Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1898-12-07
GERMANY IS A FACTOR.
United States Has a Competitor
for the Caroline Islands.
WHY SPANIARDS DELAY
The Dous Are Holding Back in Ord er
to Drive a Good Bar
gain.

Paris, Dee. 3.-There will be no joint
session of the peace commission today.
The Americans had q three hours meet
ing today.
After the Carolines.
The report from Berlin that Germany
is negotiating for the purchase of the Car
Oline islands is confirmed from several
quarters, although Count Won Munster
Ledenburg, the German ambassador here,
Informed a correspondent of the Asso-
ciated press that he knew nothing at all
about the matter. The American COM
misSioners are inclined to believe the re-
port, and it is looked upon as explaining
the reluctance of the Spaniards to give
the Americans an answer in regard to the
Caroline islands, as well as on the ques-
ton of religious liberty there The latest
developments confirm the report that the
Spaniards have been instructed not to
yield on these points until they have made
good bargain.
On Peace Basis.
Washington, d. c., Dec. 3.-There is
no hitch in regard to the treaty Of peace
between Spain and the United States.
All the important points in that treaty
have been finally agreed to by both COM
missions. The points at issue now are
entirely outside of the peace treaty and
in regard to them negotiations will be
carried on as between independent and
friendly nations, and not as between con-
queror and conquered.
In treating for the disposition of the
Caroline islands Spain may sell them to
the United States or to any other nation.
or retain them. If the United States;
wishes to secure cable station on the
CarolineS it can do so now only by peace
able purchase from Spain. The negotia-
tons for peace are closed except so far as
they relate to the mere wording of the
treaty. In considering the possible sale
Of an island in the Caroline group Spain
is once more independent, but on the other
hand the United States possesses a means
of bringing the Queens government to
terms.
There is as yet no formal commercial
treaty between the two countries. Spain
had compare lively little commerce with
the Philippines. but had enormous trade,
owing to restrictive customs relations,
with Cuba and Porto Rico. Spain desires.
therefore, that the open door which was
granted to that nation in the Philippines
shall be continued to the West Indies A
proposition has been made that for a
term OF years in Porto Rico, and during
military occupancy in Cuba. Spain shall
enter goods on the same terms as the
United States
Trouble Over Public ProDerty.
While it is beginning to be recognized
that the chances are against the con-
clusIon of the work of the peace COM
missioners. in Paris, in time for the
Americans to take the steamer of the
10th for home, the officials are not dis
Outraged at the outlook, knowing that
the delay in the proceedings of the com
mission admits of reasonable explana-
ton at some points. For instance. there
has been some difficulty in reaching an
agreement as to the disposition of the
public property in the Philippines includ-
ing war material, guns and stores
1t seems, however, likely now that the
commissioners will agree to adOnt a plan
Tor the disposition of these claims ba sed
upon the procedure that governed in the
case OF the Spanish properties in Porto
Rico. 1t will not be necessary. it is
hoped, to send a joint evacuation com
mission to Manila, as was done in the
evacuation of Porto Rico, but simply to
adopt the plan laid down by the Porto
Rlcan commission
1t is surmised that the American com
mlssloners have been much more con
cerned by Spanish oyertures looking to thn
allowance of exceptional advantages for
Spanish commerce with Cuba and Porto
hlco, than about other matters of negO-
llatloh when really seemed to be Of
larger Importance
Ihe explanation of this is the realiza-
ton on the part Of the commissioners
that any agreement on their part to con
cede such special advantages might not
only arouse the opposition of the CONNER
cal classes of the United States. but
bring. upon the United States government
series of demands from the great COM
merclal nations of the world with which
we have treaty relations, for the allow
ance OF similar concessions under the on
Grafton of what is known as the most ia
vored nation clause in those treaties.
Much of the feeling exhibited by the
German press towards the United States
government was directly traceable to a
denial by the state department Of Just
such claim preferred by Germany to be
excepted from the operations of the coun-
tervaluing duty clause in the sugar sec
tons of the American tariff act, on the
ground that other nations were permitted
to send their sugar to the United Safes
free from duty, and the state department
has always avoided, wherever possible,
any action that might cause further con-
ticts OF this kind.
CAPIZ is TAKEN.