Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-11-21
OUR ULTIMATUM
Will Be Handed Spanish Peace
Commissioners, Today.
Must Either Accept Cash Sum and
Cede and Eyacuate Philippines
Or Lose Islands by Conquest, With More Terri.
tory for Indemnity.

Paris, Nov. 20.-The Spanish peace
commissioners have been notified thai
the United States commissioners will
be ready to treat with them in the
| joint session, tomorrow afternoon,
Unless the Spaniards have an adequate
| reason for further delay, the two COM
missions will join in the most impor-
tant meeting thus far held.
The American commissioners in a
written communication. will declare
that the third article of the protocol, re-
garding the Philippines, is capable of
only one fair construction, that no ar
bitration is needed to elucidate its
terms, and that the United States
cannot admit any other power to figure
here purely as a Psychologist They
will maintain that the two commits
sions are charged to determine whether
Spain or the United States shall in fu-
ture own the Philippines.
This will be accompanied by a clear
declaration that thei United States
will possess the Philippines. Follow
ing this declaration the American COM
missioners will lay before the Span
iards two alternatives.
First, to accept sum of money
from the United States and to cede and
evacuate the Philippines.
Second, to lose the Philippines to
the United States by conquest, with
the possibility of other territorial los-~
ses to indemnify the United States for
the added expense of conquest.
This communication may not be for
mally designated as an ultimatum.
but it will lack not of the conclusive
ness indicated by that word. This will
be SO plain that the Spanish commits
sioners will scarcely haggle for more
money on the first alternative nor
cherish any doubt of American action
under the second, should the first be
declined.
No one here, except the American
commissioners know how much will be
rendered Spain as the cheapest and
most humane way of settling the DIFF
ficulty. She Is exceedingly anxious to
escape the Philippine debt and ro5ssr-
bly, the sum to be offered may be de-
termined by an analysis of that debt.
which consists of $4O,O00,O0O in bonds.
on which she realized $4,000, 600. or
the latter amount she Is BELOVED to
have expended some 10000, 900 or ST.
100000 in fighting the United States
and part in attempting to quell the
Philippine insurrection.
A reasonable guess at the sum for
tender would be s2O,OOO,O 900, though it
may fall below that. g
The Cuban question may come up
again, tomorrow. The American com
missioners had thought the discussion
on that point finished, but the Span
ish commissioners are reported to have
declared, last week, that the mortgages
imposed by Spain on the Cuban, as
well as the Philippines tevenues. must
not be impaired $or qGestloneq. This
would compel the American scommision-
ers soon and probably, tomorrow-to
demand whether Spain means to re-
pudiate the plain compact H. the pro-
tocol to relinquish sovereignty over
the title to Cuba. sS,sss}S
Three weeks ago the Spanish d q
missioners accepted the Cuban arf
in the protocol without conditt6
save that it's embodiment in the tfeat y.
should depend sonly upon an agreSl
ment here on an the aEtieAK ~ -theas
protocol. Recently sk sifitss
representatives Rave SAD THAI <{hssCh-
ban matter had beehsoHy4e nnprarily
passed and was still IN abeyance. &.