The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-11-15
OFFERING SPAIN NO MORE FOR
THE PHILIPPINES
THAN WE HAVE THUS FAR INDICATED
f fSpaniards Signed Such Treaty it Would
FUN t1eir Poi cal Future. May Ask
Resumption f Negotiations
fttMesn Washington
and Madrid.

Paris, Nov. III here was no joint
session of the peace commissions to-day.
Secretary Moore, of the United States
commission, received from Secretary
Ojeda. of the Spanish commission, this
morning Il note saying that the Spanish
commissioners had found it impossible
to prepare their memorandum for presen-
tation to-day and asking if the United
States commissioners would he incOn-
venienced it. owing to the late arrival
from Madrid of expected data, the
Spaniards should request that the next
meeting be deferred until Wednesday.
Secretary Moore replied that the
American commissioners were quite
ready to accommodate the Spanish COM
missioners in this matter, and the joint
session was deferred until Wednesday
next ~e
Importance is attached to this de-
lay, it being regarded as indicating that
the Spanish commissioners are preparing
for Il final stand in these negotiations.
and it may now be definitely stated that
they will not sign treaty of peace which
yields to Spain no more for the Philip
pine Islands than has thus far been Of
fered or indicated by the Americans
Should the latter announce that the
United States is only willing to reim-
burse Spain for her Pacific expenditures
in the Philippine Islands. the Spanish
commissioners will reply that their mis-
sion is finished. Should this occur, it is
possible the Spaniards will also suggest
a suspension of the negotiations through
the commission and the resumption of
negotiations between Madrid and Wash
ingtOn.
The attitude of the Spaniards is ex-
planned by the fact that the members of
the Spanish commission have political
alliances and personal responsibilities to
constituencies and the national creditors
of Spain which restrict them to certain
lines which are as far ms the Ministry
at Madrid cares to 60 II is pointed out
that the five Spanish commissioners
here signed treaty Welding the Philip
pines to the United States without less
ening Spain's debt in an appreciable de-
gree, they could not return home with
the prospect OF any political future be-
fore them and possibly would be in
danger of violence at the hands of mohs
AT the next meeting of the commits
Sioners the Americans will learn the
definite attitude of Spain on any prenara-
tion thus far made The Spaniards.
w
declare all negotiations closed
They will insist that the sovereignty
of Spain over the Philippine Islands is
beyond question, butt wilh announce
Spain's readiness to yield hat sovereign
ty for an adequate equivalent. aud will
then invite negotiations under the Span
ish construction of the protocol. The
American commissioners NAV then com
municate their final attitude to the Span
iardS. but the Americans are expected.
at Il future meeting. to pres ant a care
fully prepared conclusion of thrlr con-
tentiOn and conditions. Should they be
no different from those already present
ed, the time will then have arrived when
Spain will declare herself helpless though
steadfast and will await the next step
the United States will make. whatever
it may be. Thus Spain will lie able to
say to her creditors that she has done
her utmost. and that the issue must
rest between them and the United
States.
n dispatch to the Temps from Madrid
says the officials there do no believe
peace negotiations will be broken off,
1t adds:
If the United States persist in their
present claims Spain will accept the
conditions after formally announcing at
a session of the commits sion in a circular
to the powers that she yields to force.
and owing to the impossibiiity of renew
klg the war without nnobtainabla as
SiStancp in dpfpucp Of II ~ riyLtS