New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-11-17
SPAIN ASkS ARBITRATION.
REPLY TO THE.AMERICAN DEMAND FOR
THU PHILIPPINES
BRIEF JOINT Session OF THE COMMISSIONS IN

BRIEF JOINT Session OF THE COMMISSIONS IN
PARIS -ApiorRNMENT TO SATURDAY.
raris. Nov. G.-The meeting to-day Of the
spsnish-Amerian Peace Commissions began AT
o15 ?. m. and ended at p. m.
The Spanish Commissioners presented long
document in answer TO the American argu-
ment. which vas submitted last week. BY
mutual conseat he memorandum OF to-day was
handed TO tie Americans without being read.
and ;he meeting adjourned to Saturday next.
The Spanish communication will be translated
this evening and its contents will be discussed
BY the United states Commissioners tomorrow
q, their usual daily session.
The Spanards in their communication reaf-
frmed the position which they have assumed
against The discussion here of Spain's Philip
pine sovereignty. They insist that the words
shall deternine the control. disposition and
government of the Philippines in Article III
Of the peace protocol do not warrent any refer
enoe TO SPANS withdrawal from the Philippines,
except on hcr own terms. and therefore the
Spanisrds propose arbitration on the construc-
ton To boz placed on the words the control.
disposition and governments"
In sisuifying their willingness to submit the
PhilipI1e article Of the protocol to a third
party for construction. the Spanish Commits
difference Of opinion regarding the phrase the
control. disposition and government IF the
Philippines" possibly m, result of a misunder-
sandine tho Spsniards should no moro hc asked
10 surrender their view than the Americans 20
srronder theirs
The memorandum points out that deadlock
exists which might hc broken Icy arbitration on
the contending Views. to which the Spanish
Commissioners are quite ready to submit The
lstter declare that they have no idea of sug
gestng arbitration as to the main issue. which
touches the national honor Of both sides. but
thcy are willing TO accept exterior aid to clear
the path Of negotiation.
i is safe 10 say that the American Commits
sioners will not consent to invoke exterior aid
to construe the terms Of their own protocol.
Another part Of to-day's Spanish memoran-
dun fatty asserts. upon the authority Of NJ.
Cambons reports of the protocol negotiations
between Washington and Madrid through him.
that President Mckinley at no time objected TO
SPANS reservation of her sovereignty in the
Philippines. This allegation is directly opposed
% the American record on the same subject
Judge Days note TO NJ CambOn, dated August
10 and already made public. informed him that
SPANS note of August 4. accepting the terms
OF peace laid down by the United States was
not explicit. and proposed protocol to reduce
beth parties to exacttude The American Com
missioners now hold that the protocol itself was
born Of spain's attempt to reserve her Philip
pine sovereignty. though the Spanish memo
randum to-day squarely challenges the con-
tention
Moreover the Spanish Commissioners to-day
have alleged thai President Mckinleys objec-
ton 10 spain's phrsseology in accepting the
peace terms was based solely, 50 far AZ was
made known upon TINS sentence IN 'he Span