The evening times., 1899-03-16

dies and that although they consider it !
their bounden duty TO protect Spanish citi- /
zens and property in the islands, they do !;
not wish 10 have this set forth in the |
treaty, as the latter so far as ii relates |
to these islands, should contain nothing |
more than the first two articles of the pro-
tocol.
Il presume" says Senior Rios, a. on good
grounds that the same thing will occur
with regard TO the Philippines, The United
States will immediately impose their condi-
tions upon us, but Will not bind themselves
10 anything in our favor. Therefore, If
this happens, the treaty will be a singular
thing in the diplomatic history of coun-
tries for il will be reduced to one of the
parties submitting unconditionally TO the
demands and eXactons imposed by the 9TH
er. without the latter recognizing in the
former any right or making any conces-
sions whatever to it.
Senor Rios goes on TO suggest a happy
medium between the demands of the Unit
ed States and a refusal to accede TO them,
and says:
This medium consists in substituting for
| the Treaty minute in which there shall
appear the eXactions of the United States
| with respect TO Spain. and the statement
of the latter of the absolute impossibility
| in which she finds herself owing TO lack OF
means TO oppose such exactions, and that,
| in consequence she gives way to force,
| abandoning that which the United States
| demands she shall deliver over, and pro-
| testing against the injustice and violence
| of such demands
The United States, / know not how, al
| ter such manifestation on the part OF
! SPAIN may renew the war, since every
/ thing they ask is acceded to, although the
/ right to make such demands is not recog-
niZed, and their injustice is protested
! against. Clear it is that the consequence
! of this is the absolute and complete rup-
ture of all kinds of relations between
! Spain and the United States for an in
definite time, but. on the other hand, Ii
! offers the advantage Of preventing new
disasters to our unfortunate country"
Senor Rios telegraphed the minister OF
7 state on October q that the frmness of
| the American Commission made rupture
] imminent. The Spanish Ambassador at
Paris. in view of the answering attitude
OF the American Commissioners on the
Cuban debt question. held an interview
with Ambassador Porter and tried to
demonstrate TO him that an agreement
might be reached upon that question by
the United States making concessions with
regard TO the Philippines; that in this way
the negotiations might be carried on as a
whole, and not discussed piecemeal, and
that an understanding might be reached
through proper compensation.
From this point it is apparent that the
Spanish government was actuated by a
desire 10 get a sufficient sum of money
from the United States in exchange for the
Philippines to cover the Cuban debt.
The Demand for the Philippines.
The demand of the United States for the
cession Of The entire Philippine archipelago
, brought an indignant message TO Senor
Rios from Madrid. stating that such a de-
mand. in the form it is made. far oversteps
| the uttermOst pretensions that it could be
supposed the United States would have
To this Senior Rios replied on November
/: 1t is TO be presumed that the powers
of Europe signally England, Germany and
Russia, must be surprised at so erroneous
an eXaction by the American Government,
, and they Will not find it very much in har-
> mony with the interests of each of them in
the Far East
? The first suggestion OF the intention of
r the United States TO pay for the cession OF
= the Philippines which reached the Span
{ iards was through Ambassador Porter, who
informed the Spanish ambassador that il
had been determined by the United States
t TO compensate Spain for the islands. the
amount 10 be determined by the American
Commissioners.
Negotiations continued until the offer OF
s2e, e,000, 900 for the Philippines was made by
the American Commissioners and the latter
? had presented their uitimatum, which call
) ed for answer from the Spanish Commits
soners on November 2S. On the previous
day the minister of foreign affairs thus
concluded his instruction upon this subject
10 the Spanish Commissioners:
Neither the $50, coo, ,000 nor any other OF
the propositions in the closing part of the
American ultimatum is acceptable to Spain
: In this view ii would be proper to termi-
j nate the conferences. leaving the Ameri-
cans at liberty to dispose of whatever they
j demand; but as this may produce ulteriol
complications and greater ills to our coun-
9 try, which is anxious to end this situation
no other means remains than to succumt
: to force, accepting the proposition, but as
a whole, without analyzing or discussing
any of its parts, all equally unjust
There was division In the Spanish Com
| mission as to the propriety OF the accept
+, ance Of $4,000. 600 for the Philippines. Sc
nor Rios himself considered that the
American proposition was far more harm
3 full than beneficial to Spain, and as a last
resort Spain should offer the West Indies
and the Philippines TO the United States
| gratuitously, on condition that the colonial
z obligations should follow them. or that the
y ] United States should pay to Spain a sum
sufficient to discharge these obligations il
she were to assume them, and that if the
n United States did not accept this PROPOSE.
toin ii were preferable to leave the Wesi
: Indies and the Philippines at their dispos.
L al, as Spain lacked the elements necessary
o to defend them, and to bring the negotia.
S tions TO an end without concluding a trea-
e ty of peace.
Y In telegram dated November % the
Spanish Ambassador speaks of a call made
Il upon him by Whitelaw Reid. during which
that Commissioner informed him that the
ultimatum presented by the American
= Commissioners was the last word of the
United States upon the subject To thi:
{ the Spanish Ambassador replied that he
S considered himself as having been mott.
= fed of the fact, and that he had no reply