Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-11-23
MAY REJECT AMERICAN OFFER
PREDICTED IN PARIS THAT SHE
WILL SCORN S2O,OOO.OOO.
1t Is Believed in Washington, How
ever, That n Treaty Will BE
Signed Within the Next
Few Days Another
Meeting To-day.

commissioners last night telegraphed to
Madrid the substance of the United States
memorandum presented yesterday and
later in the evening they were discussing
il among themselves. AS late as l o'clock
this morning Spanish commissioner af-
Timed that he and his colleagues did not
Know what to do regarding the American
offer.
There is difference of opinion among
uro official people near the commissions,
but the prediction is made that Spain
will decline the American offer of money,
that she will refuse to cede the Philip
pines and will say to the United States:
You may take the archipelago, because
you have the power to do so. AS You adj
vance. We will recede, protesting against
greedy aggression. We will faithfully
carry out our part of the pledge, and leave
Cuba and Porto Rico in your hands.
You came here to engage in a discussion
under the terms of the protocol. but you
evidently meant. when drawing up that
document, to provide a conference in which,
though we differ. man to man, You pro-
posed to announce at the proper time, what
you will 90, whether we agree to it or OBJ
ject. Such an attitude robs the conference
of negotiative character, and sets up the
United States as dominant power, whose
first purpose is to listen. but whose ultimate
determination is to do its own will.
As matter of fact, Senor Montaro Rios
is reported to have sused virtually such
language and arguments as the forego-
ing.
He said more, even indicating a high de-
gree of evaporation that the American Of
fer is s20,00O,000. His manner, no less than
his words, betrayed his repugnance.
His display of feeling and utterances.
however, are not wholly approved by his
Spanish colleagues. who did not hesitate
to say as much after yesterdays session.
Ctterances later by a Spaniard of i'm
| pcrtance, whose name is withheld for tine
present, indicates another line of action,
a treaty cession Of the Philippines.
Suppose" said the speaker in question,
that Spain says to the United States We
are exhausted. We have no funds with
which to continue the war. We do not
want TO continue it and We cannot. You
serve us with an utimatum. We must
| submit 10 your power. Prepare your treaty
and when you want rs to sign We will
sign. We must bend to physical force.
You have the Antilles and you will pos
| sess the Philippines as conquest from
| helpless people. We yield. but we decline
| $50. coo for property on which our valu-
| alton was not asked nor respected. YOU
| have your will. We trust you will not
continue the war upon our helplesSneSs,
| because, forsooth we decline your $4,000
| COO. Surely this waiver by US of your
| money will not provoke 4 further use of
arms against Spain.
I'VE sign, we cede. We are dumb 1t is
| finished. and we may be permitted to retain
| the privilege of assuring our people and our
national creditors that we at least have
! not stolen and resold territory we had
pawned."
| Should Spain cede by treaty, or on the
| other hand. should she refuse and break
| off negotiations here, her protests will em-
body some such declaration as this.
| AS against such sentiment, it is argued
| that the business in hand is work for grown
men. and that it would be childish folly to
refuse $40. 900. and that the Spanish gov
| ernment could not justify before the Span
| ish people or the public creditors of Spain
a deliberate throwing away of saOOOO,OOO. in
addition to the loss of the Philippines.
| Last night the Spanish commissioners
sent the American proposition by a spe-
| cial messenger to Madrid, where it will
| arrive tomorrow. 1t is felt that the Span
| ish government must now answer the
| American ultimatum, but as it is not likely
| the answer of Madrid will arrive to-ynor-
| row in time for the commissioners to FORM
ulate their reply to the Americans by the
afternoon. it is probable that the join,
| meeting will be deferred from tomorrow
| to a day later in the week.
| WASHINGTON, Nov. 22-At the cabinet
meeting to-day, n brief cablegram was
| read which had been sent from Paris by
| Judge Day. 1t was substantially in ac-
| cord with the newspaper reports of yes
| terday's proceedings. although no refer
| ence was made to any excitement attend
ing the meeting. or to any agreement. 1t
| was stated that the next meeting would
| take place tomorrow. The cabinet dis
| oussed the matter, and 1t was the judgment
| of the members that there would be at
| least one more meeting after tomorrow
| If the Spaniards have concluded to reject
/ the American proposal.
The cablegram said that reply from the
| Spanish commissioners to the latest men,
orandum submitted by our commissioners
| was expected at to-morrow's meeting. No
| intimation, however, has been received here
| as to what the Spanish reply would be. No
| doubt is entertained among the members
| of the cabinet that a treaty will be signed
| within the next few days.
The cabinet also discussed the Cuban sit
uation, and it was developed that the Span
| iards hope to be able to complete the evac-
uation Of Hayana by Dec December 20;
this morning editoriaily eritieizes the pre-
the alleged policy of the open door in the
Philippines. because. it says. Washington
can do nothing until congress meets.
MADRID. Nov. 22.-The proposals of the
| United States peace commissioners have
| been received here without any public DEM
| onstration. The general feeling is in favor
of speedy ending of the negotiations.
The newspapers lament the .ungene
| rosty'' of the United States in Offering
! such a small indemnity. They think that
| Japan some of the European powers
would have paid a higher price.
| There are those who contend it would
| be better to decline indemnity altogether
| because the government could then decline
responsibility for the Philippine debt.
! There is much irritation at the apathy of
| Europe.
The Impartial says:
President Mckinley now boasts of hav-
ing himself written the protocol in order
, to mislead Spain. This is adding insult to
injury. Yet Europe looks on undisturbed.
All ideas of justice have vanished from
| the world"
It has been decided to issue 100000 COO
| pesetas of nominal interior bonds at per
cent to be devoted to the treasury.
Several STAFF Appointments.
JEFFERSON CITY. MO. Nov. 22-(Spe-
| cial.p AT the request of Brigadier General
| Milton Moore. commander. First brigade,
| Missouri National guards. Governor Ste
phens to-day commissioned the following
officers on his personal staff. all to rank
| from November 20. 1SS: William r. Stark.
| assistant adiutant general. First brigade
with rank of lieutenant colonel: Thomas
4 Till captain, and aids-de-camp on the