ñoles que están en poder de las fuerzas americanas y de sus anxiliares los insurrectos de Cuba y Filipinas? Quinto. También se ha de convenir en el tratado sobre la adquisición por los Estados Unidos del derecho de amarre de cables en otros sitios bajo la jurisdicción de España. En qué región están dichos sitios! Esta frase, comprende solamente los territorios de España en el Oriente ó también en la Península? Sexto. Se dice asímismo que se renovarán ciertos tratados que hasta ahora estuvieron en vigor entre los Estados Unidos y España, ¡Cuáles son estos tratados? Y finalmente, Séptimo. Dicen los Comisarios americanos que si los españoles aceptan final y concretamente su proposición y las anteriores sobre Cuba, Puerto Rico y demás islas, será posible á la Comisión en pleno continuar sus sesiones y proceder al estudio y arreglo de otros puntos, significan estas frases que si la Comisión española no acepta final y concretamente dichas proposiciones, sin modificación sustancial, la Comisión en pleno no continuará sus sesiones? Os ruego y encarezco la resolución de estas dudas, si lo teneis á bien, sobre la inteligencia de vuestra proposición, lo más pronto que os sea posible, para que la Comisión española pueda dar en sesión de la Comisión en pleno la contestación que considere procedente. Aceptad, Señor, os lo ruego, el testimonio de mi distinguida consideración. PARIS, 22 de Noviembre de 1898. E. MONTERO Ríos [Translation.] ANNEX 1 TO PROTOCOL No. 16. COMMISSION FOR THE NEGOTIATION OF PEACE WITH THE UNITED STATES. Mr. WILLIAM R. DAY MY DEAR SIR, In order that this Commission and, if necessary, the Government of H. C. M., may study with a full and exact knowledge the proposition which closes the memorandum presented at yesterday's session by the Commission you worthily head, the translation into Spanish of which has just been completed, it becomes necessary to beg you that with all possible haste you will be pleased to make clear the meaning of the following points of said proposition, which to me is obscure and vague: First. Is the proposition you make based on the Spanish colonies being transferred free of all burdens, all, absolutely all outstanding obligations and debts, of whatsoever kind and whatever may have been their origin and purpose, remaining thereby chargeable exclusively to Spain? Second. Is the offer made by the United States to Spain to establish for a certain number of years similar conditions in the ports of the archipelago for vessels and merchandise of both nations, an offer which is preceded by the assertion that the policy of the United States is to maintain an open door to the world's commerce, to be taken in the seuse that the vessels and goods of other nations are to enjoy or can enjoy the same privilege (situación) which for a certain time is granted those of Spain, while the United States do not change such policy? Third. The Secretary of State having stated in his note of July 30 last that the cession by Spain of the Island of Porto Rico and the other islands now under Spanish sovereignty in the West Indies, as well as one of the Ladrones, was to be as compensation for the losses and expenses of the United States during the war, and of the damages suffered by their citizens during the last insurrection in Cuba, what claims does the proposition refer to on requiring that there shall be inserted in the treaty a provision for the mutual relinquishment of all claims, individual and national, that have arisen from the beginning of the last insurrection in Cuba to the conclusion of the treaty of peace? Fourth. Upon stating that the treaty must contain an agreement as to the release of those held by Spain for political offenses connected with the insurrections of Cuba and the Philippines, is it desired that it be taken as meaning that at the same time there is to be no agreement as to the release of the Spanish prisoners held in the possession of the American forces and their auxiliaries, the insurgents of Cuba and the Philippines? Fifth. In the treaty there is also to be an agreement as to the acquirement by the United States of cable landing privileges in other places under the jurisdiction of Spain. Where are such places? Does this sentence only include territories of Spain in the Orient, or in the Peninsula also? Sixth. It is also said that certain treaties which were in force between the United States and Spain up to this time will be revived. What are these treaties? And, finally, seventh. The American Commissioners say that if the Spanish Commissioners accept their proposition finally and definitely and the previous proposals as to Cuba, Porto Rico and other islands, it will be possible for the Joint Commission to continue its sessions and proceed to the examination and arrangement of other points. Do these words mean that if the Spanish Commission does not finally and definitely accept said propositions without substantial modifications, the Joint Commission will not continue its sessions? I beg and earnestly request you to settle these doubts, should you be so disposed, as to the meaning of your proposition as soon as may be possible, in order that the Spanish Commission may, in a session of the Joint Commission, furnish the reply it may deem proper. Accept, Sir, I pray you, the expression of my distinguished consid eration. PARIS, November 22, 1898. Signed: E. MONTERO Ríos. ANNEX 2 TO PROTOCOL No. 16. UNITED STATES AND SPANISH PEACE COMMISSION, Señor Don E. MONTERO Ríos. MY DEAR SIR. Having received and read your letter of today, touching the final proposition presented by the American Commissioners at yesterday's conference, I hasten to answer your enquiries seriatim, first stating your question, and then giving my reply. "First. Is the proposition you make based on the Spanish colonies being transferred free of all burdens, all, absolutely all outstanding obligations and debts, of whatsoever kind and whatever may have been their origin and purpose, remaining thereby chargeable exclusively to Spain?" In reply to this question, it is proper to call attention to the fact that the American Commissioners, in their paper of yesterday, expressed the hope that they might receive within a certain time "a definite and final acceptance" of their proposal as to the Philippines, and also "of the demands as to Cuba, Porto Rico and other Spanish Islands in the West Indies, and Guam, in the form in which those demands have been provisionally agreed to." The form in which they have thus been agreed to is found in the proposal presented by the American Commissioners on the 17th of October and annexed to the protocol of the 6th conference, and is as follows: "ARTICLE 1. Spain hereby relinquishes all claim of sovereignty over and title to Cuba. "ARTICLE 2. Spain hereby cedes to the United States the Island of Porto Rico and other islands now under Spanish sovereignty in the West Indies, and also the Island of Guam in the Ladrones." These articles contain no provision for the assumption of debt by the United States. In this relation, I desire to recall the statements in which the American Commissioners have in our conferences repeatedly declared that they would not accept any articles that required the United States to assume the so-called colonial debts of Spain. To these statements I have nothing to add. But, in respect of the Philippines, the American Commissioners, while including the cession of the archipelago in the article in which Spain "cedes to the United States the Island of Porto Rico and other islands now under Spanish sovereignty in the West Indies, and also the Island of Guam in the Ladrones," or in an article expressed in similar words, will agree that their Government shall pay to Spain the sum of twenty million dollars ($20,000,000). "Second. Is the offer made by the United States to Spain to establish for a certain number of years similar conditions in the ports of the archipelago for vessels and merchandise of both nations, an offer which is preceded by the assertion that the policy of the United States is to maintain an open door to the world's commerce, to be taken in the sense that the vessels and goods of other nations are to enjoy or can enjoy the same privilege (situación) which for a certain time is granted those of Spain, while the United States do not change such policy?" The declaration that the policy of the United States in the Philip pines will be that of an open door to the world's commerce necessarily implies that the offer to place Spanish vessels and merchandise on the same footing as American is not intended to be exclusive. But, the offer to give Spain that privilege for a term of years, is intended to secure it to her for a certain period by special treaty stipulation, whatever might be at any time the general policy of the United States. "Third. The Secretary of State having stated in his note of July 30 last that the cession by Spain of the Island of Porto Rico and the other islands now under Spanish sovereignty in the West Indies, as well as one of the Ladrones, was to be as compensation for the losses and expenses of the United States during the war, and of the damages suffered by their citizens during the last insurrection in Cuba, what claims does the proposition refer to on requiring that there shall be inserted in the treaty a provision for the mutual relinquishment of all claims, individual and national, that have arisen from the beginning of the last insurrection in Cuba to the conclusion of the treaty of peace?" While the idea doubtless was conveyed in the note of the Secretary of State of the United States of the 30th of July last that the cession of "Porto Rico and other islands now under the sovereignty of Spain in the West Indies, and also the cession of an island in the Ladrones, to be selected by the United States," was required on grounds of indemnity, and that "on similar grounds the United States is entitled to occupy and will hold the city, bay, and harbor of Manila, pending the conclusion of a treaty of peace which shall determine the control, disposition and government of the Philippines," no definition has as yet been given of the extent or precise effect of the cessions in that regard. The American Commissioners therefore propose, in connection with the cessions of territory, "the mutual relinquishment of all claims for indemnity, national and individual, of every kind, of the United States against Spain and of Spain against the United States, that may have arisen since the beginning of the late insurrection in Cuba and prior to he conclusion of a treaty of peace." And I may add that this offer is made by the American Commissioners in full view of the fact that the citizens of the United States, having claims that come within the foregoing relinquishment, will, on the strength thereof, apply to their own Government for indemnity. As to the fourth, fifth and sixth questions contained in your letter, permit me to point out that they do not relate to matters concerning which the American Commissioners stated that the acceptance of our proposals within the time mentioned would be a condition of continuing the conferences. The American Commissioners confined that condition to their proposals touching Cuba, Porto Rico and other Spanish islands in the West Indies, Guam, and the Philippines. In respect of the other matters referred to, they expressed their readiness to "treat", in case the Spanish Commissioners should remove the obstacle to so doing, by a definite and final acceptance of the proposals abovementioned, the refusal of which would render the continuance of the conferences impracticable. In what I have just said, you will find an answer to your seventh question. It does not appear to be necessary to specify at this moment the particulars of the subjects referred to in your fourth, fifth and sixth questions, since, if our proposals in regard to Cuba, Porto Rico and other Spanish islands in the West Indies, Guam, and the Philippines, are not accepted, the negotiations will end. I deem it proper, however, even at the risk of seeming to anticipate, to say, so far as concerns the subject of your fourth question, that the American Commissioners would expect to treat for the release of prisoners on the basis of absolute equality. All Spanish prisoners in the possession of the American forces would necessarily be released as the result of a treaty of peace; and the American Commissioners would be willing to stipulate that their Government would undertake to obtain the release of all Spanish prisoners in the hands of the insurgents in Cuba and the Philippines. With an expression of regret that the process of translating your letter has somewhat delayed my reply, I beg you to accept, my dear sir, the expression of my distinguished consideration. Signed: WILLIAM R. DAY. ANNEX 3 TO PROTOCOL No. 16. COMISIÓN PARA LA NEGOCIACIÓN DE LA PAZ CON LOS ESTADOS UNIDOS. Hon. M. WILLIAM R. DAY, Presidente de la Comisión americana para la paz con España. MUY SEÑOR MÍO DE MI DISTINGUIDA CONSIDERACIÓN. A fin de adelantar cuanto sea posible los trabajos que por ambos Gobiernos á una y otra Comisión han sido encomendados, y que ya requieren una próxima terminación, ruego á Vd., en nombre de esta Comisión que se sirva proponer á la de su digna presidencia si está dispuesta á acceptar por vía de transacción sobre la soberanía del Archipiélago Filipino cualquiera de las tres proposiciones siguientes: A." Renuncia de España á su soberanía en Cuba y cesión de Puerto Rico y demás Antillas, Isla de Guam en las Ladrones y Archipiélago Filipino, incluso Mindanao y Joló, á los Estados Unidos, habiendo de satisfacer estos á España la cantidad de cien millones de dollars ($100,000,000) en compensación de su soberanía en el archipiélago y de las obras de utilidad pública ejecutadas durante su dominación en todas las islas de Oriente y Occidente cuya soberanía renuncia y cede." B. "Cesión á los Estados Unidos de la Isla Cusaye en las Carolinas, del derecho de amarre de un cable en cualquiera de ellas ó de las Marianas, mientras sean del dominio de España, y del Archipiélago Filipino propiamente dicho, ó sea empezando por el Norte, de las Islas Batanes, Babuyanes, Luzón, Visayas y todas las demás que siguen al Sur hasta el mar de Joló, reservándose España al Sur de este mar las Islas de Mindanao y Joló, que nunca han formado parte del Archipiélago Filipino propiamente dicho. "Los Estados Unidos en compensación de las islas sobredichas, del derecho de amarre del cable y de las obras públicas ejecutadas por España en aquellas islas durante su dominación, abonarán á España la cantidad de cincuenta millones de dollars ($50,000,000)." C.-"España renuncia á su soberanía en Cuba y cede gratuitamente á los Estados Unidos el Archipiélago Filipino propiamente dicho, además de Puerto Rico y demás Antillas y la Isla de Guam que cede en compensación de los gastos de guerra é indemnizaciones de ciudadanos americanos por daños sufridos desde el principio de la última insurrección cubana: "Los Estados Unidos y España someterán á un tribunal arbitral cuáles son las deudas y obligaciones de carácter colonial, que deban pasar con las islas cuya soberanía España renuncia y cede." Ruego á Vd. que esa Comisión se sirva deliberar sobre cada una de estas proposiciones por si considera acceptable cualquiera de ellas, comunicándomelo si lo tiene á bien antes del lunes próximo 28 del cor riente ó teniendo formado ya su juicio para dicho día (que es el fijado en la útima proposición de esa Comisión), en que podrán reunirse ambas en pleno á la hora acostumbrada de las dos de la tarde, y en cuya sesión esta Comisión española dará su definitiva contestación, de que, según la de la americana, habrá de depender la continuación ó terminación de estas conferencias. Queda de Vd. con la mayor consideración atento servidor q. 1. b. 1. m. E. MONTERO Ríos PARIS, 23 de Noviembre de 1898. |