The record-union., 1898-11-18

pines Has Been a Flat Failure.
WASHINGTON, Nov. 1.-THE Ad-
ministration feels encouraged over the
outlook for a successful termination Of
the labors of the Peace Commissioners
in Paris. Whether the renewed con-
fidence is based upon the abstract of
the Spanish reply which was SUBJ
mitted at yesterdays meeting, or is
founded upon private advices indicat
ing a weakening of the Spanish posi-
ton, is not known, but it is probable
that both of these had an influence in
Frightening the prospects.
The Spanish reply was no surprise
to the American Commissioners who,
in fact, had prepared themselves in adj
vance, with instructions received di-
rectly from the President and Secre-
tary Hay for a complete answer Still,
it was probably regarded as better pol
icy, and more in accord with the
amenities of official exchange, that the
Americans should do the Spanish Com
missioners the courtesy of giving de-
liberate consideration to their carefully
prepared written argument
But with all due intent to give proper
weight TO the Spanish representations,
it must be said that up to this point
they have had very little effect in in
f1uencing the American Commissioners,
not because of any obstinate disre-
gard of facts on their part, but for the
simple reason that almost every one
of the points made by the Spanish
Commissioners have been anticipated
in the preparation of the American
case, no small tribute to the acumen
and diligence of Judge Day and Sec
retary John Moore.
The attempt of the Spaniards to in
duce the Americans to accept their
construction of the meaning of the pro-
tocol where it touches on the Philip
pines has been fiat failure. The
President himself was party to the
preparation of the protocol. 1t was
he who. suspecting a purpose on the
Spanish side to becloud the issue and
leave open door for future escape from
the consequences Of the war, had
swept aside as so much chaff the mes
sage of the Spanish President, Duke
Almodovar de Rios, and, reducing the
demands of the United States to what
IS called precis, had declared that the
Spanish Government might accept that
as an exact statement of the demands
of the United States Having made
the document, the President believes
himself to be the person who is most
competent to construe it's meaning, and
the American Commissioners are con-
sequently acting in conformity with this
view.
Inasmuch as the Spanish are making
most strenuous efforts to assert their
sovereignty over the Philippines, all
based upon the use of the word dis
position" instead of possession" in
that part of the protocofrelating to the
future of the Philippines. it may be
stated that the American Commissions
ers have been obliged to call attention
to the fact that M. Cambon. who acted
for the Spanish Government in ar
ranging the protocol, declared positive
ly that the change, which was made at
his instance, amounted to nothing; was
Of no significance in English, or as af-
fecting the object aimed at, but was
made merely because it sounded bet
ter in Spanish. and would not be hu-
initiating to the Spaniards. Conse-
quently the American Commissioners
could not for an instant think of al
lowing the sincerity of the French En-
bassador to be drawn into question.
THE SPANISH REPLY.
PARIS, Nov. 1.-THE clerical force
of the American Peace Commission
was busy nearly all night in trans
lating the Spanish memorandum pre-
sented at Yesterdays Joint session.
While the translators and typewriters
were rendering the Spanish argument
into printed English counsel for the
American Commission studied it sheet
by sheet, making notes of records to
be examined and of law points bearing
on the matter in hand AS a result,
when the Americans gathered for the
daily session to-day the Spanish pre-
sentiment lay before them in English,
ready for consideration, and accom-
panied by data bearing upon it.
No unofficial person knows the con-
tents of the document presented by
the Spanish Commissioners yesterday,
but it is safe to assume that. added to
her insistence on the reservation of
her Philippine sovereignty and her
proposition to arbitrate the construc-
ton of the third article of the protocol,
| Spain has made two other important
| statements:
"First-That on the high ground OF
| financial probity she cannot allow any
discussion here of the validity of her
action in pledging the resources of the
Philippines for the payment of the
| Philippine debt
'Second-That in connection with the
American proposal to reimburse Spain
! for her pacific expenditures in the
Philippines, she cannot admit of any
| inquiry as to how she spent the pro-
ceeds of the loans based on the Phil
| ippine pledges
! If Spain has assumed this attitude
and it is believed she has done so, she
practically compels the American Com
missioners to consider at least the en-
| tire debt and its assumption by the
United States or the Philippine Islands
| as a condition to Spain's amiable sur
render of her sovereignty over those
islands.
1t is difficult to understand how the
/ Americans can reply to this in any
| other manner than by strictly out
lining their position. and giving the
Spaniards a time limit in which to ac-
cept the propositions of the United