Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1898-12-01
THE SPANIARDS Yield

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70 All Of Our Peace Commission
ers' Demands.
THEY MAKE A PITIPUL PROTEST.
Decided, Sin the Interest of Human
ity,'' to 'sSubmit to the Conditions
of the Conquerors.''
Paris, Nov. 29.-Spain has accepted
the United States offer of 100000
and at joint session of the peace com
missions yesterday afternoon consented
without condition to relinquish Cuba
and to cede Porto Rico, Guam and the
Philippine islands.
The document presenting this ac-
ceptance contained only 300 words. It
opened with reference to the final
terms of the United States. and said
that the Spanish commissioners, after
having taken cognizance of the terms
proposed by the Americans, replied
that their government had tried to
give as equitable an answer as posi-
BILE, but that they were not prepared
to commit their government to the
acceptance of the principles embodied
in the American argument. Spain re-
jects these principles, the note con-
tinues. "as she always has rejected
them" Basing her attitude upon the
justice of her cause, the note then says,
she still adheres to these principles
which she has heretofore invariably
formulated"
However, the note adds, in her de-
sire for peace she has gone so far as
to propose certain compromises, which
the Americans have always rejected
She has also attempted, it is further
asserted, to have submitted to arbitra-
ton some of the material points upon
which the two governments differed
These proposals for arbitration, it is
added, the Americans had equally re-
jected.
SPANS reply yesterday, in substance,
continued by declaring that the Uni
ted States has offered, as a kind of
compensation to Spain, something very
inadequate to the sacrifices the latter
country makes at this moment, and
she feels, therefore, that the United
States proposal cannot be considered
just and equitable.
Spain has, however, exhausted all
the resources of diplomacy in an at
tempt to justify her attitude. Seeing
that an acceptance of the proposal
made to Spain is a necessary condi-
ton to a continuance of negotiations.
and seeing that the resources of Spain
are not such as to enable her to re-
enter upon war, she is prepared, in her
desire to avoid bloodshed and from
considerations of humanity and pa
triotism, to submit to the conditions of
the conquering nation, however harsh
they may be. She is, therefore, ready
to accept the proposals of the Ameri-
can commission as presented at the last
sitting.
The reading and the translation of
the document occupied less than five
minutes. At the conclusion of the
translations the commissioners en-
powered Senior Ojeda, secretary of the
Spanish commission, and Secretary
Moore, of the American commission,
to draw up articles which are to en-
body the REIMBURSEMENT of Cuba by
Spain and the cession of Porto Rico
and the Philippines. These articles,
which may be considered as consti-
tuting the conditions of peace, win be
ready for submission tomorrow.
A great deal of interest was taken
in yesterdays meeting. The two com
missions arrived at the foreign Office in
carriages in the rain, almost stimuli
Staneously, and, repairing to the con-
ference room, Immediately opened the
only business before them.
Senior Montero Rios, the president of
the Spanish commission, has usually
preceded the presentation of a Span
ish communication in writing by YER
bally summarizing it, but yesterday
Senior Rios was silent and unusually
grave. His face was deeper lined, and
he clearly showed the mental strain
under which he was laboring as he
approached the final REIMBURSEMENT
of SPANS colonial possessions.
Without word, Senior Montero Rios
produced two typewriter sheets and
passed them to the interpreter of the
United States commission, Mr. Fergu-.
son, who read them substantially as
cabled, the outline of the Spanish doc
ument being furnished later to press
correspondent by Senior Ojeda.
The commissioners left the foreign
Office Immediately after the secretaries
had been directed to prepare the arti-
cles of the peace treaty. There was
scarcely any conversation between the
American and Spanish commissioners
after the adjournment.
Among the Americans only the most
grave consideration for their Spanish
colleagues was apparent. The Span
iards seemed to be relieved at having
arrived at the conclusion of long con
troversy
Having embodied in the treaty arti-
cles all the protocol questions, the two
commissions will now enter upon
friendly negotiations regarding the
matters suggested in the American I'LL
timatum week ago, matters subsid-
larry and incidental to the principal
provisions, which must form part of
the peace treaty as finally signed.
These include the religious freedom OF
the Caroline islands, as agreed to IL
years ago; the release of political pris-
oners now held by Spain in connection
with the instructions in Cuba and the
Philippines; the taking over of the
Island of Kusaie, or Uralan, in the
Carolines, for telegraphic and naval
station; cable station rights at other
points in SPANS jurisdiction, and the
renewal of certain treaties previously
in force between the United States and
Spain which may be lapsed or been
vitiated by war.