New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-10-20
SPANIARDS SEEK DELAY.
YESTERDAYS JOINT SESSION POST
FONED TO FRIDAY.
WANT MORE ADVICE AND INSTRUCTIONS FROM
MADRID-THEIR ALTERNATIVES FEW.


MADRID-THEIR ALTERNATIVES FEW.
But IMPORTANT.
Paris. Oct 19-The Spanish Peace Commission
was unable to meet the United States Peace
Commission at the Joint session arranged Tor
to-day and the next meeting Of the two Com
missions has been fixed for Friday
Judge Day president Of the American Com
mission, received a communication this morning
from Sefor Montero Rios president OF the span
ish Commission saying that advices expected
but not received. from Madrid made 1t necessary
for himself and his colleagues to request post
ponement OF any further conferences until frl-
day next. A courteous reply was returned by
Secretary Moore. in behalf of the American
Commissioners, granting extension OF the
time of the next meeting as requested
While the deferring Of any one conference TOT
two days is not IN itself an important request
the delay by the Spaniards at this 1uncture Is
something more than significant. The game OF
diplomacy now in progress here has reached
stage which makes It necessary that the next
move he made by the Spanish Commissioners
They are confronted ly the plain fact OF their
protocol agreement to relinquish and evacuate
Cube without ifs" "ands' or butts" 1t has be-
come clear here thai the Spanards cherished
the hope that they could Internationally cove
nant to follow given path and ultimately wan
der elsewhere and do less or more than named
in the protocol compact. The American Com
mssioners. however. have firmly adhered to the
boundary lines already mutually established
and within which they insist the Spaniards as
well as themselves shall duly proceed
The assigned reason for to-days request for
delay is believed to have been to allow an IN
terchange OF communication with Macrld anu
TO formulate final attitude on the Cuban mat
ter. This attitude of the Spaniard5. to be oe-
veloped on Friday. will be watched with no
little interest Their alternatives are few. but
pregnant. They may accede to the American
attitude themselves assume the Cuban dent
and go forward to consider the next protoco
point Of Porto Rico and the choice by the
United States OF an island in the Ladrones
group or they may at this tuncture formaHy
ask for arbitration. or. as an extremity Which
is not likely, may retire from further negotia-
tion.
The American Commissioners. after dispatch
ing their acquiescence in the delay. held BRIEF
meeting. probably to make formal record Of
the deferring Of the joint meeting fixed for to-
day.
The Americans yesterday held a brief session
having no reference TO the negotiations. and the
brevity Of these meetings and .other indications
warrant the conviction that the American atti-
tude is well formed and that the Commission is
thoroughly advised all the points and feat
ures which it is possible IN foresee in subse-
ouent conferences The amount Of Information
acquired by the Americans since their arrival
here is large They have examined old residents
of the Philippine Islands and their information
and testimony from other sources is large.
A distinguished Roman Catholic Churchran
from New Orleans is now In this city in con-
nection 1t is said. with the interests Of the
Roman Catholic Church in Cuba
The holders Of Spanish securities have not
been inactive. and it is not unlikely that the
American Commission has been called upon 10
consider a written presentment OF figures, facts
and pleadings in behalf Of those interests.