Barre evening telegram. (Barre, Vt.) 1898-19??, 1898-11-18
WASHINGTON HOPEFUL
Administration Now Sees Successful
End Of Peace Work.
READY FOR SPANISH REPLY.
It Came az No Surprise, and Our Conn
naissioners Had Instructions
From Home on nm An
swer to 1t.
READY FOR SPANISH REPLY

Washington, Nov. 1S.-The admins
tration feels encouraged now over the
outlook for successful termination OF
the labors OF the peace commissioners
at Paris. Whether this renewed conf
dence il based upon an abstract OF the
Spanish reply which was submitted at
Wednesdays meeting or Is founded
upon private advices indicating
weakening OF the Spanish position Is
not known. but It is probable that both
of these have had an influence In
Frightening the prospects.
The Spanish reply was not surprise
to the American commissioners, who. In
fact, had prepared themselves In ad-
vance with instructions received d.
rect!y from the president and Secretary
Hay for a complete answer. Still. 1t
was probably regarded a. better policy
and more In accord with the amenities
of official exchange that the Americans
rhould do the Spanish commissioners
the courtesy Of giving deliberate con-
sideration to their carefully prepared
written argument.
With all due intent to give proper
weight to the Spanish representations.
1t must be said that up to this point
they have had very little effect in in
fuencing the American commissioners.
not because Of any obstinate disregard
Of facts on their part. but for the simple
reason that almost every one OF the
points made by the Spanish commits
sioners had been anticipated IN the
preparation OF the American case-no
small tribute to the acumen and dill
gence of Judge Day and Secretary John
Moore.
The attempt Of the Spanish commits
sioners to induce the Americans to ac-
cept their construction Of the meaning
of the protocol where it touches on the
Philippines has been a fiat failure.
The President's Work.
The president himself was party to
the preparation Of the protocol. 1t was
he who. suspecting purpose on the
Spanish side to becloud the issue and
leave open a door for future escape
from the consequences Of the war. had
swept aside as 50 much chaff the mes
sage Of the Spanish Duke Almodovar
del Rio and. reducing the demands OF
the United States ito what is called a
precisis, had declared that the Spanish
might accept that as an
exact statement Of the demands OF the
United States. Having made the docu-
ment, the president believes himself to
be the most competent person to con-
strue it's meaning. and the American
are consequently acting
in conformity with his view.
Inasmuch as the Spanish are making
most strenuous efforts to assert their
over the Philippines, all
based upon the use Of the word 'dispo-
sition" instead of possession" in that
part Of the protocol relating to the flu
ture Of the Philippines, 1t may be stated
that the American commissioners have
been obliged to call attention to the
fact that M. Cambon. who acted for the
Spanish government in arranging the
protocol, declared positively that the
change, which was made at his In
stance. amounted to nothing; was Of no
significance in English or as affecting
the object aimed at, but was made
merely because 1t sounded better in
Spanish and would not be so humiliat-
ing to the Spaniards.
Consequently the American commits
sioners could not for an instant think
Of allowing the sincerity of the then
French ambassador to be drawn into
question.