Evening star., 1898-08-20
NEITHER PEACE NOR WAR
Merely a Suspension of Hostilities," Ex-
plains sagasta.
Insists That the Surrender Of Manila
Ought to Have No Legal
Efficacy.

The Madrid Ell Liberal publishes remarks
made by Senor Sagasta on the diplomatic
and political situation, quoting the premier
as follows:
From legal point of view the present
state of things is neither peace nor war,
but merely a suspension Of hostihhes.
An armistice would have allowed us to
dispel better the obscurity of the situation,
but the United States declined to agree 10
our making step further in advance.
THE questions to be solved are numerous
and complex. What we have to do first Is
to lay down certain bases on which each
minister may make any observation which
study of the subject suggests. These will
continue to be treated In daily cabinet coun-
ellis. 1t being held that the bases in question
are the fundamental instructions for the
guidance of the various commissions in the
forthcoming negotiations, to be supplement-
ed and rectifed subsequently by telegraph.
In Cuba, besides evacuation, there are
many other problems. Spain may abandon
her sovereignty over the Greater Antilles,
but there will remain the question of edi-
fee and all our properties. There are law
suits before the tribunals affecting the in
tereSts of the Spaniards. Where and when
will these be decided? In Havana, where
large number of criminals have been con-
demned by Spanish tribunals, what is to
De QOne with them! linen theTe are OLNeT
questions for which we have to fix a basis
of discussion and agreement, regarding the
Philippines. Besides these and other prob
lens of greater Importance there is a pre-
limnary question to be discussed.
sagasta Splits Hairs.
According to international law, a sus-
pension of hostilities has been signed and
the surrender of Manila ought to have
legal efficacy. How will that principle be
understood, by the United States? This
causes us much anxiety, and we give it
great attention, but we are still awaiting
the information demanded from Gen. Jau-
denes, which has not yet reached us, on ac-
count of the difficulties of communication
between Manila and Hong Kong"
These remarks have all the appearance of
being authentic. as they are in accord with
information from other sources and in har-
mony with Senor Sagastas usual style.
The public is still anxious for expla-
ration of Governor General Augustus mys-
terious departure from Manila but its curl
osty is not likely to be satisfied for some
time, the government declining to say any
thing.
The cabinet council decided to appoint
Gen. Gonzales Prado, second in command in
Cuba; Rear Admiral Luis Pastor Landero
who succeeded Admiral Navarro, the Span
lsh commander in Cuban waters and Mar
quis de Montoro, minister of finance in the
insular cabinet. as the commission of evac-
uation for Cuba
The Porto Rican commission has not YET
been appointed, the government awaiting
an expression of the views of Gov Gen
Macias; but it has been decided that Ad-
miral Vallarino shall be one of the commits
sioners.
Avoiding a Crisis.
The peace commissioners have not been
nominated, but it is believed the compost
ton of the commission has been decided
upon, though the names of its members
will not be published yet, as the govern
ment is resolved to take advantage of the
delay granted by the protocol in order to
avoid cabinet crisis
1t is rumored that the government will
instruct the Cuban commissioners to pre-
sent strong case for the recognition of
Spanish claim for compensation for the
cession of public works in Cuba, the COM
pensation to take the form Of saddling
upon Cuba the bulk of the Cuban debt ex-
listing in 1895. The papers advocate the
strengthening of Ceuta and AndalusIan
ports in anticipation of Anglo Russian
eventua1ties.
The London Daily Mails correspondent in
Madrid gives the gist of an Interview with
Senor Sagasta, similar to that published In
Fl Liberal, adding that the peace commits
sion Will arrange for treaties by which
spanish foods will obtain advantages In
cuba and Porto Rico in exchange for sim
IIar advantages given the Americans in the
Philippines. ~ 'i'e
A Spanish Commission,
A dispatch from Havana dated las+