The discussion in the Spanish-American Peace Commission still drags, but
it is supposed that it will be ended by Decem- ber 1st. It is really all about money. The Americans offer four millions, but the Spaniards want ten, and there is inces- sant telegraphing to Washington. The Spaniards say that unless they are more liberally treated they will cease to negotiate, and leave America to seize what she can ; to which the Americans retort that in that event they will pay nothing, and will send a fleet into Spanish waters to compel peace. The result will be a compromise about the money, and a final surrender of the colonies, of which all grave Spaniards are heartily sick. The American Government is mobilising its Fleet, and collecting an army to garrison Cuba and Luzon, but its preparations, we suspect, are rather to prevent interference than to overawe Spain. We are told on good authority that but for the mismanagement in the War Department the majority at the elections for the policy of expansion would have been overwhelming, and that the Americans are reconciling themselves to the idea of governing their new possessions as dependencies, thus refusing to recog- nise for a time any inherent rights to self-government.
