The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-11-22

sf,4rs lust now that they viii not invite a
r.,uAure with the United States. even
<honfh they may consider SPANS position
To be right Even Austria and France.
which are the countries most fayorahly
incened to Spain. have given recent evil
dances that they would not assist her II
the.present emergency. In short, 1t is the
unfyersal opinion among diplomatic off,
Gals here tina; Spain has been ief, entirely
10 her OWE resources, and tina. il she re-
nevis the war she will have TO fight i; alone
lust as she did In its early stages.
For the same reasons. II Is said. there
viii be NO Intervention, arbitration or any
other foreign move unless this country is
parry WITH spain Il asking fc- sacn OUT
side offices. A rather pessimistsc outlook
la taken By ona Of the aigh diplomatic OFF,
c.ass here, who believes that discontinue
ance Of negotiations at Paris Will be fol-
lowed by the immediate sending Of an
American feet 10 the cnast Of Spain. an
other to the Philippines and & more bitter
conflict than that heretofore waged. In
his Judgment. Spain has reached the posn,
where she is ready 20 Jose all Father than
voluntarily yield more. and would contest.
although American troops advance 70 Mad
rid.
II Ii universally conceded, however, that
IN the end Spain viii have 10 yield. as she
is practically without a navy, with 4 dis
organized and reDeilsous army. and with
prospects 81 internal disorder. Some Of
the diplomats hold that "A serious question
ARISES as TO the validity OF the protocol
IN case the peace negotiations fail 1t WAS.
s. II said. only a preliminary step To
treaty, and il the treaty falls, 50. TOO, this
preliminary steps become nugatory. except
30 FAR a. II has been carried Into action
by the actual transfer OF Porto RICO.
Hopes are expressed. through diplomatic
quarters. that the full rep0r. from Paris
would show tha crisis less acute than the
brief early reports indicated, AMI thai some
plan could yet be adopted 10 continue the
negotiations 10 a successful end.
The greatest interest Was exhibited at the
state department IN al reports from Paris
that came from unofficial but reputable
sources. OF official reports there were
ysone., and 1t was said that no word had
come from the American commissioners
since Saturday. The impression obtained
among the officials that the situation Is not
quite acuts al was at first supposed,
and that the prospects of & treaty being
framed by the present commissioners are
not yet to be abandoned. Ut was hlnted
that the Spanish resistance was really a
spectacular exhibition, intended 70 convince
the Spanish people at home that the hest
efforts were being put forth 10 obtain the
most liberal terms for Spain and that, at
the critical point, some time before the
expiration of the time limit allowed In the
note presented by the American commits
sioners today. perhaps at the last moment.
the Spanish commissioners will succumb 10
the Inevitable and accept a treaty on the
lines laid down.
But even should they refuse to do this
and the commissions part without result,
the situation would not be so very bad for
the United States. As one member OF the
cabinet put IL. the government will be
under the necessity OF taking possession
OF tho Philippines by force. bat II would
have been under the same necessity in all
probability. even were a treaty of cession
signed, for the insurgents promise to cp-
pose our acquisition OF sovereignty over
the Islands and VIII have to be suhdued.
But Che United States government would
have saved the 2aoto.oo which Il has been
Willing TO allow Spain account OF the
islands and further. and this ia no small
consideration. the administrator would
avoid dragging tho WHOLE policy of the
war. at least SO far as IL turns OH the
Philippines. into congress, for there woul.
Do no treaty TO submit TO the senate 10 ex-
cite discussion and arouse antagonisiu.
There have been signs OF opposition to
the payment 10 Spain even Of the small
amount OF money which the president felt
10 be demanded by considerations OF exact
justice and international practice. and that
opposition mtgh have jeoparized the rat
incation OF the treaty OF peace. But, OF
course, IL there Is 10 treaty. that danger
VIII be- avoided. ana means hile the govern
ment ran take time 10 deliberate upon the
line Of policy ii is deemed best TO ar:.y to
the government Of the colonies and de-
termine just what disposition snou.d he
made Of al OF them.