The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-11-26
sPAIN's COUNTER PROPOSALS.
Eaggling With Americans For More
Favorable Terms,

Paris, Nov. 25.-It is now known
that Spain viii exhaust her time limit,
which expires Monday, before replying
to the American offer regarding the
Philippine islands. In the meanwhile
the Spaniards are canvassing the en-
tire field and exhausting every re-
source to postpone the inevitable. AS
cabled to the Associated Press Wed
nesday, they could not accept the
American ultimatum as final without
asking if it were really so. That ap-
piled to the time limit.
Now the Spaniards apparently doubt
the fiXedness of the amount the Amer
leans offered for the Philippines, and
today they sent communication to
the American commissioners, asking
if the latter would accept a counter
proposition by Spain to cede the Philip
pines for S100 090,000
Spain imagines the Americans might
be willing to lop off the great island
Mindanao from the Philippines and
pay Spain $50, 600 for what would
remain. instead Of 500 000, 900 now Of
fered for the entire archipelago.
Spain viii learn, in response to such
inquiry, that Americans employ the
word ultimatum to signify ultimate
conditions. Hover Strenuously Spain
may seek to increase her money ad-
Vantage for the cession Of the Philip
Anes. she will finally be compelled to
Ncrow that the United States offer
$Anneans S20,000,000, no more and no less;
ana that the whole archipelago must
pass to the United States for that
sum.
Spain, before giving up or turning
away. viii also propose some alterna-
tive bargain for the Carolines or the
Canary islands to be held in the pos
session Of the United States, in addi-
ton to the Philippine islands, on con-
dition that Spain be permitted to, retain
her sovereignty in the Philippines. In
other words, Spain would cede certain
territory in the Carolines and Canaries
and the control of the Philippines by
the United States, with a nominal
Spanish sovereignty, and as a further
inducement, propose that the United
States shall pay Spain no money on ac-
count of the Philippine islands.
Senor Montero Rios told the cores
pondent of the Associated Press this
evening that the Spanish peace COM
missioners had not yet decided on the
answer to be giVSn to the last Amer
lean memorandum.
We are considering the matter" he
said, "'in q conciliatory spirit, and are
anxious to establish friendly relations
between the two countries. At the
same time, we are here to defend the
interests and honor of Spain.''
In reply 10 an inquiry as to whether
there was any truth in the report that
the Spanish commissioners had decided
to accept the American offer of $50 600. =
coo for the Philippines, Senor Rios,
shaking his head said: NO, no; the
commission has not yet decided on its
answer. What our reply viii be can
only be determined at the conference
on Monday. when we viii discuss the
! / matter with the Americans At the
Same time" he added, in a still lower
voice, I'VE will follow the instructions
that may be received from Madrid
Then the final instructions have not
yet come from Aiadrid?" asked the cor
respondent of the Associated Press.
"Ah, but we are approaching a conf
Dental matter" said Senor Rios, inno-
Gently. Everything connected with
both commissions is a secret