Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1898-11-29

So He Climbs Down-Spanish Reply Is
Brief and Remarks Mt the Critical Meet
ing Are Brierer-Rios Feels the Pangs
of a Heart Bowed Down"-Treaty
Turned Over to a Joint Committee.
Paris. Nov. 29-Spain has accepted
the United States offer of $4,000 0cO.
and at 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 pre-
senting this acceptance contained
only 500 words. 1t opened with
a reference to the final terms
of the United States, and said that
the Spanish commissioners, after hav-
ing taken cognizance of the terms pro-
posed by the Americans. replied that
their government had tried 10 give as
equitable an answer as possible. but
that they were not prepared to commit
their government to the acceptance Of
the principles embodied in the Ameri-
can argument. Spain rejects these
principles. the note continues. as she
always has rejected them" BGsing her
attitude upon the justice OF her cause.
the note then says. she still adheres to
these principles. which she has here
tofore invariably formulated"
Says Uncle sam Rejected Arbitration.
However, the note adds. in her desire
for peace she has gone SO far as to
propose certain compromises which the
Americans have always rejected. She
has also attempted to have submitted
to arbitration some Of the material par
tioulars upon which the two govern
ments differed. These proposals for ar
bitration the Americans had equally
rejected. CThese allegations as to at
tempted arbitration refer to SPANS
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
arbitration. The last proposition has
been made in a written communication.
Since its presentation and in return for
such arbitration. Spain offered to cede
the territory in dispute. The Americans
refused both propositions for arbitra-
tion)
And Seem, and Whereas and Wherefore"
The reply then declares that the Unit
ed States has offered. as a kind of COM
pensation to Spain something very in
adequate to the sacrifices the latter
country makes at this moment, and she
feels therefore that the United States
cannot be considered just and
equitable.
Seeing that an acceptance of the
proposal made to Spain is a necessary
condition to 4 continuance of negotia-
tions, and seeing that the resources of
Spain are not such as TO enable her to
re-entcr upon war. she is prepared in
her desire to avoid blood shed. and from
considerations of humanity and patriot
ism, to submit to the conditions of the |
conquerinE nation, however. harsh they
may be. she is therefore ready to ac-
cept the proposals of the American com
mission as presented at the last sit |
ting. |
Had Mighty Little 20 Say.
The reading ard the translation Of |
the document occupied less than five |
minutes. The commissioners then en- |
powered Senior 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
he considered rs constituting the con-
ditions Of peace. Will be ready for sub
mission tomorrow. There was little talk
II yesterdays eng Sanor Rios was
silent and unusually grave. His face |
was deeper lined and ne clearly showed
the mental strain under which he was
aboring as he approached the final re-
inquishment Of SPANS colonial possess
sions. There was scarcely any con-
between the American and
Spanish commissioners after the ad-
iournment.