The record-union., 1898-11-29


PARIS, Nov. 2S-Spain has accept
ed the United States offer of $2OOOO,-
600, and at a joint session Of the Peace
Commissions this afternoon consented
without condition to relinquish Cuba
and to cede Porto Rico, Guam and the
Philippine Islands.
The document presenting this accept
ance contained only 300 words. 1t
opened with a reference to the final
terms of the United States, and said
that the Spanish Commissioners, after
taking cognizance of the terms pro-
posed by the Americans, replied that
their Government had tried to give as
equitable an answer as possible, bur
that they were not prepared to commit
their Government to the acceptance of
principles embodied in the argument.
Spain rejects these principles, the note
continues, las 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 formulat-
ed
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 as
serted to submit to- arbitration some Of
the material particulars upon which the
two Governments differed. These pro-
posals for arbitration, it is added, the
Americans had equally rejected.
These allegations in Spain's reply as
to attempted arbitration refer to her
proposal to arbitrate the construction
of the third article of the protocol, and
also to submit the Spanish colonial debt
of Cuba and the Philippines to arbitra-
ton. The last proposition has been
made in written communication. Since
it's presentation, and in return for such
arbitration, Spain offered to cede the
territory in dispute The Americans
refused both propositions for arbitra-
ton.
Spains reply to-day in substance
continued by declaring that the United
States has offered as a kind of compen-
sation to Spain something very made
quate to the sacrifices the latter coun-
try makes at this moment, and She feels
that the United States proposals can
not be considered just and equitable.
Spain has, however exhausted all the
resources of diplomacy in an attempt
to Justify her attitude. Seeing that an
acceptance of the proposal made 10
Spain is a necessary condition TO q
continuance of negotiations, and see
ing 4hat 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 conSidera-
tions of humanity and patriotism, TO
submit to the conditions of the conquer
ing nation, however harsh they may
be. She is therefore ready to accept
the proposals of the American COmmls-
sion as presented at the last sitting
The reading and the translation of the
document occupied less than five min
utes. At the conclusion of the transla-
ton the Commissioners empowered Sc
nor Ojeda, Secretary of the Spanish
Commission, and Secretary Moore OF
the American Commission to draw up
articles which are to embody the re-
linquishment Of Cubaxby Spain and the
cession of Porto Rico and the Philip
pines. These articles, which may be
considered as constituting the condi-
tions of peace, will be ready for sub
mission on Wednesday.
A great deal of interest was taken in
to-day's meeting. The two commits
sions arrived at the Foreign Office in
the carriages in the rain almost SIM
ultaneously, and repairing to the con-
ference room, Immediately opened the
only business before thera. President
Rios of the Spanish Commission has
usually preceded the presentation of II
communication in writing by verbally
summarizing it, but to-day Senior Rios
was silent and unusually grave. His
face was deeper lined, and he clearly
shaved the mental strain under which
he was laboring as he approached the
final relinuuishrnent of Spain's colonial
possessions.
without a, word Senior Montero Rios
produced two typewriter sheets and
passed them to the interpreter or the
United States Commission, Mr. Fer
guson. who read them substantially as
cabled. the outline of the Spanish doc
ument being furnished later to a cor
respondent of the Associated Press by
Senor Ojeda. The Commissioners lett
the Foreign Office Immediately after the
Secretaries had been directed to pre-
pare the articles of the peace treaty.
There was scarcely afy conversation
between the American and Spanlsn
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 q. long con-
troverSy.
Having embodied in the treaty arti-
cles all the protocol questions, the two
commissions viii now enter upon
friendly relations regarding the mat
ters suggested in the American ultima
tuIn a week ago, matters subsidiary 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 twelve years ago;
the release Of political prisoners now
held by Spain in connection with the
iusurrection in Cuba and sthe Philip
pines: the taking over of the island of
Kusaie or Ualan, in the Carolines, for a
telegraphic and naval station; cable