Marietta daily leader. (Marietta, Ohio) 1895-1906, 1898-11-15
Next Joint Session of the Peace
Commissioners Will Be Held
on Wednesday.
SPANIARDS ASKED FOR FURTHER TIME.
1t is Thought This Delay Indicates
That the Dons Are Preparing
for Final Stand.
The Fear Of Being Mobbed at Home is One
Reason Why tho Spanish Commission
ers May Break on Negotiations--
Attitude of the Americans.

PARIS, Nov. 14.-There was no Joint
session of the peace commissioners
Monday. Secretary Moore, of the
United States commission, received
from Secretary ojcda, of the Spanish
commission, Monday morning, note
saying that the Spanish commissioners
had found it impossible to prepare
their memorandum for presentation
Monday and asking if the United
! States commissioners would be incon-
vencnced if, owing to the late arrival
I from Madrid of expected data, the
Spaniards should request that the next
meeting be deferred until Wednesday.
Secretary Moore replied that American
commissioners were quite ready to ac-
commodate the Spanish commissioners
in this matter, and the joint session
was practically deferred until Wednes-
day next.
Importance is attached to this delay,
it being regarded as indicating that
the Spanish commissioners are prepar-
| ing for final stand in these negotia-
tons, and it may now be definitely
stated that they will not sign treaty
Of peace which yields to Spain
uc more from the Philippine islands
than has thus far been offered
Or indicated by the Americans. Should
the latter announce that the United
States is only willing to reimburse
Spain for her Pacific expenditures in
the Philippine islands, the Spanish
commissioners will reply that their
mission is finished. Should this occur
it is possible the Spaniards will also
suggest a suspension of the negotia-
tons through the commissions and the
resumption of negotiations between
Madrid and Washington.
This attitude of the Spaniards is ex-
planned by the fact that the members
Of the Spanish commission have polit-
ical alliances and personal responsible
tiles to constituencies and the national
creditors of Spain which restrict
them to certain lines, which are as
far as the ministry at Madrid cares
]
f the five Spanish commissioners here
signed Il treaty yielding the Philippines
to the United States without lessening
Spain's debt in an appreciable degree,
they could not return home with the
prospect of any political future before
them and possibly would be in danger
Of violence at the hands Of mobs.
At the next meeting OF the commits
sions the Americans will learn the def
mite attitude of Spain on any PROPOSE
ton thus far made. The Spaniards,
however in this presentation, will not
declare all negotiations closed. They
will insist that the Sovereignty of
Spain over the Philippine islands is be-
yond question butwill announce Spain's
readiness to yield that sovereignty for
an adequate equivalent aud will then
invite negotiations under the Spanish
construction of the prctocol. The
communicate their final attitude
to the Spaniards, but the Amer
leans are expected, ut a future
meeting, to present carefully
prepared conclusion of their conten-
ton and condition. Should they
be different from those already pre-
sented, the time will then have ar
rived when Spain will declare herself
helpless though steadfast and will
i, await the next steps of the UniteC
t States, whatever it may be. Thu!
u Spain will be able to say to her credit
K ors that she has done her utmost anC
y that the issue must rest between then
r and the United States.