The San Francisco call., 1899-03-16

Continued from First Page
Russia. must be surprised at so enormous
an exaction by the American Government
and they will not find 1t very mucn III
harmony with the interests of each OF
them in the Far East.
The first suggestion of the United
States to pay for the cesslon or the
Philippines which reached the Span
iards was through ambassador Porter,
who informed the Spanish Embassador
that it had been determined by the
United States to compensate Spain for
the islands, the amount TO be deter
mined by. the American Commission
erS.
same as at the beginning of the nego-
tiations," said the Spanish Embassador,
that the purpose of the Americans IS
to reject the Cuban debt and to pur-
chase the Philippines at the lowest
possible price.
offer of $40. 900 for the Philippines
was made by the American Commis-
sioners and the latter had presented
their ultimatum, which called for an
answer from the Spanish Commission
ers November %. On the previous DAY
the Minister of Foreign Affairs, the
Duke, of Tetuan, thus concluded his in
structions upon this subject TO the
Spanish Commissioners:
Neither s2O,OOO,OOO nor any other of the
propositions in the closing part Of the
American ultimatum is acceptable to
Spain In this view it would be proper to
terminate the conferences, leaving the
Americans at liberty to dispose OF what
ever they demand; but as this may pro-
duce Interior complications and greater
ills to our country, which is anxious to
end this situation, no other means re-
mains than to succumb to force, accept
ing the American proposition, but as a
whole andr without analyzing or discuss
ing any of its parts, all OF which are
equally. UNJUST
There, was a division in the Spanish
commission as to the propriety of the
acceptance of $40, 900 for the Philip
pines Senior Rios himself considered
that the American proposition was far
more harmful than beneficial to Spain,
and as a last resort should offer the
West Indies and the Philippines to
the United States gratuitously, on con-
dition that the colonial obligations
should follow them or that the United
States should pay to Spain sum SUI
ficient to discharge these obligations, II
she were to assume them. and that II
the United States did not accept this
nroposition it were preferable to leave
the West Indies and the Philippines at
their disposal, as Spain lacked the ele
ments necessary to defend them, and to
bring the negotiations to an end with
out concluding a treaty of peace.
In a telegram dated November % the
Spanish ambassador to Paris speaks of
q call made upon him by Whitelaw
Reid. in which the Commissioner in
formed him that the ultimatum pre-
sented by the American Commissioners
was the last word of the United States
on the subject. To this the Spanish
Fnba ssador replied that he considered
himself as having been notified of the
fact and that he had no reply to make,
since all discussion was now useless
and idle.
The American terms were finally ac-
cepted and then began discussion on
the subordinate points included in the
ultfmatum. In a letter dated December
II. the day after the treaty was signed,
Senior Rios, referring to the last memo
randum filed by the American commits
sion and it's courteous tone. says:
AS regards the question of the Maine
theS Ct6e American commissioners de-
cline to make any reply, as the estao-
lished precedents and practice or
their country preclude It. The truth IS
weighed upon the Americon commission
the inability of giving any satisfactory
tbe fbeis action of of the President Of the Union
violative of the most elementary dictates
of generosity and prudence-in recalling
with language offensive to Spain the
Maine incident on the most solemn occa-
sion in the public life of the United States
and when the negotiations for the re-es-
tablishment of peace were on the point
of terminating.
Spain's Red Book closes with a long
letter from Senior Rios. reviewing the
work of the Spanish commission, con-
cluding In this language:
This commission, in so painful
task. had the consolation of counting
on the sympathy of the more respect
able organs of the press of Continental
Europe, but it is also forced to mani
fest the pain it has been suffering dur
ing the negotiations because it was not
supported by the greater part of the
periodical publications, which consider
themselves unquestionably the organs
of public opinion in Spain.
The Spanish commission, consider
ing the narrow limits in which it could
move and which had been irrevocably
fixed for Spain in the preliminaries Of
the treaty of peace signed at Washing
ton on August Il last, NJ. Cambon act
| Ing for Spain. during these negotiations
constantly drew inspiration for its acts
in its purpose to save from the ruin Of
the colonial empire of Spain such rem
nants as were possible, however lack
| ing in Importance these remnants
might be, and above all in its uncon-
querable resolve to never consent that
the honor and dignity of the fatherland
should become stained.
Spain had been vanquished in war
1t was indispensable that her commits
sion should not consent to her being
Inundated in bringing her peace.