The San Francisco call., 1899-03-16

3 @eAA3-A3
the island of Cuba save to transfer It to
the people thereof that they might be-
come independent. Spain, therefore. would
be acting perfectly within her rights in
demanding the performance of this spon-
taneous obligation. Upon not demanding
it, it does them a service which requires
proportional compensation.
This commission understands that it
should limit itself wholly TO not demand
ing this performance. but abstaining from
any manifestation whatever either for or
against annexation. If annexation is
agreeable to the United States, this COM
mission believes that they win surely
carry it into effect without the necessity
of requesting it of Spain, and if it is not
agreeable this commission also under
stands that Spain absolutely lacks the
means of imposing it upon them The
United Sta tes will remain after the treaty
in the same situation they were when
Congress approved the joint resolution of
April 20 of this year.
In q confidential dispatch to the Min
lister Of Foreign Affairs Senor Rios, un-
der date of October IS, says the United
States demands the abandonment of
the West Indies and that although they
consider it their bounden duty to pro-
tect Spanish citizens and property in
the islands. they do not wish to have
this set forth in the treaty as the lat
ter, so far as it relates to these islands,
should contain nothing more than the
first two articles of the protocol.
Il presume" says Senior Rios. ION
good grounds that the same thing will
occur with regard to the Philippines
The United States will Immediately i'm
pose their conditions upon US, but will
not bind themselves to anything in our
favor. Therefore if this happens the
treaty will be a singular thing in diplo-
matte history, for 1t will be reduced to
one of the parties submitting uncon-
ditionally to the demands and exac-
tions imposed by the other without the
latter recognizing in the former any
right or making any concessions what
ever to it,
Senior Rios goes on to suggest a happy
medium between the demands of the
United States and Spain's refusal TO
accede to them, and says:
This medium consists in substituting
for treaty minute, in which there shall
appear the exactions of the United States
with respect to Spain, and a statement by
tior IN which she finds herself. owing
to lack of means TO oppose such exac-
tions; and that, in consequence, she gives
way TO force, abandoning that which the
United States demands she shall deliver
over and protesting against the injustice
and violence of such demands
The United States, 1 know, cannot af-
ter such manifestation on the part of
Spain renew the war, since everything
they ask is acceded to, although the right
to make such demands is not recognized
and their injustice is protested against
It is clear that the consequence of this
would be absolute and complete rupture
of all kinds of relations between Spain
and the United States for an indefinite
time; but on the other hand it offers the
advantage of preventing new disasters to
our unfortunate country.
The demand of the United States for
the cession of the entire Philippine ar
chipelago brought an indignant mes
sage to Senor Rios from Madrid stat
ing that such demand. in the form it
is made, far oversteps the uttermost
pretensions it could be supposed the
United States would have
To this Senor Rios replied on Novem-
Der l:
It is to be presumed that the powers of
Europe, signally England, Germany and