The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1898-11-13
Spain's Basisof
Refusal.
A NOTE TO DAY.
Arguments Concerning the
Philippine Sovereignty.

Paris, Nov. 12.-Some of the original
papers and transcripts necessary for
the next presentation of Spains case
will probably not arrive here until too
late Monday to permit of meeting on
that day, which would necessitate the
postponement of the next meeting of
the commissioners until Tuesday AsI
vet no definite decision has been arrived
at on the subject.
Spain may still insist that she effect
ually reserved her Philippine sovereign
ty from discussion or disturbance by
the United States in note from Duke
Almodovar de Rio, the Spanish minis
ter of foreign affairs to Judge Day,
then United States secretary of state,
dated from Madrid August 7. 1t is by
this message that Spain presumably
accepted the terms of peace which at
SPANS request had been set forth by
President Mckinley through Secretary
Day under date of July so. And it is by
this message of Duke Almodovar de
Rio and by the response of Secretary
Day, that Spain seeks to prove to the
United States peace commission and to
the tribunal of nations that Spain
sovereignty over the Philippine islands
was reserved from any discussion here
and without protest by the United
States.
While the vital parts of both of these
historic papers were fully treated in
these dispatches on the day of the last
joint session these communications are
here set forth in full and chronological
sequence. The following is the August
ant of 01r1yr A Il d t..
Mr.. Secretary of State: The French
ambassador at Washington, whose
good offices have enabled the Spanish
government to address a message to
the president of the United States, has
forwarded by cable your eXcellency's
reply to this document.
In examining the arguments used
as a preamble to the specification of the
terms upon which peace may be re-
stored between Spain and the United
States, it behooves the Spanish govern
ment to deduct from the order of events
that the severence of diplomatic rela-
tons with the United States had no
other purpose than to decline the ac-
ceptance of an ultimatum, which Spain
could only consider as an attempt
against her rightful sovereignty over
Cuba.
Spain did not declare war; she met
it because it was the only means of de-
Tending her rights in the greater An
titles. Thus did the 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 manner be compensated.
"As to the first condition relating to
the future of Cuba, the two govern
ments reach similar conclusions in re-
gard to the natural inability of it's peo-
pie to establish an Independent gov
eminent, be it by reason of made
quate development, as we believe, or
on account of present distracted and
PROSTATE condition of the island, as
your excellency states, the fact remains
that Cuba needs guidance. The Amer
lean people are willing to assume the
responsibility of giving this guidance
by substituting themselves for the
Spanish nation, whose right to keep the
island indisputable.
ITO this intimaton we have nothing
to oppose. The necessity Of withdraw
ing from the territory of Cuba being
imperative, the nation assuming Spain's
place must, as long as this territory
shall have not fully reached the con-
ditions required to take ranks among
other sovereign powers, provide for
rules which will insure order and pro-
tect against all risks the Spanish res
idents as well as the Cuban natives
still loyal to the mother country.
TN the name of the nation, the Span
fish government hereby relinquishes all
claim, sovereignty over or title to Gu
ba. and engages to irremediable evac-
IF fha 10 nn
proval of the courts, a reserve which
we likewise make with regard to the
other proffered terms-iust as these
terms will have to be ultimately APP
proved by the senate of the United
States.
THE United States require as an in
demnity for or equipment to the sacri-
fees they have borne during this short
war the cession of Porto Rico and 9TH
err islands now under the sovereignty
of Spain in the West Indies, and also
the cession of islands in the Ladroaes
to be selected by the federal govern
ment
This demand strips us of the very
last memory of the glorious task ana
expels us at once from the prosperous
island of Porto Rico and from the
western hemisphere, which became peo-
pled and civilized through the proud
deeds of our ancestors. 1t might per-
hans have been possible to compen-
safe by some other cession for The in
iuries sustained by the United states.
However. the inheXibility of the de-
mand obliges us to cede and we shall
cede. the island of Porto Rico and other
islands belonging to the crown Of SPAN
in the West Indies together with one
Of the islands of the archipelago of
the Ladrones, to be selected by the
American government.
"The terms relating to the Philip
pines seem to our understanding quite
Indefinite on the one hand, the
ground on which the United States be-
lieve themselves entitled to occupy the
bay. harbor and city Of Manila, pend
Ing the conclusion Of the treaty of
neace. cannot be that OF conquest
since. IN spite Of the blockade MAIN
tanned on sea by the American fleet,
and in spite of the siege established
81 land by a native, supported and
nroyided for by an American admiral,
Manila stin holds its own and the
Spanish standard still waves over the
CITY. On the other hand. the whole
archipelago of the Philippines is in
tie power and under the sovereignty
of Spain. e;,,
Therefore the government Of Spain