Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-08-22
VIEWED WITH INDIFFERENCE
The Recent Reported Utterances Of Spanish
officials
SaGasta's Talk Nav he Only for Home
Consumption or to Direct Atten-
ton From the Philippines.

In view of the talk which Sagasta has
been indulging in recently, and the general
assertion in Madrid dispatches to what
Spain is going to claim in connection with
her REIMBURSEMENT OF sovereignty in the
Antilles, public men who have talked with
the President and the Secretary of State
have endeavored to get some impression as
to the administrators view of this situa-
ton. The impression upon all seems to be
that this government views the alleged ut
terances of Spanish officials with compara-
tive Indifference, and undoubtedly the gen.
eral opinion in administrative circles here
Is that this talk about conditions, not in
Guided in the protocol, is chiefly for effect
upon the Spanish people. though it may be
| inspired also by a. desire on the part OF the
Spanish cabinet to create a diversion from
the question of the Philippines.
West Indian .suertioa Settled.
Under the terms of the protocol, it is
pointed out that the Cuban question and
the entire disposition Of the Spanish do
minton in the Antilles was settled as pre-
liminary precedent to the negotiation of the
peace treaty, and Spain finds herself con-
fronted in the negotiation of peace, merely
with the question of whether not she
Will be able to maintain any authority in
the Philippines. This leaves her with moth
ing to trade upon and practically helpless
in the negotiations. II is possible that
SagaSta, grasping at Straws, may have an
idea that by setting up lot of preposter-
Gus claims in connection with the surrender
OF sovereignty in the Antilles he place
himself in position to. claim some con-
cessions in the Pacific in consideration of
the Abandonment of these fictitious claims.
1t may be asserted with confidence, how
ever, that the President IS in no way dis
turbed by this agitation of this question in
Madrid and that this government will
stand ahSnlntalv n tArr Of he
tccol. Several gentlemen who have talked
generally with the President about the
situation express the opinion with great
positiveness that Spain will not be per-
| mitted to draw into discussion any Of these
clubbing points of contention which are
now being agitated IN Madrid. It IS de-
clared that the question whether a cession
or sovereignty reserves to Spain the right
of territorial possession will not be dis
cussed or considered by any commission.
Purpose of the Paris Commission.
The peace commission, according to the
protocol, is to be appointed to negotiate a
treaty of peace, which shall determine
the control and form of government of the
Philippines" This commission proceeds
upon the premises of all questions affect
ing the Antilles being disposed of before
entering upon the negotiation of peace the
Philippine question being the only one left
The protocol itself disposes absolutely of
the rights of Spain in Cuba. Porto Rico
niiu tHt duJdSclil 'SidAuS, Win q rellnQO1Sn-
ment of sovereignty in the case Of Cuba
and direct cession to the United States
of the other islands. No condition nor
compensation is taken into considera don
1t is an absolute and unconditional surren-
der on the part of Spain.
The Military Commissions.
The two military commissions, one for
Cuba and one for Porto Rico. alone have to
deal with this question. Their duties are
eXulicitIy defined and the nroyisfor for
their appointment, like that for the APP
pointment of the peace commission, pro-
ceeds upon the assumption Of an abroga-
ton of all the rights and title of Spain in
these islands. They appointed with the
object of coming to an agreement regard
ing the carrying out of the details of the
aforesaid evacuation of Cuba" etc. The re-
linquishment of sovereignty and the evacu-
alton are provided for by the protocol abso-
lutely without condition; the military COM
to grant conditions nor to enter into a dis
cussion of the subject. their duty being
| merely to arrange for the carrying out of
the details Of evacuation as provided for in
the protocol.
1t is asserted that the conditions sur
rounding the cession of territory and the
REIMBURSEMENT Of sovereignty by Spain are
exactly those which by usage attend a re-
hnquishmeat of sovereignty cession of
territory where no special provisions are
made. The points raised by the Spanish Of
ficials, 1t is said, will have no bearing what
ever on the question except where the claim
would be conceded as a matter of course
without having to be presented.