New-York tribune., 1898-11-22
NEAR TO AN ULTIMATUM.
FORMAL OFFER OF $2O,OOO.OOO
FOR THE PHILIPPINES.
SPANS REQUEST FOR ARBITRATION
REFUSED AND NOVEMBER % NAMED
AS A TINE LIMIT FOR DISCUS
SION - PLAIN DECLARATION
FROM THE AMERICAN

| SION PLAIN DECLARATION
FROM THE AMERICAN
Paris, Nov 21-The Spanish and American
Peace Commissioners met in joint session al =
o'clock this afternoon
The Americans declared the United states
must have the entire Philippine archipelago
and for a treaty cession of the Islands the
Americans rendered to Spain S2O.OOO,Vo.
The Americans refuse to arbtrate Article Ill
OF the peace protocol. bearing upon the future
disposit,on and control Of the Philippine Islands
It Is further declared that 1t is the purpose OF
the United States to maintain the Philippine
Islands as an open door" to the worlds COM
merce.
On the terms named the United States pro-
poses a mutual REIMBURSEMENT Of all claims lot
indemnity. national or personal. subsequent TO
the outbreak Of the last Cuban insurrectioh'
November % is fixed as the date on whch
the United States Commission desires denh''e
response to to-day's propositions ana all o'"e'
subjects In issue here
It is also declared that the United States de-
to 60 ,reat or the religious freedom OF the
| Caroline Islands as agreed upon pe'"ee" wv
r-,,,od c,a,os and spain in 1856, and also of the
acquisition OF one OF the Caroline lslahus ioi oil
American naval station and or caoe-ia''u'"e
rights at other places in Spanish jurisdiction anu
,,o ro,.,vo, ~ certain Spanish American treaties
as heretofore in force
THE AMERICAN MEMORANDUM
Tho memorandum OF the American Commits
sion embodying the above propositions Is long
and was not read In full. The vital por''onS'
however. were communicated verbally 70 the
Spanish Commissioners in practically tnese
terms:
tn. fact va, cited that the proposal present
cd hv the American Commissioners in oenalt
OF their Government for the cession or the
Philippine Islands to the United States having
been rejected by the Spanish commissioners
and the counter-proposal OF the latter for the
withdrawal OF the American forces from the
islands and the payment OF an indemnity py tne
United States to Spain having been rejected by
the American Commissioners, the latter DEEM
,rc Z, essential that the present negotiations.
alr-ady greatly protracted. should be brought
% ~ carly and definite conclusion now begged
20 present new proposition embodyng inc
concessions which. for the sake Of peace their
Government would. under the circumstances
be willing to tender.
oft No
able to modify the proposal heretofore made
FOR the cesslon Of the entire archipelago OF the
Philippines: but the American Commissioners
are authorized 10 offer 20 Spain, in case the
cesson should he agreed to, the sum Of 500,
900 900 to be paid in accordance with the terms
to be fixed in the treaty Of peace.
1t being the policy Of the United States TO
maintain in the Philippines an open door to the
worlds commerce. the American Commission
ers are prepared to insert in the treaty now
in contemplation stipulation to the effect that
for a term Of years Spanish ships and merchan-
disc shall be admitted into Philippine ports on
the same terms as American ships and mer-
chandsc
lied and are prepared to insert in the treaty, in
connection with the cesslon of territory by
Spain 70 the United states. provision for the
mutual REIMBURSEMENT OF all claims for in
demnity national and individual. OF every kind
OF the United states against Spain and of Spain
against the United States. that may have arisen
since the beginning OF the late Cuban insurrec-
ton and prior to the conclusion Of the treaty OF
peace.
Next followed the terms nearest approaching
II r formal ultimatum to Spain. The United
States Commissioners expressed the hope that
they might receive from the Spanish Commits
soners on or before Monday. the 2sth day Of
the present month. definite and final acceptance
Of the proposals made as to the Philippines In
connection also with the demands as to Cuba.
Porto Rico and the other Spanish islands Of the
West Indies. and Guam in the form in which
these demands have been Professionally agreed to.
In this event it will be possible for the Joint
Commission to continue its sessions and proceed
to the consideration and adjustment Of other
matters, including those which, as subsidiary
and incidental 10 tho principal provisions, should
form part Of the treaty Of peace.
1t was at this juncture that the Americans
made known to the Spanlards that they desired
to treat of the religious freedom of the Caroline
Islands. as agreed twelve years ago; also OF
the release Of political prisoners now held by
Spain in connection with the instructions In
cuba and the Philippine Islands; also of the
taking over OF the island OF Kusaiev or Ualan.
in the Carolines for a telegraphlc and naval
station; also Of cable-station rights at other
points in Spain's Jurisdiction; also OF the re-