The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1898-08-28
THE PEACE COMMISSION.

THILE the reports may have been true that the
\AI President found much difficulty in his efforts
to get strong representative to serve on
the Peace Commission, it is certain he succeeded in
the task. We may have some reason to complain be-
cause representative OF the Pacific Coast was
appointed but the nation at large will be well salts
fed to leave the settlement OF the issues arising out
OF the war to such men as Secretary Day, Senator'S
Frye and Davis, Justice White and ambassador Reid
Strong as the commission is it will have strength
to spare when it comes to grapple with the Spanish
officials in the field OF diplomacy and undertakes the
task of bringing the controversy to speedy conclu-
sion 1t Spanish under all circumstances to
do nothing to-day that be postponed until to-
morrow, and in the present emergency the natural
tendency to delay will be augmented by thousand
motives of pride evaporation and the hope that by
proonging the talk something may occur which will
rebound to the benefit of Spain and mpel to grant
some of her many claims.
Statements recently made by Sagasta show the
policy the Spanish representatives will pursue when
the commission assemblies. The peace question:,
said the Spanish Premier, lis at present very compli
Gated. The Paris conference will settle the Philippine
question: and will also arrange commercial treaties by
which Spanish goods may obtain tariff advantages in
Cuba and Porto Rico in exchange for similar ad-
vantages given to the Americans in the Philippines.
AS if there were not enough impudence displayed in
this cool assumption that Spain has either the right
or the power to arrange tariffs in the Philippines in
exchange for favors granted in the West Indies, Sa-
gasta went on to say that while Spain will surrender
Cuba and Porto Rico it will claim all Governmental
property in the islands, including national buildings
of all kinds and will insist in having voice in the
settlement Of such civil and criminal
pending in the courts SPAIN it is further announced
will stand firm against assuming the payment of any
part of the Cuban debt Finally she will maintain
that the. Philippines still legally her possessions
because the surrender of Manila did take place
until after the protocol of peace signed.
1t will be readily that if the American Com
missoners consent to discuss these propositions the
end of the conference will not during the few
years that are left of this century. The Commission
ers in debating such multitude of claims through the
slow processes of diplomacv will remain in Paris to
see the exposition of 1900 and still remain there when
it closes Negotiation such basis will be as long
drawn out as that OF European concert and the re-
suits will probably be ineffective
Fortunately the American Commissioners men
who are not likely give much consideration to these
Spanish claims. The Philippines, as well as Cuba and
Porto Rico are in our hands. The Government prop
erty is ours as much as the soil of the country in
which the property stands 1t for to offer terms
and for Spain to accept the offer renew the fight
So far from being complicated problem, as Sa-
gasta asserts the making of this peace of the
simplest problems ever submitted TO diplomats.