The Portland daily press., 1898-11-12
NOT PLEASANT PROSPECT.
What American Administration Of
Philippines Means.
MARQUIS DE COMILLAs MAKES A
FlW SUGGESTIONS.

We Would Have to Conquer Eight Mil
lions Malayans and This Would Mean
Loss of Many Men and Destruction of
Commerce.
Paris, November 11.-10 p. m.-Marquis
De Coinillas, ths strongest individual
factor In Spain financial and COM
mercial world, who is now in this city,
made statement today to the oorre-
spondent Of the Associated Press OF his
personal views regarding the Hispano-
American situation. He Is here primarily
as the represe entatiye before the Spanish
peace commission of La Production
National, a society organized to protect
the .intsrests of Spanish products. But
he also dirsptiy represents the Spanish
association OF ship-owners and brokers
and he is president of the Spanish
colonial bank of Barcelona. the institu-
tion which pays the interest on the So
called Cuban bonds.
In the coinmafsial world of Spain, he Is
not less prominent than in her financial
affairs. The Marquis is president of the
Credit Mercantile, an association OF
Spanish coal mines, of the largest life in
surance oornpany in Spain, of the Philip
nine 10 apco company, whose fields are
in the island of Luzon, of the CoInpania
Transatlantica. et Barcelona, which car
ried the gKestsr part of Spain's troops to
Cuba ami Voc president of the Northern
railroad Of Spain. Besides this he is
honorary president of the national council
of laborers. Obviously, De Comillas is.
profoundly Interested in the result of the
distressed at the Immediate effect OF the
war upSn the undertakings he represents.
he IL sssn mere concerned about the con-
sequeuues which might ensue upon
treaty of peaos en- bod, ing terms that he
deems oppressive to Spain.
He has never held political position
and, thus far, has declined to be inter-
viewed, lest his utteranoes be considered
as In some degree those of the Spanish
government Whom asked today by the
Correspondent of the Associated Press to
make an exception to his rule Of silence.
he consented on the distinct understand
ing that he oke for himself only and as
= private inuisidHal confessing frankly
that he isflsd TO SCI ure from the AIueri
csn reople piotection for the private in
te est be re sents so far as the un-
E ble resu1 Of war will allow of
cir :;rot elton. Marquis De CoDiillas,
ST.
.'It is perhaps presumption on my part
to assume that the American people Will
attach amy Importance to What l say, yet
there are circumstances even connected
with this war, that lsad me 10 hope
snail have q respectful hearing Spaniards
ara noi inmindfnl of the nople and gem
erous SssRtsneat Spanish prisoners OF war
have received at the hand of q victorious
army and navy at the moment of our de-
tfeat and of subsequent generous care and
! treatment not less generous than that ac-
corded Lieutenant Robson by Admiral
Cervers.
"lhey havs been touched by the
courtesy and kindness with which
Spanish officers have been received In
America and they almost dare to hope for
ths same ju t and generous treaf ment of
Spanish financial, commercial aud in
dustrial interests Whatever antag0nism
may have been engendered in the minds
o the American people toward the Span
iards as political enemies, | cannot be-
lisve any substantial portion of the
necessary hardship imposed upon the
/ Spanish people. yet. 1t is upon the
vast number Of Spaniards whose p operty
and incomes may be- destroyed as the re-
suit OF this war.
ut is not u q uestion OF the rich only.
but Of the small merchants and manu-
facturers. their employees and laborers in
| the hope of securing some better under.
standing of these interests on the part of
the American people--and thus some bet
ter protection of those interests feeI
Told enough to speak as to my views and
wishes regarding them as affected by a
treaty If peace
for T,1a
| wholly clear of political and governmental
considerations. because in spain com
merce and industry are closely allied with
The governments. This condition, doubt
less, will be condemned in America. but
the commercial and industrial interests
prosper only by conforming to conditions
existing in my country.
The Philippine question PRESENTS very
inherent features from that OF Une West
Indies. In the Philippines, Americans
have no interests of conslderaDle import
ance The Monroe doctrine does rot APP
ply there. In sending Admiral Dewey.s
squadron to the Malayan ssas the Anne l.
cans could have had no reasonable Ain
except to divert the attention OF the
Madrid government and OF the Ifeagr
naval forces of Spain, a piece OF strateg
which was highly efficacious in breaking
down the moral and material forces OF
Spain.
but now that the desired effect has
been obtained, cannot comprehend what
reason the Americans have to retain that
land in their power
Spain is suffering severely from tb
defeat. after the prolonged and disastrous
| lnsurrecton In Cuba and she is morally
hurt in her commerce and industry.
The Americans are absolute strangers
to the Philippines and their pt pulation.
Iaey are unprOvided win he iluyu q. issle
Organization neoesss sry TO rule that ex