The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1898-11-14
SPAIN SEEKS TIME.
Peace Commissioners Work
Again Delayed Sur
misses as to Out
come.
[By cabIe . The AgsocIated Presg.l

BY SaDle 10 The Associated Press
PARIS, Nov. A. 1S9S.--It has been de-
cided there will be no joint sessions of
the Peace Commissions today.
Secretary Moore, of the United States
Commission, received from Secretary
Ojeda, of the Spanish Commission, this
morning, note saying that the Spanish
Commissioners had found it impossible
to. prepare their memorandum for pres
entation today and asking if the United
States Commissioners would be incon-
venienced if, owing to the late arrival
from Madrid of expected data, the Span
iards should request that the next meet
ing be deferred until Wednesday.
Secretary Moore replied that the Ameri-
can Commissioners were quite ready to
accommodate the Spanish Commissioners
in this matter and the joint session was
practically deferred until Wednesday
next
Importance is attached to this delay, it
being regarded as indicating that the
Spanish Commissioners are preparing for
a final stand in these negotiations and it
may now be definitely stated that the
Spaniards here will not sign a treaty of
peace which yields to Spain no more from
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been offered or indicated by the Ameri-
cans Should the latter announce that
the United States is only willing to re-
imburse Spain for her pacific ex-
penditures in the Philippine Islands,
the Spanish Commissioners will reply
that their mission is finished Should this
occur. it is possible the Spaniards viii al
SO suggest a suspension of the negotia-
tions through the Commissions and the
resumption Of negotiations between Ma
drid and Washington.
This attitude of the Spaniards is ex-
planned by the fact that the members of
the Spanish Commission have political
alliances and personal responsibilities to
constituencies and the national credit
ors of Spain restrict them to certain
lines. which are as far as the Ministry
at Madrid cares to go.
II is pointed out that if the five Spanish
Commissioners here signed a treaty yield
ing the Philippine Islands to the United
States without lessening Spains debt in
an appreciable degree, they could not re-
turn home with the prospect of any poli-
tical future before them and possibly
would be in danger of violence at the
hands of nlobs.
At the next meeting of the Commissions
the Americans will learn the definite at
titude of Spain on any proposition thus
far made. The Spaniards, however, in
this presentation will not declare all ne
gotiations closed. They will insist that
the sovereignty Of Spain over the Philip
pine Islands is beyond question, but will
announce Spain's readiness to yield that
sovereignty for ans adequate equivalent,
and will then invite negotiations under
the Spanish construction of the protocol.
The American Commissioners may then
communicate their final attitude to the
Spaniards. but the Americans are expect
ed. al a future meeting. to- present care
fully prepared conclusion sof their conten-
ton and conditions.
Should they be so different from those
already presented, the time will then have
arrived when Spain will declare herself
helpless though steadfast and will await
the next step of the United States, what
ever it may be. Thus Spain will be able
to say to her creditors that she has done
her utmost and that the issue must rest
between them and the United States.