Evening star., 1899-03-16

Copies of the Spanish Red Book have been
received here, containing all the documents
recently submitted to the Spanish cortes re-
lating to the peace negotiations. According
to the New York Herald. the most notable
feature of the documents is that which in
dicates that the Spaniards were apprehen-
sive up to the time of the signing of the
treaty that the United States would break
off negotiations and resume hostiities,
while the fear on the part of this govern
ment was that the Spanish commissioners
would withdraw, and thus necessitate the
continuance of warlike operations.
The United States and Cuba.
The book shows that the Spanish COM
mission and the Spanish government were
convinced that the treaty concluded was
the least prejudicial to Spain, considering
the circumstances surrounding the negotia-
tions, and it is expressly stated by Montero
Rios president of the Spanish commission
that the commission believed that the
United States proposed to annex the Island
of Cuba. Notwithstanding the disclaimers
made by this government.
The hrmness of the belief of the Spanish
commission that the United States proposed
To annex Cuba is found in these extracts in
letter from Senior Rios to the minister of
foreign affairs, da ted October -:
Upon observing that the paper presented
in writing by the American commissioners
rejecting our draft of the first two
articles of the treaty was based on the sup
position that We proposed therein that the
United States accept the sovereignty over
tuta, to transfer it at the proper time to
the Cuban people, L called their attention
TO the inaccurate translation of our article,
which does not say that the United States
must accept the sovereignty over the Is
land OF Cuba. to transfer it at the proper
time to the Cuban people, but that they
may transfer it at the proper time to that
people
This correction produced visible effect
on the minds of the American commits
sicners, which came to confirm us in our
former prasumption that the United States
proposed to annex the Island of Cuba
They do not manifest this conclusively, put,
on the contrary, neither do they desire that
the obllgations which they spontaneously
contracted, to transfer the said sovereignty
to the people of Cuba, should be recorded
in the treaty, and, above all, they do not
wish that Spain should reserve in the
treaty the right of demanding of them per-
formance of this obligation.
'Presuming the purpose of annexas sion
Whlcn the American government enter.ailis
We should improve in the coming discus
sions the benefits which it offers us ;rd-
vantagaous to the interests of Spain The
United States, in their joint resolution
spontaneously stated that they did not de-
mahd OF Spain the sovereignty over the
Island OF Cuba, save to transfer II to the
peop!h there, that thay might become indie
perfectly right in demanding the perform
ance of this spontaneous obligation. Upon
not demanding it. it does them 4 service
winch requires proportional compensation
rms commission understands that it
should limit itself wholly to not demanding
this performance. but ahstaining from anV
manifestation whatever, either for or
AGAINST annexation. If annexation is agree
ahie TO the United States. this commission
ptl+NeS that they will surely carry 1t into
effect without the necessity Of REQUESTING if
OF Spain. and if it is not agreeable. This
commission also understands that Spatn ab
scluteIy lacks means of imposing it lIpol
them. The United States will remain aft,r
the treaty in the same situation they wara
When Congress approved the joint resolu.
ton of April 20 of this wear"
The President styled Ungenerous.
In letter, dated December II, the day
Sf.er the treaty was signed Senior Rios,
referring to the last memorandum filed by
the American commission and its courteous
tone, says:
AS regards the question Of the Maine.
trey tine American commissioners de-
CINE TO make any reply, as the established
plecedents and practice Of their country
preclude 1t. The truth is that above all
these precedeHts there weighed upon the
American commission the inability of CIV
ing any satisfactory reply to the Spanish
protest because of the action of the Presi-
dent of the Jnion-violative of the most
elementary dictates OF generosity and pr,ll-
dcrce-on recalling, with language offensive
10 SPAIN the Maine incident on the most
solemn occasion in the public life Of the
United States. 2nd when the negotiations
Tor the re-establshment of peace were on
the point of terminating"
Spain's Red Book closes with long let
ter from Senior Rios reviewing the work of
the Spanish commission, concluding in this
language:
The Commission Did It's Rest.
THE Spanish commission. considering the
narrow limits In Which it could move and
which had been irrevocably fixed for Spain
IN the prelimtnaries Of peace signed ct
Washington on August - last, during these
negotiations constantly drew inspiration for
its acts in the purpose to save from the
run OF the colonial empire Of Spain such
remnants as were possible, however lacking
IN Importance these remnants might be-
and, above ALL in its unconluerable resolve
TO never consent that the honor and the
dignity Of the fatherland should become
stained.
Spain has been vanluished in the war
1t was Indispensable that her commission
should not consent to her being humilia ted
In bringing her peace.
The commission believes, then that 1t
has done its duty. 1t understands the
treaty concluded is the least prejudicial for
Spain that it was possible to obtain in
view of the foreign circumstances which
could not but inevitably bear down their
Eeavy weight upon her. 1t trusts that
the coming time will demonstrate this, and
1t entertains the hope that, despite the
s"ution imposed on the terrible crisis
through which the nation has Just passed
it may soon recover its strength and
grandeur, and it believes. finally that the
honor and the dignity of the fatilerland
have been saved in these painful negotia-
tions as the most pr cious remnants of the
wreck of the old Spanish colonial empire"
Demand for Mules at Malta.
Consul Grout, at Malta, reports to the
State Department that there is a demand
for mules on the part of army officers sta
toned at Malta for use in the government
service. The mule used at Malta he saws
is ratacr sOrry-looking animal as a rule
being poor and small and the military au-
thoTitics at Malta desire to improve the
character Of the military service. The
average American male is far superior to
the kind now in service there, and the con-
sui believes. would prove preferable for
government use after due trial The army
service corps of the British army at Malta
1f L