The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-11-22
WEvlER A FACTOR.
He wants to Retain the Philippines ut
Amy Cost.

Any Coat.
New York. Nov. 2L-A dispatch 10
the Tribune frop Madrid says: The
all the chambers OF commerce of Spain
discloses deep n bitter dissatisfaction
at the delay Of the Paris conference to
reach a definite agreement as 20 the
terms OF peace. II anything could tie
gained by Spain in attempting to e!ude
the American demands the business
communities would offer no objections.
but the chambers of commerce.. which
represent the practical common sense
of the country, are unanimous IN de-
nouncing the systematic obstruction
and procrastination planned by Sagasta
and carried out by Montero Rios.
The merchants and manufacturers
consider the Philippines already prac-
tically lost to Spain and urge that the
only wise course Is to frankly acknow =
edge that fact n as speedily as posi-
BILE to get the best terms the Americans
are willing to give. The president of
the Barcelona chamber of commerce
even goes 30 far as to say that the pet
tifogging technicalities and bubbles
with which Montero Rios, as he under
stands, has opposed h demands of the
United States commissioners. are likely
to irritate the Americans and induce
President Mckinley to reconsider the
indemnity he may intend 10 offer m
regard to the Philippines.
Tn ese views, which accurately reflect
the convictions of the commercial y
mercantile communities. are shared ty
the masses OF the population. 1t Is
the monastic orders and the
politicians who support Sagasta and
Rios In their suicidal obstinacy for re-
tanning the Philippines. Weyler. whose
influence with the army Is greatly in
creased owing to the discomfort OF the
returned and unpaid officers and who
is now recognized by Sagasta as an
important factor in the political situa-
ton. has strongly urged the premier,
with whom he IL now ~(singularly
enough) on very friendly terms. to
stand to his guns on Montero Rios In
depreciation of the third article of the
protocol. even at the risk of renewing
hostilities. The queen regent remains
| convinced that any farther obstruction
at Paris is not only useless but harm
full.
Financial and commercial pressure
has been put upon Sagasta, who is
now believed to nave instructed Mon
tero Rios to proceed TO the discussion
of the amount of indemnity to be paid
by the United States In regard % re
Philippines. after having placed on rec
ord an emphatic protest against the
American Interpretation of article 3,
coupled with a declaration that Spain
yields solely to superior force. These
u1plOmdtlC lnstTuCtlons tntdn IN pam
English that the Spanish commission
| ers at Paris will consent to give up the
Philippines rather than have Spanish
~seaports bombarded by an American
squadron, but will do so as haughtily,
insolently n sulkily as possible.
Sagasta is confident that Montero
Rios will carry out these in
structions in spirit and letter. 1t is
impossible to conceal the TACT that ami
mostly In official circles here against
the United States Is more bitter now
tina during the war. This feeling does
not exist among the masses of the peo-
pie. Apprehension prevails In financial
circles lest the childish sulkiness which
| Sagasta and Montero Rios are about TO
manifest in their manner of yielding to
the American demands may induce the
Washington cabinet to cancel or dimin-
ish the Philippine indemnity In regard
to the amount Of which the widest ex-
a~ggerations are current. Forty million
| dollars Is considered the smallest sum
HI can be proposed. In sanguine cir
cles 800, O00, 900 and even $4,000. 900. 900 are
spoken Of as the amount of the indem-
nifty.
"