The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-11-29

IurlS. NOV. -o-cpdib has az
cepted the United States offer
of S20000,000. and at a joint ses-
sion of the peace commissions this after
noon consented without condition to re
linquish Cuba and to cede Porto Rico,
Guam and the Philippine Islands.
The document presenting this accept
ance contained only 800 words. 1t open
ed with a 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 equita-,
BILE an answer as possible. but that they
were not prepared to commit their Gov
ernment to the acceptance of the prin-
ciple embodied in the American argu-
ment. Spain rejects these principles. the
note continues las she always has re-
jected 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 formu-l
lated" However, the note adds, in herl
desire for peace she has gone 50 far as
10 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 particulars
upon which the two Governments differ
ed. These proposals for arbitration, it
is added. the Americans had equally
rejected.
These allegations, in Spains repl as
10 attempted arbitration, refer Z her
proposal to arbtrate the constrl tion
Of the third article of the protocol and
to submit the Spanish colonial ds of
Cuba and the Philippines to arbit -tion.
The last proposition has been made in
a written communication. Since its pre-
sentation and in return for such arbi-
tration, Spain offered to cede territory
in dispute. The Americans refused both
propositions for a reason.
Spain's reply to-day in sub
stance continued by declaring that
the United States had offered, as a kind
of compensation to Spain@ something
very inadequate to the sacrifices the lat
ter country makes at this moment. and
she feels therefore thht the United
States proposals cannot be considered
just and equitable.
Spain has. however, exhausted all the
resources of diplomacy in an attempt to
justify her attitude. Seeing that an ac-
ceptance of the proposal made TO Spain
is necessary condition to Il continu-
ance 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 blood
shed and from considerations of hu-
manity and patriotism to submit to the
conditions of the conquering nation,
however harsh they may be. She is
therefore ready to accept the proposals
OF the American 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 translation the
commissioners empowered. Senor Ojeda,
Secretary of the Spanish commission,
and Secretary Moore, of the American
commission to draw up articles which
are to embody the REIMBURSEMENT of
Cuba by Spain, and the cession of Porto
Rico and the Philippines. These articles
which may be considered as constitu-
ting the conditions of peace, will be ready
for submission on Wednesday.
A great deal of interest was taken
in to-day's meeting. The two commits
sions arrived at the Foreign Office III car
riages in the rain, almost simultaneously,
Immediately opened the only business be-
fore them.
Senor Montero Rios, the President
of the Spanish commission has usually
preceded the presentation of Spanish
communication in writing by verbally
summarizing it, but to-day Senor Rios
was silent and unusually grave. Ills
face was more deeply lined. and he
clearly showed the mental strain under
which he was laboring as he approached
the final REIMBURSEMENT of Spain's CO.
lonial 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 ca
bled, the outline of the Spanish docu-
ment being furnished later to n CORE
spondent of the Associated Press by
Senior Ojeda.
Tho commits cionarS loft tho Irnraion