The semi-weekly messenger., 1898-10-28
THE PEACE COMMISSION
About Through with Gu
ba and Porto Rico.
AS To THE PHILIPPINES

No One Knows What the Demands Of
the United States Will be-These to
be Taken Up Next-Fear of Effect OF
the Upheaval I'm Paris and the
Threatened Crisis in Madrid on the
Work of the COmmfssfon-The Hitch
Over the Cuban Debt
Washington, October 26.-There are
indications that the peace commits
sioners in Paris are approaching the
end of the considera ton of the sub
ject of Cuba and Porto Rico and Off
Gals here would not be surprised if
tOday's session of the commission con-
Guided those subjects, leaving the COM
mission free to take up the most impor-
tant matter in the protocol; namely,
the disposition of the Philippines The
Spanish case has been presented with
an ability and adroitness that COM
mands the admiration of diplomats,
without regard to nationality, and even
our own officials have been compelled
to yield tribute of respect to the ar
guments produced; but, notWithstanu-
ing, they have been of no avail in af-
first attitude Of the American commits
| sioners, who are holding firmly to the
line of procedure originally outlined 1t
is expected here that henceforth af-
ter the courteous intimation that has
| been conveyed to the Spanish commis-
SlOnerS that 1t is time to regard the
Cuban and Porto Rican matters as set
| tied, better progress will be made to-
! ward the final conclusion of treaty
! of peace.
! No one knows officially just what
, the extent Of the United States claim
will be as to the Philippines Admiral
Dewey has much higher opinion of
the Philippine people and their capacity
| for self-goVernment than is generally
supposed. He has represented to the
American commissioners that the Phil
ippines of the northern group meaning
; by that, first the people on the island
OF LuzOn and after that, in order, Ce-
bu, Panay, Leite, Mindora and Samar,
are as rule, intelligent, practical and
! "a most surprising statemenD far bet
! ter qualified for elf-gOVernment than
! the inhabitants of Cuba. Admiral
| Dewey is as familiar with the qualifi-
| cations Of the Cubans in this respect
| as almost any naval officer, having had
personal experience with the people, so
| that his statement is bound to have
| weight with the American commission
ers. But with all this he has made no
| recommendation as to what should
| constitute the maximum or minimum
! demand of the Americans, and their
| demands, consequently, are likely 10
| be based upon their original instruc-
| tions, qualified by any change of opin-
| ion the president may have experience
| ed as a result of his western trip.
! Some apprehension has been mani
| tested in certain quarters as to the pos
| sible adverse effect upon the peace
| commission of an upheaval in France.
! 1t has been suggested that the Span
i ish cause is in such shape that the
: Spanish government has nothing to
| lose and everything to gain by any
| change that can be brought about.
| However, it may be stated that in the
! opinion of the state department Off
| cials here there is little danger of the
! situation in Paris becoming SO acute
as to justify an abandonment of the
| work of the commission on the ground
that the commissioners themselves are
| in physical danger.
| Paris, October 26.-The American
peace commissioners held a session of
several hours duration today, prior to
the joint session of the two commits
! sions which opened at 4 o'clock this
afternoon.
The meeting of the commissioners
lasted two hours, and was adjourned
| till tomorrow. Both the Spanish and
the American commissioners were
| more reticent after this session than
| ever before The Americans fully ap-
preciate, not only their own serious re-
| sponsibilities, but also the delicate po-
sitiOn of their Spanish collea CUES. to
the burden of whose duty here is now
added the critical political situation at
Madrid, which may compel the presi-
dent of the Spanish commission (who
is also president Of the Spanish SEN
ate), Senior Montero Rios, to leave
Paris
| The Madrid correspondent of The
| Temps, in confirming the report that
Premier Sagasta and the queen-regent
have prevailed upon the minister of
| war, General COrrea. to indefinitely
postpone his resignation. pending the
conclusion of the peace negotiations,
says that they represented to the gem
! eral that his withdrawal might entail
not only the fall of the cabinet but
cause the resignation of certain men,
| bers of the Spanish commission, includ-
| ing Senor Montero Rios, and thereby
! gravely compromise the issue of the
peace negotiations.
| The correspondent of The Temps
| adds THE net result is that an open
| crisis seems to have been avoided un-
! Ill the conclusion OF the treaty of
peace. In any case. this has done
! away with the necessity for ad in
terim government, which was lately
, suggested as likely to be the only So
luton of the political difficulties
! AS the peace negotia tions are now
, nearing the discussion of the Philippine
| question the Americans feel that no
! stage of the proceedings has so de-
| manded their considerate treatment.
! 1t may be not stated tonight with
certainty that the Cuban question has
received its last considerat ton by the
Americans, nor have the SpaniardS ac-
| cepted as an ultimatum the United
| States refusal to assume any part of
the Cuban debt. 1t may, however. be
affirmed that the Philippine question
was not reached today, but it may be
discussed at tomorrow session.