Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-11-26
TO REPLY MONDAY,
Spain VIII Exhaust Time | init
in Philippine Matter
COUNTER-PROPOSI1|ON IDEA,
SpaniardS Ask If We Would Accept CeS-
sion l0f UU,UUO,UUU.
POSSIBLE ALTERNATIVE OFFER.
CaroIines and Canaries to BE Held
byU. s., in Addition to Philippines,
on Condition That Spain Retain
Philippine Sovereignty
POSSIBLE ALTERNATIVE OFFER.
CaroIines and Cansries to BE Held
Philippine Sovereignty

PARIS, November 25.-It is now known
that Spain will exhaust her time-limit'
which expires on Monday. before reply
ing to the American offer regarding the
Philippine Islands In the meanwhile, the
Spaniards are canvassing the entire held'
and exhausting every resource to post
pone the inevitable.
AS cabled to the Associated Press on
Wednesday, they could not accept the
American ultimatum as final without
asking If 1t really were so. That applied
to the time-limit. Now, the Spaniards
apparently doubt the fiXedness OF the
amount the Americans offered 1or the
Philippines, and to-day they sent COM
munication to the American commission
ers. asking if the latter would accept
proposition by Spain to cede the
Philippines for 10000, ,000 Spain imagines
the Americans might be willing TO lop off
the great Island Of Mindanao from the
Philippines and pay Spain $5OOOO,oO for
what would remain, instead Of the s2o.-
OOO.O 600 now offered for the entire archi-
pelago.
OUR TJLTIMATUM ULTIMATE.
Spain will learn in response TO such in
ouiries that Americans employ the word
ultimatum to signify ultimate conditions.
However strenuously Spain may seek to
increase her money advantage for the
cession of the Philippines, sne will finally
be compelled 20 know that the United
States offer means S200oW(-no more,
and no less-and that the whole archi-
pelago must pass TO the United States
for that sum Spain. before giving up or
turning away will also propose some
alternative bargain to the effect that the
Carolines or the Canary Islands be held
in the possession. OF the United states
I'm addition to the Philippine Islands, on
condition that Spain be permitted TO re-
tain her sovereignty in the Philippines
In osher words, Spain would cede GER
tain territory in the Carolines ana cana
ries and the control of the Philippines
bv the United States, under nominal
Spanish sovereignty, and, as further
inducement. propose that the United
States shall pay no money on account or
the Philippine Islands.
MATTER TO BE SETTLED MONDAY.
MADRID, November 25.-After visiting
tha Queen Regent to-day, in order TO con-
husband. King Alfonso XII, who died on
November 25, 1885. the ministers met N
council They were occupied exclusively
with the consideration Of the peace ques-
tions. Eventually, the ministers unanl-
mously approved the instructions to Senof
Afontero Rios, president Of the Spanish
Peace Commission, drawn up by the Tor
eign and Colonial ministers. which VIII
be teiegraphed 10 Paris tonight. While
the Cabinet ministers were reserved re-
garding the instructions sent to the Span
sh commissioners, it is believed the
Philippine question will be settled on
Monday next.
The Premier. Senior Sagasta. was asked
If Mondays session would see the close
of the Paris conference and the signing
of the treaty of peace He replied: "Who
knows? Maybe a fresh incident will arise
or further consultations or exchanges Of
views will be necessary"
SPANISH STILL CONSIDERING.
Senior Montero Rios told the corre-
spondent of the Associated Press This
evening that the Spanish peace commits
sioners had not yet decided upon the
| answer to be given to the last American
memorandum.
1--WE are considering the matter" he
! said Gin q conciiatory spirit, and are
anxious to re-establish friendly relations
between the two countries. At the same
| time. we are here 10 defend the interests
and honor of Spain"
NO CONCLUSION YET.
In reply to an inquiry as to whether
| there was any truth in the report that
! the Spanish commissioners had decided
| IN accept the American offer of S2O,CoO00
for the Philippines, Senor Montero Rios
said. shaking his head: NO. no; the
| commission has not yet decided on its
answer. What our reply will be can only
be determined at the conference on Mon
| day. when we will discuss the matter with
| the Americans. At the same time he
| added. in a still lower voice, 1--WE will fol-
| low the instructions that may be received
| from Madrid
"Then the final instructions have not
| vet Gomez" asked the correspondent Of
| the Associated Press.
"Ah. but we are approaching a contiden-
! tial matter" said Senior Rios, innocently."
| Everything connected with both commits
| sions is a secret"