The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1898-08-12
PROTOCOL ACCEPTED.
Spain Anxious to Retain the
Philippines Explaining
the Peace Away.
by Gable to The AssociatedP 81

by Cable to The Associated Press.l
MADRID, Aug. 70. 1898 40 A M.).-The
Spanish Government. this morning, noti-
fed the French Minister for Foreign Af-
fairs, NJ. Deleasse of its acceptance of
the protocol and asked the French Gov
ernment to transmit to NJ Cambon the
French Ambassador at Washington such
power as. in conformity with President
McKinley's expressly formulated de-
sire, will authorize him as Ambassador of
France at Washington, to sign the pro-
tocol
The question of the acceptance of the
protocol having been finally settled, and
its signature explicitly and definitely au-
thorized, the Government is now consider
ing the domestic situation for the best
means of allaying the excitement and
propagating the idea that Spain's sur
render is not so complete as indicated by
the bald terms of the protocol. AS the
first step in this direction, semi official
note has been issued. 1t is as follows
"The Government Is of the opinion that
the most critical period Of the peace ne
gotiations has now arrived, as 1t de-
pends on the arrangement Of details as
to whether the peace will be more or less
advantageous. Spain wishes to preserve
her sovereignty over the whole of the
Philippines, to which she proposes to ac-
cord all political and administrative re-
forms consistent with her maintenance of
her sovereignty.
Tn, ar1 10 ton Of flo
and Porto Rico, 1T will be asked that the
army be allowed to depart honorably and
that assurances be given, guaranteeing
that Spanish and foreign interests will
not suffer Tho army, which has not been
conquered, will return to Spain with its
guns, arms and munitions.
TN regard to the Cuban debt as the
United States refuses to assume it, Spain
will endeavor to arrange with the Cuban
Treasury to pay it when the island is able
''The question of a treaty of commerce
will lead to considerable discussion, and
the matter will be submitted to com
mission of diplomatists, under the Presi-
dency of Senor Castillo"
The Liberal thinks the only bright
feature of the peace treaty is the i'm
mediate suspension of hostilities, 80 that
our unhappy soldiers viii no longer have
to die without knowing wherefor" !"
Continuing the Liberal" congratulates
the country upon the fact that the war is
ended, though Spanish rule in America is
completely terminated. We reserve the
right to criticize the protocol when free-
dom is restored to the press"
In conclusion, the Liberal remarks
Those who pretend that the events of
the last three years were simply acci-
dents which do not affect Spanish history
are deceiving themselves. .
An official despatch has been received
here from San Juan de Porto Rico, con-
frming the report that the American
troops have occupied Mayaguez, the i'm
portant town on the Western coast of
Porto Rico The despatch adds that the
Spanish garrison, consisting of bat
talon of infantry and some guerrillas, with
two mountain guns, commanded by Col.
Toto, made sortie from the place, and
during the engagement which followed
the Spaniards had three men killed and
nine wounded
Some gendarmes, 1T is announced, over
took the Castillo band of Insurgents at
Cueyas yesterday and exchanged shots
with the insurgents, who retired into the
mountains.