The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1898-11-23
WHI Reply to the American Con-
missioners UItimatum At
the Meeting Today.
BUT UNDER STRONG PROTEST
sensr Oisds Thinks the spsniards Are
HOpslessly Involved and WIN Agree
to Demands Because they Have to.

NEW YORK. Nov n-A dispatch b
the World from Paris says:
No one can foresee what the cortes
viii do. 1iaWu
This was the answer Of senor oieda.
the principal secretary Of the Spanish
commission when asked II the Amsricaa
ultmatum VIII be accepted.
Senior MOntero Rios. president Of the
Spanish commission. frOwned as he lis
tened to Americas hnal note at the
joint session. When the reading was
ended he said curtly:
Spain does not need until November
q to answer. She will present her rs-
ply tomorrow.
In the communication the United
States refuses arbitration. but offers 10
10000 in gold for the Philippines. and
such a sum as may be agreed upon for an
island in the Caroline group. or enough
land on a strong island there for naval
base and cable staion.
The American commissioners proposed
to give Spain until November q to ac-
cept or reject these demands. which were
translated at the session In full BY In
terpreter Ferguson. but after Montero
Rios impatient remark about not need
ing 50 much time. the joint session was
adjourned until Wednesday.
1t was reported Immediately after the
session than Spain had determined 10
break on negotiations, but the World
correspondents information rather points
to her giving notice on Wednesday that
she accepts the American proposals un-
der protest Spanish Secretary ojeda
said to the World correspondent:
America proposes to pay s2O.0OO.ooo for
the Philippines. We regard 1t as ride
ulously insufficient. in view OF the fact
that we raised slO.OOO.OOO on the security
OF the Manila customs alone. She adds
promise that for a number OF years not
specified she VIII admit Spanish merchan-
disc and ships TO ports on the same
terms as to merchandise and ships OF
the United States. We regard this part
Of the proposal as Of very little, II any.
value. This condition no doubt has been
put in at the suggestion Of England.
not Of Germany, for she is favorable to
Spain
When pressed for his opinion as to
ultimate action on the American de-
mands. he said:
'It is for the Spanish government to
decide what to do. do not see how we
are to avoid yielding to them. We have
no friends and apparently are helpless
in the matter"
''Is the queen regent in favor Of ac-
cepting them?"
Personally no doubt she is" an
swered Senor Oieda.
"But she win be guided by the govern
ment and the cortes and nobody can tell
what the cortes viii do. l am not a
politician and have no idea"
IF Spain accepts" the correspondent
inquired, "how long win the commission
slt?
'In that case" Senior ojeda responded.
"there will only remain matters Of detail
to settle. for which seven or eight sittings
would suffice.
'was there any reference in the Amer
lean communication to the Cuban debt!''
Nas asked.
None whatever" replied the secre-
tary, ''but our answer next Wednesday
or Thursday may refer to It. No article
Of treaty has yet been finally drawn"
HAS America asked for one OF the
CarollnesY
Yes She proposes to buy e small
coaling station there"
Senior Ojeda's demeanor was that o. a
man much depressed. The Spaniards
were prepared for Americas insistence
on the demand for the Philippines, but
are surprised at the form Of the latest
proposition, which virtually Is ar ulti-
matum and at what they corslder the
inadequate compensation offered.
Senor Leon y Castillo. the Spanish am
bassador mere, met with serious esr-
riage accident Monday afternoon in the
Champs Elysee
His vehicle struck kiosduo, the horses
ran away and Castillo jumped out beijg
hurt about the head and arms.