The record-union., 1898-11-17
Present a Long Document in An
sWer to American Argument
ReaffIrming Their Position Regarding Soy
ereIgnty in Philippines.
Insist That the Words "Shall De-
termine the Control, DISPOSE
tion and Government of the
Philippines" in the Peace Pro-
tocol Do Not Warrant Any Ref
erence to Spain's Withdrawal
From the Islands, Except on Her
Own Terms.

From the Islands, Except on Her
Own Terms.
PARIS, Nov. 16-The meeting to-
day of the Spanish-American Commits
sioners began at 2:15 p. m., and ended
at 3:15 p. m.
The Spanish Commissioners present
ed a long document in answer to the
American argument which was submit
ted last week. By mutual consent the
memorandum of to-day was handed to
the Americans without being read, and
the meeting adjourned to Saturday
next. The Spanish communication will
be translated this evening, and its con-
tents will be discussed by. the United
States Commissioners tomorrow at the
usual daily session.
The SpaniardS in their communica-
tion to-day reaffirmed the position
which they assumed against the discus
sion here of Spain's Philippine sover-
eighty. They insist that the words
shall determine the control, disposi-
tion and government of the Philip
pines" in article 3 of the peace protocol
do not warrant any reference to Spain's
withdrawal from the Philippines, ex-
cept on her own terms, and, therefore,
the Spaniards propose arbitration on
the construction Ito be placed on the
words the control, disposition and gov
ernment of the Philippines"
On signifying their Willingness to
submit the Philippine articles of the
protocol to a third party for construc-
ton, the Spanish Commissioners urged
to-day that, as there is obviously a
difference of opinion regarding the
phrase ''the control, disposition and
government of the Philippines pos
sibly the result of a misunderstanding,
the Spaniards should no more be asked
to surrender their view than the Ameri-
cans to surrender theirs. The memoran-
dunn points out that deadlock exists
which might be broken by arbitration
on the contending views, to which tbs
Spanish Commissioners are quite ready
to submit. The latter declare that they
have no idea of suggesting arbitration
as to the main issue, which touches the
national honor of both sides, but they
are willing to accept exterior aid to
clear the path of negotiation.
1t is safe to say that the American
Commissioners will not consent to in
woke exterior aid to construe the terms
of their own protocol
Another part of to-day's Spanish
memorandum fatty asserts. upon the
authority of M. Cambon's reports of the
protocol negotiations between Wash
ington and Madrid through him, that
President Mckinley at no time object
ed ITO SPANS reservation of her SOW
ereignty in the Philippines This alle-
cation is directly opposed to the Aneri
can record on the same subject. Judge
Days note to M. Cambon, dated Au-
gust 10th, and already made public.
informed him that Spain's note OF Au-
gust 1th, accepting the terms of peace
laid down by the United States. was
not explicit, and proposed a protocol
to reduce both parties to exactitude.
The American Commissioners now
hold that the protocol itself was born
of Spain's attempt to restore her Phil
ippine sovereignty, though the Spanish
memorandum to-day squarely chal-
lenges the contention. Moreover. the
Spanish Commissioners to-day have al
legged that President McKinley's obiec-
ton to Spain's phraseology in accepting
the terms of peace was based solely so
far as was made known, upon this SEN
tence in the Spanish accentance:
''They accepted the proffered terms sub
ject to the approval of the Cortes of
the Kingdom as required by their cen
stitutional duty"
The Spanish memorandum of to-day
ho No
American objection to this by pointing
out that the American terms were prof
fered subject to the approval of the
Americans, but that President McKin-
ley replied that he did not desire to in
volve the internal affairs of Spain in
the proceedings on hand.
The Spanish memorandum also asks
why, if the United States objected to
Spain's reservation of sovereignty. they
did not plainly say so in the protocol.
and leave no room for argument. 1t
asks why Judge Days note of August
10th did not clearly declare that the
United States would not recognize such
reservation, and that the protocol was
necessary to prevent misunderstand-
ing Of that point. 1t also asks why
Judge Days note practically ascribed
the inexplicit form of Spain's accept
ance Of the terms to telegraphic errors.
while the exact terms of Spain's reser-
walton of sovereignty, as held in Wash
ington before the protocol, are now
being quoted in the proceedings here.
This portion of the Spanish memoir
andum is based upon letters written
by M. Cambon at the time, purporting
to describe interviews and transactions
attending the peace terms and proto-
col.
On Saturday. the date fixed for the
next meeting. the Americans will make
their response, in the course of which
it is not unlikely that the exact terms
and precise time limit of their accept
ance will be communicated
The Journal to-day, referring to
the peace negotiations, says: 1--WE
think that the extravagant exigencies
of the United States have made discus
sion almost impossible between that
country and Spain. Nothing but SUBJ
mission on Spain's part seems possible.
AS the rumored Intervention OF. the
German Emperor is a myth, Spain
should reconcile herself to the newt
able, and set herself about preparing
for the future. struggles"