Omaha daily bee., 1898-11-04
SPANS LAST BLUFF
Dous Talk Loudly Of Rupture Of Peace
Negotiations.
NOT LIKELY TO MAKE GOOD THEIR BOAST
Likely to Refuse American Demands on
Philippine Question.
ANOTHER PLEA FOR TIME MAY Be MADE
Spanish Commissioners Disappointed at Lack
of European Support,
FRANCE IS THE ONLY FRIENDLY NATION
Paris Editors Expend Considerable
Cray Matter and Black Ink in
the Attempt to Plead
Spain's Cause.

Copyright, 1898, by Press Publishing Coz
PARIS, Nov. 3-(New York World Ca
hlegram- Special Telegram THE Spanish
commission received long dispatch from
Madrid last night and had a prolonged meets
ing today. They are receiving the strong
est moral support from the French official
press In resisting the American demand re-
garding the Philippines, and hear tonight
from a reliable Spanish source that their
reply to the American proposal on the Phil
ippine question will be in effect, If not in
form, a direct refusal to comply.
Senors Abarzuza and Vilarutia have been
engaged preparing a lengthy memorandum
to demonstrate the alleged inconsistency be-
tween the protocol and the American pro-
.oosal. although the latter expressly pointed
out the new reasons why the United States
required the cession of the whole of the
Philippine archipelago
learn that the Spanish reply deals only
incidentally with the debt question, their
first line of defense being reliance on, the
alleged discrepancy ,etween the protocol and
the American demands The Spanish COM
missioners have expressed thier bitter dis
appointment at the absence of support from
other European nations outside of France in
their. resistance to the American proposals.
They talk OF a rupture OF negotiations as
probable result OF tomorrow's session, but
this Is regarded as mere bluff Possibly
they may make a demonstration by demand
ing further time to prepare their reply, but
they have as yet no instructions to break
off negotiations.
An amusing explanation given of pre-
posterous story is that the United States
proposed to send n commissioner direct to
Madrid 1t seems an American newspaper
had applied to Madrid for permission to send
its own commissioner" there. an applca-
tion which was distorted into the canard
already mentioned.
Paris Press Comment.
PARIS, Nov. 3.--The Echo de Paris today
expresses strong approval of the speech de.
liyered at Worcester. Mass, by Senator
fioar, in which he denounced the so-called
policy OF American extension. The paper
mentioned quotes the speech fully and re-
I marks that all American political men zap
parently do not agree with the policy Of
conquest"
The Figaro says: 1.-The peace negotia.
tions have reached very critical point
Up to yesterday the Spanish delegates had
received no definite instructions from Mad
rid. viii the Spanish government accept
the American proposition? We doubt it,
The Petit Bleu remarks:
Ono must admit in looking beneath the
surface that the late war has completely
changed the American character. Outside
of being anxious merely for commercial SUI
pregnancy and playing small political part,
save regarding the South American repub-
lies the United States felt no desire to in
terfere in European politics. But every
thing changes very suddenly. After the sue
cess against Spain the American government
oil itcnl nf faE
pean politics. and the advances OF Great
Britain showed the American ministers
they could speak up. This popular feeling
has induced the American government to de-
mand the whole of the archipelago, when. at
the outset. a part of the Philippines was all
that was demanded. The new demand ex-
Ceeds a war indemnity and this is the weak
point which American diplomacy has en-
countered. The Spanish government Is at
the end of its resources, and hopeless as 1t
is for 1t to attempt to master the insurrec-
tion in the Philippine islands, even If they
were handed over to 1t tomorrow. 1t is evil
dent that il. instead of using the word
abandonment" "cesson" against cash
Indemnity is spoken OF, the Spanish and
American delegates may come to terms.
Tho American delegates nave made sew
eral offers. and have at the present time
proposed the sum of SAC, 900 O00 The Span
iards want more and have demanded $780,
100000.
The Spanish delegates for whose sad con-
dition one must feel pity. had for mo-
ment the illusion that Europe would inter
Vene and defend the interests OF Spain
They must have lost this Illusion by now
American diplomacy has played its par
with great cleverness and has from the out
set gained an extraordinary position A
the present moment the United states is tax
ing advantage of the hatred against Eng
land, which is growing upon the continent
and offers It's neutrality II Europe will leave
the United States a free hand with Spain.
Besides. Europe really has no interest 4
interfere. The various European govern
ments foresee what will inevitably come i
the United States restores the Philippine
islands to Spain. AS soon as Spain haC
Germany would offer her assistance and i'm
mediaey the covetousness OF French, En-
glish and Russian diplomacy would provoke
International Intervention which would rails
quarrel of exceptional gravity
At the present moment II is because some
thing Of the sort might happen that tn
attitude OF Europe in general towards tn
Spaniards and Americans is follows
Come to some agreement about the pric
of the Philippines; make concessions Of
either side but whatever you do, be quic
about it. There are plenty OF troubles float
ing round just now upon the political hor
lion without prolongation of these dan
gerous negotiations of yours.
lne eeherally accepted view nero OF IN
peace negotiations is that the Spaniard
will not agree to the proposition submitte
by the Americans to take the Philippin
islands and to reimburse Spain the none
spent upon permanent improvements
those islands. But there Is conflict OF opiu
ion as to whether the Spanish commission
ers tomorrow will present counter prop
ositlon.
Expect a Counter Proposition.
WASHINGTON Noy BY WaY Of nren