New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-12-18
STATEMENT OF MONTERO RIOS.
FULL TENT OF THE SPANISH COMMISSION
ER'S INTERVIEW WITH NJ DE BIOWI1T.

STATEMENT OF MONIERO RlOS.
FULL TEXT OF THE SPANISH COMMISSION
ER'S INTERVIEW WITH NJ. DE BLOWITT.
London Dec 1.-THE following is the full
text OF the interview between Sehor Montero
Rios. president Of the Spanish Peace Commits
sion, and NJ. de Bowitz. the Paris correspond
ent Of THE London Times" published in that
paper this morning. Sehor Montero Rios Is
quoted saying:
we have fulfilled here very painful mis-
sion in which It is impossible to dream Of look
ing forward with any satisfaction but that Of
doing our duty. We depart without other con-
ISOLATION than the exclamation: Tout est perdu
sauf rhonneur' (An is lost but honor.
Eve knew In advance that should have to
deal with an implacabe conqueror, who would
in no way concern himself with any pre-exist-
ing international law. but whose sole object was
to reap from victory the largest possible ad
vantage This conception of international law
is absolutely new. 1t is no longer a case OF
might against right but Of might without
right As for us, we had only 10 protect our
selves against the aba 'ement which 1t was de-
sired to inflict u.s. and to prove, IN spite or
our blunders and mistakes. that we had not
compounded the proverbial loyalty 10 the Cas-
| tilian Fatherland.
Misfortune also has grandeur. The Ameri-
! cans have acted vainqueurs parvenus Wp-
start conquerors). They do not yet know the
/ misfortune Of defeat; but there are things which
| the st fortunate nations cannot escape later
on When they. too. will have had reVerses,
! when they will have become homogeneous and
are no longer obliged TO satisfy the eXigencies
OF political parties they too will form. like all
other nations with past code Of interna-
,onal rights and duties, and be less infexble
/ vrb N hay defeat. TneV
will better understand that strict observance
OF conditions agreed to- even in the thick Of a
| fight Is a guarantee and protection for all
concerned for the conquerOr as we'll as the
vancuished.
Nations DO not count by days or weeks. but
bv centuries and In the course Of their exist
ence events assume various compilations.
PHILIPPINES NOT CONQUERED. HE SAYS
s'We signed on August II protocol suspend
ing hostties and It was on the 18th that the
American general demanded the surrender Of
Manila. The archipelago had not been won
and has not yet been conquered The
fate Of the Philippines remained undeter-
mined and Spanish sovereignty was still
in force since were still waging war
with considerable forces TO suppress the IN
surrection. But, after a journey across
| portion Of the United States. President Mcl\ln-
! lev changed his policy, and decided on clalin-
ing the Philippines by right of conquest. Yet
I repeat the Philippines even now are stu un-
| conquered The two chief Islands. the two
| rjchest-Mindanso and Luzon-are not Won
Mindanao and the Island of the Great Lake
contain a population Of hafbreeds. half Malay
and half Spanish. constituting a military oil
garchy which rules the rest of the islands and
| occupies the richest portion Of the territory on
the shores OF the lake. l know the country and
| warlike and not only they unconQuered
but their conquest Will rot be accompissneo .seS
quickly. Yet the United States claimed them
| az ell the other islands. as thoush tnen
| conquest was complete
THE PROPOSAL AS TO THE MAINE.
"Rut what most pains me s that In this great
whirlwind in which have lost all, lost our
last armada there has been attempt TO de-
! prive us of our honor we'll On December !
| I proposed to the Americans to appoint a teen
| ncal commission TO examine the question OF inc
| Maine We said America will appoint an Amer
lean. Englishman and Frenchmam ana we o
| will appoint Spaniard an Ensllshilamn III , anu n
| Frenchnan all specialists. and that the Commls-
sion or the two Governments. appoint peI
| man, and that these seven men nrins IN yer
| dict II they declare Spain innocent. the Fresi'
| dent of the United States viii address a Mes
| sage TO the Senate. declaring spanish hohOI III
| tact and that Spain falsely accused OF haV-
| ing hetraved the laws Of hospitality by blow
Ing UP vessel at anchor in one Of her ports
| If Spain is declared guilty, spanish snip VIII
| go TO America. salute the Chlteu "'a'eS mas "'i
| Spain will pay the costs. ,>,..
This is the proposal we made on December
| I II could be-and must have been-tele-
| granhed for II could be put into two hundred
| Words on December 3. in his Message tc
| Congress the President made no aust3n 70 oul
| proposal, but described the blowing up oi t"'
| Maine as a suspicious event
"On December g. the American Commission
ers declared they refused to discuss this ques
tion This Is what especially rritates us. We
| have great defects.-our hot temper ana cruel
ties even-but our National honor is dear 10 us
Yat AZ that honor the Americans wished t'
deal the rudest blow.
FAITH IN THE QUEEN REGENT
"Weu we are now going home to help Spair
etanch the wound We have, happily, at oul
head a woman whose virtues. courage ana III
,enigence are our strength and hope. who Is be-
loved and esteemed by all parties, who hence
fortb has the heart OF a Spanard.
'"rhe latest news from the frontier Is ti,at al
is nrettv ouet There are. moreover, really NJ
Carlists but the priests, VINO recaI ,he i suoii,
,as, rarod in our history. Don Carlos hrnseI
- 80 !CorIic, lie has lived too long in the mos
oo,.a,cod countries TO be retrOgrade. ana th'
CarIists and fanaticsm have disappeared. 40
o,o tbera any longer men who want repuDlc
CaeteIar Pi Y Margal and Salmeron are Ioya
opponents. . cotr hut ~.
ebaIi abide by our traditions of honor ana go
,rtntv Terhans by the time our young l\lng
who has been brought up In the schooI oi "o az
varsity under the eye OF hopie "oil1'l, Z"
tains his majority. shall see days OF ~fao'
and prosperity return
SPAIN SEEKING GREAT LOAN
Paris Dec. 1.-THE rise in securities on IN