Griggs courier., 1898-12-01

than ten minutes were consumed in rem
dering it into English for the Ameri-
cans
Bows to Superior Power.
Spain's reply was as already cabled.
and added that throughout the contro-
versy Spain had the strongest argu
ment. and that, as between positions SO
Giametrically opposed. the American
.cffer of $40, ,O0G, 900 was not fair sum.
Nevertheless, the reply continued,
Spain desired TO avoid any further eff
fusion of blood and further disorder,
and had concluded to accept the Ameri-
can offer Internationally, and thus bow
to the superior power of the victor.
The secretaries were then ordered to
prepare the treaty articles, embodying
the cession of Cuba, Porto Rico and the
Philippines. and the payment by the
United States of $4,000. .0o0 for submis-
sion to the meeting which will be held
en- Wednesday next.
American Demands.
The Americans demands included
the acquisition of the whole of the
Philippines and Sulu groups for 500.
GOO 900. and it is also understood the
United States will purchase the Caro-
line group.
The question of the debt of Cuba is
left unsettled.
The next meeting will take place on
Wednesday.
Not Yet Onicially Notified.
Washington. Nov. 2s.-The officials of
the state department without hesita-
ton accepted as accurate the bulletin
from Paris announcing that the Span
ish commissioners had accepted the
American terms, although official ad-
vices to that effect had not been re-
ceived at noon. Secretary Hay has
been confident from the beginning that
such would be the outcome, although
at times in the negotiations there were
signs of serious disagreements that
might have led TO failure of the COM
mission.
1t is not understood from the news
so far received that the commissioners
have yet reached the point of signing
treaty. Much remains to be done in
execution of the last instructions of
the state department before the peace
treaty itself can be completed and made
ready for signature. The work may
be hurried materially, however, should
the state department decide to permit
the treatment of the remaining ques-
tions to be settled in separate conven-
tions. The instructions to the Ameri-
can commissioners sent last week were
to arrange for renewal of the de-
nounced trade treaties with Spain, for
the acquisition of Ualan. for obtaining
concessions for cable connections in
other quarters and for the procurement
of religious federation in the Carolines.
The sulu Islands.
A call at the state department of the
German charge, Count Won Sternberg,
gave rise to rumor that he had come
to make representations to the depart
ment respecting certain rights claimed
by Germany in the Sulu islands.
Whether this is true or not could not
be ascertained. The department, how
ever. has not failed to take notice of
certain indirect and suspicious at
tempts to ALLEVIATE the Sulu islands
from the rest of the Philippines and
has been forehanded in this matter. 1t
was recognized from the beginning,
and this lesson was learned from the
experience of other nations that have
gone to war in recent years, that at
tempts might be expected to be made
by nations that were not party to the
war to secure advantages to which they
had not the slightest equitable claim.
Japan was notable sufferer from this
sort of treatment at the hands of GER
tain European nations, and consequent
~ precautions were taken in the case
of the Paris commission to avoid leav-
ing. any loophole for the entrance of
any plea or demand for special privi-
leges either in the matter of territorial
acquisition or trade concessions.
1t is believed that the definition of
the limits of the Philippine group in
the American demands was as follows:
From 5 degrees SO minutes north lati-
tude to 10 degrees 3s minutes north
latitude and from III degrees east
longitude to 1876 degrees east Iongi-
tude, thus covering about 1000 miles