The Butler weekly times. (Butler, Mo.) 1881-1918, 1898-11-03

| Washington, Oct. -. 1t IS announced
| that the peace negotiations in Paris
| are now proceeding satisfactorily, and
| that Spain has accepted the terms of
| the United States in regard 10 the Gu
| ban debt. and all matters within the
| province OF the joint commission eN-
cepting the disposition OF the Philip
pines. The Philippines question comes
up next week. The articles of the pro-
tocol settled are: The cession of Porto
Rico to the United States. The
REIMBURSEMENT of all sovereignty
over Cuba and dependent islands
and the cession of Cuba to the United
States for its paciticatiOn and the es-
adjustment of a stable government.
this country assuming no portion of
the Cuban debt. The cesSion to the
United States of an island Guam in
the I.adrone group: the withdrawal of
SPANS forces from the western hem
isphere NOW going ou.)
The one article to be decided is that
providing that the United States shall
occupy and hold the harbor and city
of Manila and SubiC bay until a peace
commission determines the rights of
both Spain and the United States in
the Philippines. The negotiations were
nearly wrecked on the Cuban debt
snag. The Americans were unyie lding
in their refusal to accept a single dollar
of that debt, despite the threats of the
Spaniards TO break off the proceed
ings Finally, the Americans remain
ing obdurate, Senior Montero Rios,
head of the Spanish commission, tele-
graphed his resignation to Madrid and
affairs became extremely critical. Had
his resignation been accepted, the
other Spanish commissioners would
have followed suit and the peace ne
got atoms would have come to an alb
rupt end. This result was averted by
the action of the queen regent in beg
ging Rios to continue. AS a last re-
sort the Spanish commissioners begged
for mercy, declaring that should Spain
be compelled to assume the whole of
the Cuban debt it would mean her ut
ter financial ruin. This appeal was
sent to President Mckinley and re-
suited in the midnight cabinet meet
ing in Philadelphia on Wednesday
night. The president and his advisers
decided again that Spain must assume
the debt and the Spanish commission
ers yesterday were forced to accept
the inevitable.
Secretary Hays Statement
Washington, Oct. 2S.-Secretary of
State Hay made the following state |
meut yesterday:
II may be stated fact that the Cuban |
debt question before the Paris commissioners
is closed incident. 1t may be further stated |
that all matters relating to Cuba and Porto |
Rico are CLOSED The Philippine question prob |
ably will not be taken up this week II will be |
taken up. however. and discussed at the first |
meeting Of the joint commission in the |
early part OF next week The work Of the |
peace commissioners is nearer an end than is /
surmised- Two weeks ago l said /
that l thought the American commissioners |
would be through their labors by Decen Der l. |
I see no reason to amend that statement
Asked if there was a reasonable pos
sibilitv of Spain resisting if this gov
eminent should force her troops to
leave Cuba, if they did not otherwise
leave in due time, the secretary said:
I do not think force Will be necessary to
make the Spaniards leave the island We /
shall not take possession OF the island in q |
day or week We shall send our troops over
in dctae hmentS and take possession Of one port
after another We do not intend To enforce
unnecessary hardshiPs Spain. We want
possession of Cuba. II is true, and a. soon as |
possible and as long as Spain shows no DISPOSE
ton to be tricky We viii BE- a. leEient with her
sS circumstances viii permit
Encouraging Report. from Paris.
Washington, Oct 2S--The president
gave the cabinet very encouraging re-
ports from Paris to-day regarding the
progress of the peace negotiations.
The administration now fully believes
that the negotiations will be concluded
much sooner than expected a few days |