The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1898-12-07
SURRENDERS TO FORCE.
Spain Desires to Avoid Any Further
Ell'usiOn of Blood.
But Few Details Remain to
Close Negotiations.
Further Discussion Between Commissioners
Viii Be Of Friendly Nature.

Washington. Nov. 29.-It Is the i'm
preston at the state department that
the peace commissions work is now near
an end, and that about two weeks time
will about suffice to close 1t up. This
idea is based on the belief that instead
of undertaking to arrange the several
matters yet to be settled i'm the treaty
of peace, a general clause will be placed
in the treaty binding each Of the parties
to begin negotiations in the near future
upon those subjects. 1t was said at the
state department that the next step in
order will be to begin negotiations for
the acquisition of ITALIAN, in the Caro-
line islands, for cable station. This
will be an offer in all Sincerity to pur-
chase the island at fair price.
Spain has accepted the United States
offer of $40 600, and at joint sess on
of the peace commissioners yesterday
afternoon. consented without condition
to relnquish cuba and to cede Porto
Rico, Guam and the Philippines
The document presenting this accept
ance contained only 800 words. 1t
opened with a reference to the fina
terms of the United States. and sa 4
that the Spanish commiss toner's, afte
having taken cognizance of the terms
proposed by the Americans, replied that
their government had tried to 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 American
argument. Spain rejects these prin-
ciples, the note continues, "as she al
ways has rejected them"
Basins hes attitude upon the justice.
Of her cause, the note then says. she still!
adheres to those principles (which she
has heretofore invariably formulated"
However, the note adds in her desire
for peace she has gone so far as to pro-
pose certain compromises, which the
Americans have always rejected She
has also attempted TO have submitted
to arbitration some of the material
points upon which the two governments
differed. The proposals for arbitration,
1t Is added the Americans have equally
rejected
SPANS reply yesterday, in substance.
continued by declaring that the United
States had offered. as a kind of COM
pensation to Spain. something very in
try made at this moment, and she felt.
therefore that the United States pro-
posals could not be considered just and
equitable.
Spain had, however. exhausted all the
resources of diplomacy in an attempt
to justify her attitude. Seeing that an
acceptance Of the proposals made to
Spain was a necessary condition to a
continuance of negotiations. and seeing
that the resources of Spain were not
such as to enable her to re-enter upon
war; she was prepared, in her desire to
avoid bloodshed, and from considera e
lions of humanity and patriotism, to
submit to the conditions of the conquer
ing nation. however harsh they might
be- She was. therefore, ready to ac-
ccpt the proposals of the American com
mission as presented at the last sit
ting.
The reading and translation of the
document occupied less than five min
! utes. At the conclusion of the transla =
ton the commissioners empowered
| Senior Ojeda, secretary of the Span. sn
commission. and Secretary Moore OF the
American commission. to draw up ar
ticles which should embody the re-
linquis hment of Cuba by Spain, and the
cession of Porto Rico and the Philip
| pines. These articles, which may be
considered as constituting the cond-
tons of peace. will be ready for sub
mission at the next meeting.
\ cub "a Tragedy.
Havana, Nov, ,s9,-Two Cuban soldiers
entered the farm Of Antonio Trujino, a
Spaniard at Guanabacoa, a suburb of
Havana. Trujillo demonstrated with
them for trespassing and threatened
them with his gun, as he was just return
ing from a hunting trip. At this the
Cubans drew their carbines and shot him
dead on the spot, They claim that they
fired In self defense.