Omaha daily bee., 1899-01-29
OPINIONS on THE TREATY
sngnstn and other spnniards Talk of
Probable Conditions In the
Philippines.

Copyright, 1899. by Press Publishing Coz
MADRID, Jan. 2S.-(New York World
Cablegram Special Telegram.) - Sagasta
said In reply to a query that the matter re-
quires consideration to see what the Amer
lean senate will do. If it contemplates to
materially alter the spirit and letter OF the
treaty it Is impossible therefore to pro-
nounce definitely. Anyhow, II the decision
OF the American senate or future designs Of
the United States with regard to the Philip
pines do not affect at all the engagements
entered upon by the United States with
Spain in the peace treaty 1t would not mat
ter to Spain whether annexation or inde-
pendence prevailed as long as America en-
forces protection to Spanish subjects in the
Philippines and the advantages promised
Spanish trade.
"All this. however, is surely hypothet-
ical," says Sagasta, las we cannot form an
opinion or pronounce until we are officially
informed Of the drift Of events at Washing
ton. My intention is decidedly to convoke
the Cortes in the middle of February
whether the treaty is ratified or not then In
Washington
| have carefully noted what the Madrid
press said the last fortnight and have
sounded men of all parties and classes with
out finding anybody supposing that the
peace treaty or the relations between Spain
and the United States can be affected IL the
annexation of the Philippines is abandoned
for Independence on condition that all
clauses of the Paris treaty are carried out.
Even the Carlists and republicans think so.
The editor Of Epoca. chief organ Of the
conservative party, says:
Certainly most Spaniards would accept
the peace treaty all the same II the Philip
pines were put in a position identical with
Cuba, though, in their opinion, Spain would
prefer to see America annex, because the
Spanish material interests OF all kinds still
extant in the Philippines would be better
protected by America than by the natives,
whom the Spaniards believe incapable OF
self-government."
The editor Of Ell Correo, chief organ OF
the liberal party and ministry, Senator Fer-
reras. cannot see what difference it would
make as regards Spanish ratification of the
peace treaty whether the Philippines were
treated like Cuba by the United States. as
the present government coded all rights to
Spain over the archipelago to the United
States.
Senior Abarzuza, a leading member OF the
recent peace commission, said today:
Spain. in my opinion, would not, nor would
any civil or free nation. accept the treaty II
modified so as to create an independent
Filipino government. You might as well
give autonomy to the monkeys as give 1t to
the Filipinos. No country could possibly
agree to risk it's commercial interests by
dealing with a so-called Filipino govern
ment. Would America herself like her
commercial interests to have only a single
guarantee OF such a government? 1t would
be no guarantee at all. Accordingly. il the
treaty be amended as suggested Il ceases to
be a treaty, signed by Spain, and a serious
position arises, as since the treaty becomes
null matters go back to the status quo at
the time of the protocol."
BRUSSELS. Jan. 2S.-(New York World
Cablegram-Special Telegram. )-Senor VIZ
~larutia, late peace commissioner at Paris
and Spanish ambassador, says:
I'm a modified form we members OF the
peace commission definitely ratified certain
conditions in behalf OF our own respective
governments. 1t seems to ne that any
alteration must be referred to a fresh COM
mission. because one side cannot change
conditions without the consent Of the other.
Our duty in the matter is at an end"
Asked what he thought OF the situation
he smiled and added:
Yes. they have yet TO learn that Agui-
naldo is a man of determination The
Americans have turned their own weapons
on themselves and will possibly find their
new eastern possessions a dear bargain"