The Anaconda standard., 1898-12-03
IT'S A TALKING MATCH
No End in Sight to the Peace
Negotiations.
SPANIARDS WANT TIME
The Task OF Concluding the Minor
Details May Be Long Drawn
Out-Many Questions Are
Yet Unsettled.

Paris. Dec. 2.-The joint session of
the peace commission to-day lasted for
two hours. No real progress was made.
The Spaniards are awaiting instruc-
tions. Spains proposition for CONNER
cial privileges in the West Indies was
not settled and was scarcely considered
to-day. The Americans have also ask
ed for instructions on certain matters.
The Caroline islands question was not
considered. The joint commission ad-
journed until Saturday.
The United States peace commission
to-day took up the question Of Spanish
commercial rights in the West Indies
for a term of years, and other subjects
OF negotiation to be considered later at
a joint session.
Spanish sympathizers having quasi
connection with the Spanish commits
sion are making much over the report
ed attitude of the Fflipinos towards the
United States. These sympathizers pro-
fess to have information that Agu.nal-
do means to fight and he now has Co.
900 soldiers.
They are armed with Mauser rifles
and have IS quick-firing guns. and II is
asserted that they will be satisfied with
nothing but independence. Aguinaldo's
agent was retfcent when questioned on
the subject this morning, saying that
he had no definite information from his
government"
To-day's session was a repetition, vir-
tually, of several earlier meetings.
When, after two hours discussion, TAX
ing a wide range, the Spaniards were
pressed for definite statements, they
pleaded that they had not received in
structions from Madrid. Thereupon.
the Americans declared in diplomatic
.l.ts al. hat
waste time in debate with men who
were not empowered to make bar
gains. Although adjournment was TAX
en- until tomorrow, ii Is probable there
will be a further postponement until
Monday. The Spaniards' version Of to-
days session is that they asked to have
the treaty concluded first aud then the
minor matters discussed. According TO
reports from American sources the
Spanish commission endeavored to draw
hints as to how far the Americans were
willing to compromise. the demands TN
der discussion without disclosing what
concessions Spain was willing to make.
AS the negotiations proceed the pros
poets of consuming much time in
crease. Several important propositions,
presenting many phases, invite discus
sion and must afterwards be embodied
in the agreements. This task of en-
bodying may be long drawn out. every
word and comma requiring considera-
ton.
on the questions yet unsettled. which
do not concern territorial or financial
interests, both commissions display
laudable anxiety to promote the well
fare of the inhabitants involved. An
American commissioner remarked to
the correspondent Of the associated
press:
I'VE realize that these peoples are to
become our subjects and we desire to
secure for them all their rights and
privileges. We keep in mind the inter-
ests of Spanish citizens in the territories
changing hands as well as of others.
Our Spanish friends exhibit a will
ingness to cooperate in the work of
guaranteeing the rights of the peoples
they are losing. a willingness that must
command our respect, for We realize
that they could make the last task
more difficult IL they were disposed Ito
display a resentful spirit"
Among the problems of the foregoing
nature to which the commissioners are
devoting much attention is that of the
courts. Both commissions desire, as far
as possible. to arrange that contracts
entered upon and lawsuits brought un-
til the Spanish regime may be trans
ferred to the jurisdiction of the Ameri-
can courts, so that the litigants may
lose no right through the change of
government.
The question of continuing contracts
for public works now under way is also
being considered. and IL is possible the
treaty will guarantee the fulfillment OF
existing mail contracts.