Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1898-12-03


Bloodshed and From Considerations of
Humanity and Patriotism" Decided to
Submit to the Conditions of the Con-
quering Nation, However Harsh They
May Be-"
Paris, Nov. 2s.-Spain has accepted
the United States offer of 500, 900. 900.
and at a 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 &C
ceptauce contained only 500 words. It
opened with reference 10 the final
terms of the United States. and said
that the Spanish commissioners. after
having taken cosrizance 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
10 commit their government to the
acceptance of the principles embodied
in the American argument. Spain re-
iects these principles, the note con-
tinues, 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
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.
These allegations, in SPANS reply,
as to attempted arbitration, refer to
her proposal to arbitrate the construc-
ton of the third article of the proto-
col. and also to submit the Spanish
colonial debt of Cuba and the Philip
pines to arbitration. The last propo-
sition has been made in written COM
munication. Since its presentation,
and in return for such arbitration.
Spain offered to cede the territory in
dispute. The Americans refused both
propositions for arbitration.
SPANS reply yesterday, in substance.
continued by declaring that the Uni
ted States has offered. as 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 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
TRANSACTIONS 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
4 great deal of interest was taken
in yesterdays meeting. The two COM
missions arrived at the foreign orfice in
carriages in the rain, almost stimuli
taneously, 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
Vt 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 a 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
iatds seemed to be relieved at having
arrived at the conclusion OF 4 long con-
troversy.
Having embodied in the treaty arti-
Giles all the protocol questions, the two
commissions will now enter upon
friendly negotiations regarding the
matters suggested in the American Ill
timatum a week ago, matters subsid-
larry and incidental to the principal