The Indianapolis journal., 1898-11-22
AMERICAS PROPOSITION.
spaniards offered $2O,OOO,O 900 for Ces
sion of the Philippines.

CRAHA4AEus OHere0 P$O,OOO,OOO Tor CeS-
sion of the Philippines.
PARIS, Nov. 2l.-The Spanish and Amer
tcan peace commissions met in joint session
at o'clock this afternoon. The Americans
demanded that the United States must have
the entire Philippine archipelago, and for a
treaty cession of the islands the Americans
rendered to Spain $2O,OOO,OOO 1t is further
declared that 1t is the purpose of the United
States to maintain the Philippine islands
as an open door" to the worlds commerce.
On the terms named the United States pro-
poses mutual REIMBURSEMENT of all claims
Tor indemnity national or personal subse-
quent TO the last outbreak of the Cuban in
surrection. Nov. g is fixed as the date on
which the United States commission re-
quires definite response to to-day's propo-
sitions and all other subjects in issue here
IT is also declared that the United States
desires to treat on the religious freedom of
the Caroline islands, as agreed on between
the United States and Spain In 1886, and also
of the acquisition of one of the Caroline
Islands for an American naval station and
OF cable landing rights at other places in
Spanish jurisdiction and the revival of GER
tain Spanish-American treaties as hereto
fore in force The Americans refuse to arbl>
trate Article Of the peace protocol, bear.
the Philippine islands
The memorandum of the American COM
mission embodying the above propositions
is long and was not read in full. The vital
portions, however, We're communicated YER
bally to the Spanish commissioners in prac-
tically these terms: First, the fact was cit
ed that the proposal presented by the Amer
lean commissioners i'm behalf of the gov
ernment for the cession of the Philippine
islands to the United States, having been
rejected by the Spanish commissioners. and
the counter proposal of the latter for the
withdrawal of the American forces from the
Islands and the payment Of an indemnity
by the United States to Spain having been
rejected by the American commissioners the
latter, deeming it essential that the present
negotiations, already greatly protracted
should be brought to an early and definite
conclusion, now begged to present new
proposition embodying the concessions
which, for the sake of peace, their govern
ment, under the circumstances. was willing
TO tender.
The government of the United States is un-
able to modify the proposal heretofore made
for the cession Of the entire archipelago of
the Philippines. but the American commits
sioners are authorized to offer to SPAIN in
case the cession should be agreed to, the
sum of CO., to be paid in accordance
with the terms to be fixed in the treaty of
peace. 1t being the policy of the United
States to maintain in the Philippines an
open door to the worlds commerce, the
American commissioners are prepared to in
sert in the treaty now in contemplation a
stipulation in effect that for term of years
Spanish ships and merchandise shall be ad-
mitted into Philippine ports on the same
terms as American ships and merchandise
The American commissioners are also au-
thorized, and are prepared to insert in the
treaty in connection with the cession of
territory by Spain to the United States, a
provision for the mutual REIMBURSEMENT of
all claims for indemnity national and indi-
yidual, of every kind OF the United States
against Spain and of Spain against the
United States that may have arisen since
the beginning of the late Cuban insurrec-
tion and prior to the conclusion of the treaty
OF peace.
Next followed the terms nearest approach
ing to formal ultimatum to Spain The
United States commissioners expressed the
hope that they might receive from the Span-
ish commissioners on or before Monday. the
2sth inst. definite and final acceptance of
the proposals made as to the Philippines in
connection. also. with the demands as to
Cuba. Porto Rico and the other Spanish
islands Of the West Indies. ana Guam. in
the form in which these demands have been
Professionally agreed TO. In this event 1t will
be possible .fpr the joint commission to con-
tinue its sesk kions and proceed to the con-
sideration an adjustment Of other matters.