The Portland daily press., 1898-10-31
Peace Conference Will Possibly End
Sud ,'enly.
DEMAND FOR ALL
PHILIPPINES MAY so RESULT.

president Of the Spanish peace commits
sion is Ill. This causes some doubt this
avaniug as to whether there will be a
ioint session of the commissions tomor
row. If he is unable to attend 1t is I'M
likely that the Spaniards would consent
to enter the conference to take up the
Philippine question for initial consider
alton. There is a strong impression.
which has been growing here recently,
that the Spaniards, upon receiving deli
mite assurances of the American deterni-
nation to take the entire Philippine
group would quit the conference and all
are modified by the attitude
of tbs Spanish newspapers arriving her
today. These are found to have wheeled
into line with the Epoca Of October 81.
which dem anded that the Spanish COM
missloners should sign treaty in Paris
no matter how ,peOus the conditions
imposed by G..B Americans. Neverthe-
less, despite this attitude of the Madrid
press and despite the denial given on
Friday last to the correspondents OF the
Associated Press by Spanish commits
sioner who denied that the Spaniards had
any intention of Withdrawing. the Amer
leans here will not be surprised II one OF
more of the Spanish commissioners resign
and practically close the negotiations.
This feeling is based upon the fact that
Senior Rios, early last week, would nave
resigned If his so doing would not have
imperilled the Sagasta ministry and the
reasoning Is that if while pressing tne
Cuban debt, which is not mentioned IN
the protocol and which the Spanish COM
missloners insist should not be left to
Spain alone, Senior Rios were inclined to
resign, he might, in the open field OF con-
tention as to the Philippines, feel that
resignation would help Senior Sagasts on
the ground that the demand OF the
On tied States for the entire Philippine
group would be extortionate. 1t Is be-
lieved here tonight on the eve OF taking
up the main question that the Spanish
commissioners are not likely to acquesce
here in any treaty that the Americans
would sign. In the Philippine discussion
two wearisome contentious are likely to
be early raised by the Spanish. The first
is on the protocol phrase, control, dis
position and government OF the arohi-
pelago, the Spaniards doubtless holding
that the word disposition" does not in
yolye possession, though they know that
.spossession" was originally written in
the protocol and changed to "disposition'
on M. Cambon's irsistence in behalf OF
Spanish sensibilities.
Collateral to this is q second contention.
possibly to be merged with the first, that
when the protocol was signed. there was
an exterior moral agreement between
M. Cambon and Judge Day, that neither
the protocol nor It's terms should, in the
treaty involve Spanish sovereignty in the
Philippine archipelago.
On this point Judge Day, through the
Associated Press. has already pointedly
denied the existence Of an actual, con-
structive or implied knowledge outside
of the protocol, either verbally or in cor-
respondence, and this denial is supported
by the French yellow book.
M. Cambon. however, has given the
matter some Significance, by emitting to
deny the report. although the alleged ex-
istence of q secret understanding exter-
ior to the protocol was first printed in the
Paris papers ami reiterated directly and
by inference.
The joint session, If one be held tonor-
row, will be ut 2 p. m. The American
case is ready for presentation.
MUCH ANXIETY IN MADRID.
London, October 31.--The Madrid cor
respondent of the Standard says: There Is
much anxiety In Madrid: as to the result
of Mondays joint sitting of the peace
commission. Inasmuch as Spain only &C.
oepted the Cuban articles Of the protocol
conditionally on q subsequent agreement
being arrived at on the Philippine ques-
ton, she will strenuously resist any in
frinpement Of her right in the Philip
pines without compensation.
SUNDAY SESSION OF CABINET.
Warrington, October 30.-An informal
session of the cabinet was held tonight at
the White House. The President en-
braoed the opportunity Afforded by the
presence of several members of the cabi-
net to discuss with them their forthcom-
ing annual reports.
The peace negotiations at Paris were
referred to, but were not seriously con-
sidered, it is understood. This statement
is borne out By the fact that Secretary of
State Hay was not party to the confer.
ence.
The President is said to believe that the
negotiations will be brought to satisfac-
tory conclusion sooner. perhaps, than
is generally expected.
SURVIVORS OF THE MOHEGAN.