Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-11-15
DELAYED UNTIL WEDNESDAY.
Spanish Peace Commission Preparing
for Determined stand at the
Next Meeting.

PARIS. Nov. lit has been decided that
there will be no joint sessions of the peace
commissions to-day. Secretary Moore, OF
the United States commission. received
from Secretary Ojeda. of the Spanish COM
mission. this morning. a note saying mat
the Spanish commissioners had found II
impossible to prepare their memorandum
for presentation to-day and asking if the
United States commissioners would be IN
convenienced if, owing to the late arrival
from Madrid of expected data, the Span
iards should request that the next meeting
be deferred until Wednesday.
Secretary Moore replied that the Amcri-
can commissioners were quite ready TO ac-
commodate the Spaniards in this matter
and the joint session was practically de-
ferred until Wednesday next.
Importance is attached TO this delay, 1t
being regarded as indicating that the Span
ish commissioners are pre- pairing for a final
stand in these negotiations. and it may now
be definitely stated that they Will not sign
a treaty of reace which yields to Spain no
more from the Philippine islands than has
thus far been offered or indicated by the
Americans
Should the latter announce that the
United States is only willing to reimburse
Spain for her pacific expenditures in the
Philippine islands, the Spanish commits
sioners will reply that their mission is i'm
ished. Should this occur. it is possible the
Spanards will also suggest suspension OF
the negotiations through the commission
and resumption of negotiations between
Madrid and Washington.
This attitude of the Spaniards is ex-
planned by the fact that members of the
Spanish commission have political alliances
and personal responsibilities to constituent
cies ard the national creditors of Spain
which restrict them to certain lines. which
as far the ministry at Madrid care
to go. 1t is pointed out that If the rive
Spanish commissioners here signed treaty
yielding the Philippine islands TO the
United States without lessening Span's
debt in an appreciabie degree. they could
not return home with the prospect of any
political future before them, and possibly
would be in danger of violence at the hands
of mobs.
At the next meeting of the commissions
the An ericans will learn the definite atti-
tude of Spain on any proposition thus far
made. The Spaniards. however, in this pre-
sentation, will not declare all negotiations
closed They will insist that the sover-
eighty of Spain over the Philippine islands
is beyond question. but will announce
Spain's readiness to yield that sovereignty
for an adequite equivalent and will then
invite negotiations under the Spanish con-
struction of the protocol.
The American commissioners may then
communicate their final attitude to the
Spaniards. but the Americans are expected
at a future meeting to present carefully
prepared conclusion of their contention anI
conditions. Should they be no different
from those already presented. the time will
then have arrived when Spain will declare
herself helpless, though steadfast, and will
await the next step of the United States,
whatever it may be. Thus Spain will be
able 10 say to her creditors that she has
done her utmost and that the issue must
rest between them and the United Suites
LONDON, Nov. 15.-The morning papers
comment editorially upon the peace con-
ference crisis and the American naval
preparations. reiterating their conviction of
the hopelessneSS of Spanish opposition anu
recognizing that the United States have
practically no alternative especially after
the elections. but complete annexation, and
that, if Spain continues obstinate. the
United States must send fleet to Europe,
an action which no power but Great Brit
ain would welcome. though none would be
likely to interfere in Spain's behalf.
The Daily Telegraph saws:
I'VE cannot believe that President Nc
Kirley fayors u compromise that would
leave Spain 4 portion of her far Eastern
Such policy would combine
the evils Of both alternatives confronting
America. since Spain would speedily sell
ba nj