The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1871-03-18
The Sale of Cuba and Porto Rico.
THE REPORTED OFFER CONFERENCE.-THE
TERMS AND PREL1NIINARIEs THE
OFFER NOT TO BE EN-
TERTAINED.
[By telegraph to the New York Tribune.l

By telegraph to the New YORK Irlouhe.l
Washington, March 16.-Inquiry, to-
day, establishes the truth of the rumor
sent from here last evening, with regard
to the proposition of the new Spanish
government to sell tho Islands of Cuba
and Porto Rico to the United States for
800, OOO,O 900. The President and Secre-
tary of State both say that some time ago
General Prim made a proposition to Gene
raj Sickles, Offering the colonies to the
United States for 5000, 900. 1t was
declined at once on our part, and declared
to be wholly out of the question.
About the time the Duke Of Savoy was
to start from Florence to assume the duties
of his new position, and shortly before
General Prim was assassnated, a coniden-
tial friend of Amadeus and of the Spanish
Regency, who had himself been partially
educated in America, arrived in New York
as the bearer of propositions Of settlement
to the Cuban Patriots on the part OF the
new Spanish regime. These propositions
were published in the Tribune at the time,
in the form of a dispatch from this city.
They included provincial autonomy for
Cuba and Porto Rico similar to that en-
loved by the North American colonies of
Great Britain; full and complete amnesty
for the revoutionists, leaders, and defen-
ders; representation of Cuba and Porto
Rico in the Spanish Cortes the abolition
of slavery and the establishment of man.
hood suffrage, with free press and the
right of discussion and petition the native
Cubans and Porto Ricans to have equal
rights in official positions with their Span
ish fellow citizens.
These terms were submitted Informally
by an American Senator well known for
his friendly relations to the Cuban patriots,
to Senior ALBANIA, as the New York head Of
their movements. After careful considera-
ton they were rejected by Aldama who
declared it too late. The atrocities of
Spanish war had been So terrible as to
make it certain the Cubans and their OPP
pressors could not live together, and the
former had determined to fight until inde-
pendence or their determination was
the result. The Spanish agent was very
thoroughly impressed with the determined
spirit Of the Cubans, as well as their prac-
teal resources for continuing the strife al
most indefinitely.
At the time the negotiations were pend
ing, and before leaving, the idea OF selling
the colonies was again mooted, and though
the Cubans expressed themselves favorable
to such termination of their endeavors,
no encouragement was afforded on our
side. Shortly after the coronation Of King
Amadeus, Gen. Siclles was again APP
preached on the subject Of course, he
listened and considered, and the result is
seen in the proposed sale at 100000, 900.
President Grant said, to-day. that the
Administration had no intention to
consider it, believing that, even if de-
sirable, the Senate could not be induced to
accept such treaty, and it would be alto
gether useless to ask Congress for appro-
priations to carry out the provisions in
face of the fact that the obtaining OF The
$1,500,000 needed for the Sauto Domingo
purchase was in considerable doubt. In
the mean while the Cubans keep peg
ging away, and, with the active hostility
to King Amadeuss government made by
the Spanish Republicans under Castelar,
there is strong probability that the
Spanards will be at last compelled Il
abandon the islands to their patriot cne'
mics.