The Monmouth inquirer., 1898-11-24
AWAITING SPAIN S REPLY
Given a Week to Accede to
ASlerica's Demands.
IS PRACTICALLY AN ULTIMATUM.

The spaniards Told In Plain Terms
That they Must Give Up the Philip
pines or HostiIities Would BE Re-
sumed-Intimated They VIII Yield.
Paris, Nov. 2S.-The American peace
commissioners have submitted 70 the
Spanish commissioners what is prac-
tically an ultimatum. 1t is plain
declaration that the United States
will possess the Philippines and gives
the Spaniards two alternatives
F'irst-To accept a sum of money from
the United States and to cede and e5ac-
uate the Philippines.
Second-To lose the Philippines to the
United States by conquest, with the
possibility of other territorial losses to
indemnify the United States foS the
added expense of conquest.
The American commissioners are now
awaiting the reply of Spain, which is
expected before the end Of the week. II
is generally believed in diplomatic cir.
cles here that Spain will finally yield to
the American demands, though doubt
less under protest.
When the joint conference Of the
commissioners opened Monday after
noon. Judge Day, addressing Senior
Montero Rios and his colleagues of the
Spanish commission, recurred to the
protracted negotiations and reaffirmed
the desire of the American commission
ers to reach an amicable conclusion.
Then. handing the American presenta-
ton to the interpreter, Judge Day con-
cluded his remarks by saying that the
Americans, preferring not to break the
armistice or to resume hostilities, had
determined to present another and final
proposition, which he hoped would lead
20 a speedy and amicable adjustment
That portion of the presentation set
ting forth the new proposal-the pro-
posal that the United States r1Sst have
possession of the entire Phil @Jine ar
chipelago, with a tender Of S20y0O00 900 for
a treaty cession of the islands-was
then read. without betraying their
mental attitude, the Spanish commis-
sioners suggested an adjournment to-
Wednesday,
The new proposition, with its collat-
erals was embodied toward the end OF
the American memorandum which fill
ed 30 typewriter sheets. Only this
part was read in the joint session, the
memorandum then being delivered to
the Spaniards for translation by their
own staff.
Spain's proposition to invoke the Of
+. fees of a third power to construe the
words control, disposition and govern
ment of the Philippines was rejected
by the American commissioners on the
ground that the diction of the third ar
ticle of the protocol dealing With the
Philippines, is so broad and clear as to
afford no justification for arbitration as
between the parties to the agreement.
Must Reply In Week.
An analysis of the American MEM
orandum shows that all other sugges-
tions and considerations in it hinge up-
on treaty cession at the amount named
by the United States and within one
week, In the event of cession Spain
may enjoy for term of 12 years rights
of commerce in the Philippines equal to
those of the United States. II the Unit
ed States acquires the islands by con-
quest, Spain may not enjoy such rights
Should Spain refuse cession she would
remain liable for indemnity claims, ma
tional and individual, since the out
break of the last Cuban insurrection.
Should she refuse she would also lose
probably as further indemnity for the
expenses of conquest one Of the Caro-
lines which she may now. sell, and 9TH
er cable privileges with&l Spanish ju-
risdiction might be taken by the United
States without any return to Spain fol
them.
The Spaniards may conclude that be.
cause one money offer is made another
and a larger offer may follow pressure
upon the American commissioners, but
if this be their expectation it viii not
be realized. The American terms sub
mitted almost at the close of eight
weeks of patient hearing and pains
taking argument, are practical ulti-
matum.