The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1898-12-09
Their Failure to Secure Better
Terms for Their Country
UnneryeS Them.
BLAME EUROPEAN NATIONS
Say They shOuId Have Interfered and
Saved Spain From spoiIstlon by
q ConseiencsIess Giant.

PARIS. Dec. S-The United States and
Spanish peace commissioners concluded
their work today and finally settled the
terms Of the treaty OF peace. They win
meet once more In formal session on sat
urday or Monday next, when the Spanish
commissioners, sorrowfully. and the
Americans. with feelings of relief. will
write their signatures upon the document
which embOdies the results Of the war.
and the preparation OF which has con-
sumed II Weeks-a longer time than the
war itself. In the meantime the treaty
will be engrossed under the supervision
OF Moore and Senor ojeda. secretaries OF
the respective commissions.
The Spaniards are exceedingly bitter
over the result. though observing forms
Of friendliness and courtesy to the end.
Senor Montero Rios whose strong and
persistent struggle to save for his country
every possible asset from the wreck OF
her colonial empire has commanded the
respect and admiration Of his opponents,
went from the council chamber today TO
his bed In state OF complete collapse.
as result OF the long strain and his
ehagrin over the small fruits OF his ef-
forts. Senor ojeda has been prostrated
since yesterday and was unable to attend
the joint session today.
The spaniards charge equal blame upon
the European powers and the United
States for their downfall One OF the
Spanish commissioners said this evening:
The European nations have made
great mistake in deserving Spain and leav-
ing her TO the spoilation by brute force
OF conscieneeless giant. They all know
that in the Philippines America has taken
more than she can digese She will ulu-
mately sell the islands to England or
Germany, and when the transfer is at
tempted 1t will precipitate general Euro
pean strife"
Diplomatic circles In Paris predict as
one Of the results OF the treaty diplo-
matte contest between France and the
United States which will make an import
ant chapter in history. The French gov
ernment is reported to have resolved to
take up the case Of the French holders
OF Cuban bonds. and It is believed France
will declare for reputation OF the bonds
as the result OF the treaty which the VIC
torious nation imposed on Spain. They
argue that the treaty responsibility has
been shifted upon America. and that
therefore the French government will en-
deavor to exact some pledge for pay
ment or guarantee of the bonds.
Members OF the commission say the
treaty viii contain little outside OF the
scope of the Washington protocol, and
matters directly based thereon. like pro-
visions for evacuation OF ceded territory,
transfer Of public property therein and
guarantees of safety Of property and
rights Of Spanish citizens remaining
there. Details Of the last class OF ques-
ticns covered by the statement which the
Americans handed to Rios at the last
meeting We're considered today but all
the commissioners refuse to divulge the
details OF the conference.
Several points upon which they were |
unable to agree were left open for diplo- |
matte negotiations.
The Spaniards refuse to admit that |
they had failed to respect former treaties |
religious freedom in the |
Caroline islands, or that there was ne
cessity for such guarantees.
The conclusion of the work was, accord |
ing to the commissioners. marked by po- |
liteness and all outward evidences Of good
feeling, and the difficult task was accom-
plished.
When all the dispositions had been dis
cussed, Judge Day remarked:
"There seems to be nothing to do but
to engross and sign the treaty"
Rios acquiesced to this, and the Amer
leans bowed themselves out before the
Spanlards. according to their custom.