovereignty from discussion in the
peace conference:
Your EXcellency: Although 1t is your un-
derstanding that the note of the Duke of
Almodovar which you left with the Presi-
dent on yesterday afternoon is intended to
convey an acceptance by the Spanish gov
ernment of the terms set forth in my note
of the Both ultimo a basis upon which the
President would appoint commissioners to
ieSOtldte ana conclude with commissioners
on the part of Spain a treaty of peace, ]
understand that we concur in the opinion
that the dukes note, doubtless owing to
the various transformations which it has
undergone in the course of its circuitous
transmission by telegraph and in cipher,
is not in the form in which it has reached
the President, entirely explicit.
Under the circumstances, it is thought
that the most direct and certain way of
avoiding misunderstanding is to embody in
a protocol, to be signed by as the rep
resentatves respectively of the United
States and of Spain, the terms on which
the negotiations for peace are to be under
taken.
l therefore inclose herewith a draft Of
such protocol, in which you will find that
l have embodied the precise terms rendered
to Spain in my note of the Both ultimo to-
gether with appropriate stipulations for the
appointing of commissioners to arrange
the details of the immediate evacuation of
Cuba, Porto Rico and other islands under
Spanish sovereignty in the West Indies as
Well as for the appointment of commission
ers to treat of peace.
Accept, your excellency, the renewed as
surances of my highest consideration
WILLIAM Il. DAY.
The Americans hold that Spain saw that
Philippine sovereignty was involved in the