Evening star., 1898-11-04

PARIS, November 4.-The joint session OF
; the peace commissions today lasted two
hours The Spaniards refused the propo-
sitions made by the Americans on Monday
hast. but the negotiations were not broken
of. While it is believed that no formal
counter-propostion was made there was
a discussion of the Philippine question out
side the lines of the American propositions.
The commissions then adjourned until
Tuesday next.
RumOred Ultimatum
A statement was printed here today with
much prominence, that at todays joint
session of the peace commissions the
Americans would insist upon a complete
surrender of Spain's sovereignty over the
Philippine Islands. and that, in the event
Of the Spanish commissioners refusing to
agree 10 this, Judge Day, president of the
American cOnlmissi, n. actiny under in
strucilons from Washington, would present
an uIUmatum to the SPaniards. 1t is
further alleged that this seeming haste is
due 10 desire TO settle the negotiations
before the elections in the United States
take place.
Reference is made to these allegations in
view OF the fact that they may have also
been circulated in the United States.
But there is no truth in the statements
made. No ultimdtum was contemplated
and there is no probability of drastic meas
ures being taken by the Americans. The
two commissions are now considering an
open question, and the Americans expect to
patiently weigh all the points involved and
TO carefully consider the arguments of the
Spaniards.
The two commissions met at . clock this
afternoon The Americans were aware, be-
fore the session opened, that the Spaniards
would decline their proposal made on Mon
day last
Statement of the GauIois.
The Gaulois today says 1t has been in
formed on absolutely reliable authority
that Spain will refuse to discuss the un-
conditional surrender of the Philippine
Islands. Spain, IT is further asserted, had
made particular reservations concerning
The retention Of the Philippine Islands and
he Spanish minister of foreign affairs,
9Ouhe AluOdOyar De Rio, had himself at
the time Of signing the peace protocol, stip-
ulated that the Island of Luzon alone
should remain occupied by the American
uCops while the peace negotiations were in
progress, and that Spain would resume SOW
eTeignty over the archipelago so soon as a
more liberal form of government for the
Islands should have been decided upon.
The FrOnde says: The claims of the
United States on the Philippine Islands
are looked upon with disfavor at st. Peters
burg The powers might, In case of Amer
lea proving too obstinate on this point. be
provoked TO protest"
The Evenement SAYS: Your money or
your hfe! is the attitude taken by Amer
lea in regard to Spain. The latter. having
no money offers Porto Rico and the aban-
donment Of Cuba. ard thinks she has thus
discharged her ransom.
" Pardon me- answers Jonathan you
yet have the Philippine Islands, which are
only IN encumbrance 10 you. l will relieve
you Of them Why? Because with Fon-
taine. have the strongest reasons fer so
doing"
Impnrcial is Sarcastic
MADRID. November 4.-The impartial to-
dsy. commenting upon the peace negotia-
lions now II. progress in Paris, SAYS: IF
the United States had shown in the protocol
their Intention TO keep the Philippine ISL
ands the matter ouId not have taken tho
course II diu- Spain has never considered
the Philippines as lost, nor has she desired
their loss On the contrary her iuf.ntione
were shown by her facing the anger oF
germany on the question of the Caroline
In conclusion the ImparciaI remarks.
Amerlct by her conduct, has lost her
place among civilized people and hence
iOI i "a WI VII ohIy count as the most numerous
ana oPNIent OF hordes."
Officials Awaiting With Eouapimitx
Up TO the time the cabinet adjourned To-
Gay u o'clock no word had come from
Paris as 70 the proceedings before the ioint
peace commission today. although il was
assumed that owing TO the difference te-
tween lhe time or Paris and Washington
the session must have closed before the
meeting Of the cabinet here. The ofFicinls
are awaiting results with equaninitv- in
the realization that the government is Ier
feetly We'll prepared for any turn the nepo
tiations may take.
Prepared for War.
The navy especially is in a state of ,re-
paredness, should 1t come to resumption
Of hostilities. far in advance of its conai-
ton at the outbreak of the war One by
one all the splendid fighting machines of
the North Atlantic squadron, which had
been brought north at the earliest moment.
were docked and cleaned and Thoroughly
RENTED at the New York and Norfolk navy
yards. Their ammunition supplies were
replenished and they are now. with
possibly one two executions
ready for instant service in al,
most any quarter of the globe Admiral
Dewey, for his part. has taken considerabIe
precautions IN the cases Of his own vessels
having dispatched them one by one to the
big British docks at Hong Kong, where
thsy have been placed in as good Condition
as possible outside of our home ports
In addition to this, Secretary Long has
prudently declined TO part with the now
numerous fleet OF auxiliary vessels acquired