The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1898-12-01

day afternoon. When the members of
the two commissions were seated, Senior
Montero Rios, the president of the
Spanish commission. handed the Span
ish reply to Mr.. Ferguson, the Spanish
interpreter attached to the United
States peace commission. The answer
Ct the Spaniards was so short that less
than ten minutes were consumed in rem
dering it into English for the Ameri-
cans.
Bows to Superior Power.
Spair's reply was as already cabled.
and added that throughout the contro-
versy Spain had the strongest argu
ment, and that, as between positions so
diametrically opposed, the American
offer of $20,000,000 was not fair sum-
Nevertheless, the reply continued.
Spain desired to avoid any further ef-
fusion of blood and further disorder.
and had concluded to accept the Ameri-
can offer Internationally, and thus bow
tc the superior power of the victor.
The secretaries were then ordered to
prepare the treaty articles, embodying
the cession of Cuba. Porto Rico and the
Philippines, and the payment by the
United States of $4,000. 900, for submis-
sion to the meeting which will be held
en- Wednesday next.
American Demands.
The Americans demands included
the acquisition of the whole of the
Philippines and Sulu groups for $780,.
100000, and it is also understood the
United States will purchase the Caro-
line group.
The question of the debt of Cuba is
left unsettled.
The next meeting will take place on
Wednesday.
Not Yet Officially Notified.
Washington, Nov. 2s.-The officials of
the state department without hesita.
ton accepted as accurate the bulletin
from Paris announcing that the Span.
ish commissioners had accepted the
American terms, although official ad-
vices to that effect had not been re-
ceived at noon. Secretary Hay has
been confident from the beginning that
such would be the outcome, although
at times in the negotiations there were
signs of serious disagreements that
might have led to failure of the com.
mission.
1t is not understood from the news
so far received that the commissioners
have yet reached the point of signing
a treaty. Much remains to be done in
execution of the last instructions of
the state department before the peace
treaty itself can be completed and made
ready for signature. The work NAV
be hurried materially, however, should
the state department decide to permit
the treatment of the remaining uues-
lions to be settled in separate conven-
tions. The instructions to the Ameri-
can commissioners sent last week were
to arrange for renewal of the de-
nounced trade treaties with Spain, for
the acquisition of ITALIAN, for obtaining
concessions for cable connections in
other quarters and for the procurement
of religious federation in the Carolines.
The Sulu Islands,
A call at the state department of the
German charge, Count Won Sternberg.
gave rise to rumor that he had come
to make representations to the depart
ment respecting certain rights claimed
by Germany in the Sulu islands.
Whether this is true or not could not
be ascertained. The department, how
ever, has not failed to take notice of
certain indirect and suspicious at
tempts to ALLEVIATE the Sulu islands
from the rest of the Philippines and
has been forehanded in this matter. It
was recognized from the, beginning.
and this lesson was learned from the
experience of other nations that have
gone to war in recent years, that at
tempts might be expected to be made
by nations that were not party to the
war to secure advantages to which they
had not the slightest equitable claim.
japan was notable sufferer from this
sort of treatment at the hands of GER
tain European nations, and consequent
~ precautions we're taken in the case
OF the Paris commission to avoid leav-
ing any loophole for the entrance of
any plea or demand for special priv
leges either in the matter of territorial
acquisition or trade concessions.
1t is believed that the definition of
the limits of the Philippine group in
the American demands was as follows:
From degrees 80 minutes north lati-
tude to 10 degrees 80 minutes north
latitude and from III degrees east
longitude to 1876, degrees east longi
tude.- thus covering about 1000 miles
north and south and 600 miles east and