The herald., 1898-11-29
Associated Press Special Wire

PARIS, Nov. 23.-Spain has accepted
the United States offer of $20,OO0,OO0, and
at a Joint session of the peace commissions
this afternoon consented without condi-
tions to relnquish Cuba and to cede Porto
Rico, Guam and the Philippine islands
The document presenting this acceptance
contained only 300 words. 1t opened with
reference to the final terms of the United
States and said that the Spanish commits
soners, after having taken cognizance OF
the terms proposed by the Americans, re-
piled 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 principles
embodied in the argument. Spain rejects
these principles the note continued, "as
she always has rejected them
Basing her attitude upon the justice of
her cause, the note then says she still ad-
heres to those principles which she has here
tofore invariably formulated.
PROPOSES COMPROMISES
However, the note adds, in her desire for
peace she has gone SO far as to propose Ger
tain compromises, which the Americans
have always rejected She has also at
tempted, it is further asserted, to submit
to arbitration some of the material partic
ulars upon which the two governments diff
fered These proposals for arbitration, it
is added, the Americans had equally re
jected.
These allegations in Spain's reply as to
attempted arbitration refer to her proposal
to arbitrate the construction of the third
article of the protocol and also to submit the
aol,,;,l Jaht &c C',,h, apI tba pbi1
ippnes to abtration. The last proposition
has been made i'll a written communication.
Since its presentation and in return for
such arbitration, Spain offered to cede the
territory in dispute. The Americans re-
fused both propositions for arbitration.
Spain's reply today in substance contin-
ued by declaring that the United States has
offered as kind OF compensation to Spain
something very inadequate to the sacrifice
the latter country makes at this moment,
and she feels that the United States pro-
posals cannot be considered just and equit-
able.
RESOURCES EXHAUSTED
Spain has, however, exhausted all the re-
sources of diplomacy in an attempt to justi-
fy her attitude. Seeing that an acceptance
OF the proposal made to Spain is necessary
condition to a continuance of negotiations,
and seeing that the resources of Spain are
not such as to enable her to re-enter upon
war, she is prepared, in her desire to avoid
bloodshed, and from considerations of hui
manty and patriotism, to submit to the
conditions of the conhuering nation, how
ever harsh they may be. She is therefore
ready to accept the proposals of the Amer
lean commission as presented at the last
sitting.
The American demands include the acqui-
siton of the whole of the Philippine and
Sulu groups for S20,OO0,000, and it is also
understood that the United States will pur-
chase the Caroline group; the question of
the debt of Cuba is left unsettled
INTENSE INTEREST SHOWN
A great deal of interest was taken in to-
days meeting. The two commissions ar
rived at the foreign office in carriages in the
rain almost simultaneously, and, repairing
to the conference room, Immediately opened
the only business before them. President
Rios of the Spanish commission has usually
preceded the presentation of communica-
tion in writing by verbally summarizing it.,
but today Senor Rios was silent and unusual
" grave His face was deeper lined and he
CtGuTIN suOWcu tHe IltHtdl Stldiu uuutI
which he was laborng as he approached the
final REIMBURSEMENT of Spain's colonial pos
sessions
Without word Senior Montero Rios pro-
duccd two typewriter sheets. and passed
them to the interpreter of the United States
commission, Mr.. Ferguson, who read them
substantially as cabled, the outline of the
Spanish document being furnished later to a
Io,,t nf A toI lHx,
Senor Ojeda. The commissioners left the
foreign office Immediately after the secre-
taries had been directed to prepare the arti-
cles of the peace treaty. There was scarcely
any conversation between the American and
Spanish commissioners after the adjourn
nent.
Among the Americans only the most grave
consideration for their Spanish colleagues
was apparent. The Spaniards seemed to be
relieved at having arrived at the conclusion
of the long controversy.
After the joint session the Spaniards re-
paired to their quarters and had an animated
and lengthy session.
THE NEXT STEP
Having embodied in the treaty articles all
the protocol questions, the two commissions
will now enter upon friendly negotiations
regarding the matters suggested in the
American ultimatum week ago, matters
subsidiary and incidental to the principal
provisions, which must form part of the
peace treaty as finally signed. These include
the religious freedom of the Caroline islands,
as agreed to twelve years ago; the release of
political prisoners now held by Spain in con-
nection with the instructions in Cuba and
the Philippines; the taking over of the island
A