The times., 1898-10-30
A Confected Spanish Position
to Cover the Deal.
PURCHASE OR A BREAK
Spafn's Commissioners Prepared TO
Demand IA Heavy Price for Phil
tppine Sovereignty - Designed to
Obscure the Game in Washington
and Paris a Final Spectacular
Episode Possible for Election Eff
feet.
Especial cablerram-coyvrirbte1 !,


Paris, Oct. c9.-Next week will bring the
real crisis in the peace negotiations. An
American demand for any or all of the
philippines, without pecuniary compensa-
fion beyond the assumption of the Philip
pine debt will, according to the present
attitude of the Spaniards, result in de-
claring an end TO the conference. The
reasons for this desperate policy are as
outlined yesterday in The Times cable
dispatches. The Spaniards are fully aware
that the American demands will be much
greater, territorially, than is directly
named in the protocol, and i have the
best reasons for saying that their de-
mands Will receive favorable considera-
tion if they are accompanied by what the
Spaniards would regard as an adequate
cash offer
There has been no intimation, direct or
indirect, thus far that America is willing
to even consider the virtual purchase of
the islands. The Spaniards are seemingly
unaware that such a proposition will
probably be seriously resented by senti-
ment in the United States. They would
express the suggestion in very different
terms from that of a bargain sale. 1t
will be euphonistically described as a
partial indemnity for going beyond the
evident meaning of the protocol"
The Spanish are quite sincere, appar-
emily, in their opinion that the American
demand for the whole of the Philippines
without compensation would be an out
rageous violation of international comfy,
aa aFf haN
suspended under the terms set forth in
the protocol, and they feel assured of the
moral support of all neutral nations II
they resisted the American demand to
the extent of breaking off negotiations.
II is, after all. merely question OF
dollars and cents. and the outcome de-
pends upon the discretion given the Amer
lean Commissioners in arranging the
terms ! have received from an official
Spanish source a statement of the Span
ish position which, read between the lines,
possesses some significance. 1t follows:
There is no doubt thar the relations of
the Commissioners We're most strained
early in the week almost reaching the
point of an unpleasant ending.
THE Americans tired with the stout re-
slstance of the Spaniards against leaving
Spain saddled with the Cuban debt after
the cession of the island, threatened 10
break off negotiations, declaring that the
precedents relied upon by Spain were not
applicable to the present case, owing 10
the fact that America will not acquire the
island. Thereupon Spain, feeling helpless
before the superior American force, sug-
gested that, in order to avoid a rupture
that the Commissioners pass TO the Phil
ippines question, leaving open for final de-
cision the question of the Cuban debt
since, during the discussion of the Phil
ippines, compensatory ways and means
may be found which would counterbalance
the Cuban debt. The Americans assented
Nevertheless, II is feared that a stronger
difference of opinion exists with reference
10 the Philippines than the Cuban debt
The Spaniards argue that a loyal read
ing OF the protocol does not warrant any
American territorial claims to the Philip
pines. Article was really intended to
secure protection from the rebels who
aided the American forces, but # was
never meant to imply a territorial loss
to Spain. Consequently the Spanish
Commissioners are determined to fully
maintain their claim TO Spanish sover-
eighty over the archipelago. 1t is be-
Eeved that the American public is misled
as TO the real Spanish opinion by the un-
patriotic Madrid journals, which, for the
purpose of embarrassing the party in
power, advocate the cession OF the Philip
pines. Hitherto the Spaniards have given
no indication of willingness TO sur
render in consideration of financial relief,
though it is idle to deny that the impress
sion prevails that this matter is open fo-
discussion"