The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1871-03-17
THE SALE OF CUBA AND PORTO RICO.

Yesterdays Reported Offer Confirmed rh Q
Terms and Preiimlnaries-The Offer not 20 be
Entertained.
Washington despatch to the N. Y Tribune
says:-
Inquiry to-day establishes the truth of the
rumor sent from here last evening, with regard
to the proposition of the new Spanish Govern
ment to sell the islands of Cuba and Porto Rice
to the United States for $100, 600, 900. The Pre-
sdent and Secretary of State both say that some
time ago General Prim made proposition to
General Sickles, Offering the colonies to the
United States for 5000 600. 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 Prm
was assassinated confidential friend of
Amadeus and of the Spanish r egency, who had
himself been partially educated in America ,
arrived in New York as the bearer of PROPOSE
tions 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 despatch
from this city. They include provincial auto
nomy for Cuba and Porto Rico similar to that
enjoyed by the North American colonies of
Great Britain full and complete amnesty for
the revolutionists, leaders, and defenders; re-
presentation of Cuba and Porto Rico in the
Spanish Cortes; the abolition of slavery, and
the establishment of manhood suffrage, with a
free press and the right of discussion and petit
tion; the native Cubans and Porto Ricans to
have equal rights in official positions with their
Spanish fellow citizens.
These terms were submitted informally by an
American Senator well known for his friendly
relations to the Cuban patriots, to Senor Aldama
as the New York head of their move
ments. After careful consideration 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 oppressors could los lie u.
together, and the former had determined to
fight until independence or their determination
thoroughly impressed with the determined
spirit of the Cubans as well as their practical
resources for continuing the strife almost in
definitely.
At the time the negotiations were pending,
and before leaving, the idea of selling the colo
nies was again mooted, and though the Cubans
expressed themselves favorable to such termi-
nation of their endeavors, no encouragement
was afforded on our side. Shortly after the
was again approached on the subject. OF
course, he listened and considered, and the
result is seen in the proposed sale at
$lO0 600, 600. President Grant said to-day
that the administration had no intention
to consider it, believing that, even if
desirable, the Senate could not be induced to
accept such treaty, and it would be altogether
useless TO ask Congress for appropriations to
carry out the provisions, in face of the fact that
the obtaining of the 81, 500,0 600 needed for the
Santo Domingo purchase was in considerable
ging away, and, with the active hostility to
King Amadeus Government, made by the Span
ish Republicans under CASTELAR,, there is strong
probability that the Spaniards will be at last
compelled to abandon the islands to their patriot
enemies.