The record-union., 1898-11-26
The President Cables American
Commissioners at Paris
TO Insist That Former Demands Be Consld-
cred Without Change.
This Action Taken as the Result
Of a Special Cabinet Meeting
Held to Discuss Advices Re-
ceived Last Evening From the
United States Commissioners
at Paris.

United States Commissioners
at Paris.
WASHINGTON, Nov. pa special
meeting of the Cabinet was held at IL
O'Clock tonight All the members
were with the President except Secre-
tary Long, who was out of the city.
The meeting was called by the Presl-
dent, in order that his advisers might
consider with him adyices received this
evening from the American Seace
Commissioners at Paris.
1t is thought that the advices relat-
ed to counter-proposals Informally made
to the American Commissioners by the
representatives of the commission or
the Madrid Government.
On the conclusion of the meeting,
which lasted only forty minutes, and
was held in the parlors of the White
House, Secretary of State Hay said to
a representative of the Associated Press
that the President had received some
advices from Paris that he desired to
lay before the Cabinet, and that he
had called the members together to
consider them. The nature of the ad
vices Mr.. Hay declined to discuss, as,
he said, that was a matter which could
not be gone into for publication at this
time. He added, however, that after
considering the contents of the dis
patch the President had cabled the
American Commissioners xeiterating
his former instructions.
1t is understood that one point, new
in the negotiations thus far, was raised
in the dispatches received by the Pres
ident. 1t related to a modification of
the terms of the proposition submitted
to the Spanish Commissioners a few
days ago by the American Commission
ers, but in just what particular the pro-
posed modification was to be made
could not be ascertained. That the
proposition was not accepted was made
clear by the President in cabling to the
American Commissioners a reiteration
Of his former instructions.
The American Commissioners will in
sist that the demands of the United
States as presented to Spain a few
days ago be considered without furth-
er modification. That they will be ac-
ceded to by the Spanish Commission
ers is the earnest belief Of the mem
bers Of the Cabinet and the President
EFFORTS TO POSTPONE THE IN
EVITABLE.
PARIS, Nov. 25.-It is now known
that Spain will exhaust her time limit
which expires Monday, before replying
to the American offer regarding the
Philippine Islands. In the meanwhile
the Spaniards are canvassing the en-
tire field, and exhausting every re-
source to postpone the inevitable
As cabled TO the Associated Press
Wednesday, they could not accept the
American ultimatum as final. without
asking if it were really so. That ap-
piled to the time limit. Now the Span
1ards apparently doubt the fixedness of
the amount the Americans, offered for
the Philippines, and to-day they sent
communication to the American Com
missioners asking if the latter would
accept counter proposition by Spain
TO cede the Philippines for 800, 1000
Spain imagines the Americans might be
willing to lop off the great island of
Mindanao from the Philippines. and
pay Spain S50,000,000 for what would
remain, instead of $20,0O0,OeO now Of
fered for the entire archipelago.
Spain will learn in response to such
inquiry that the Americans employ the
word ultimatum to signify ultimate
conditions. However strenuouslv Spain
may seek to increase her money advan-
tage for the eession of the Philippines.
she will finally be compelled to know
that the United States offer means
$2O,OO0OOO, no more and no less, and
that the whole archipelago must pass
to the United States for that sum.
Spain, before giving up or turning
away, VIII also propose some alterna-
tive bargain Of the Carolines or the Ca
nary Islands, to be held in the posses
sion of the United States in addition to
the Philippines. on condition that Spain
be permitted to retain her sovereignty
in the Philippines. In other words.
Spain would cede certain territory in
the Carolines and Canaries, and the
control of the Philippines by the Unit
ed States with a nominal Spanish SOW
ereignty, and as a further inducement
propose that the United States shall
Philippine Islands.
Senior Montero Rios told the CORE
spondent of the Associated Press this
evening that the Spanish Peace Com
missioners had not yet decided upon
an answer to be given to the last
American memorandum.
we are llG AlidllGI, Ac
said in a conciliatory spirit, 'sand are
anxious to re-establish friendly rela-
tions between the two countries. AT
the same time, we are here to defend
the interests and honor of SPAIN
In reply to an inquiry as to whether
there was any truth in the report that
the Spanish Commissioners had decid-
ed to accept the American offer OF
$20,OOO,O00 for the Philippines, Senor
Rios, shaking his head, said:
No, no: the commission has not yet
decided on it's answer What our re-
ply will be can only be determined al
the conference on Monday, when we
viii discuss the matter with the Amer
leans. At the same time" he added
in still lower voice, I'VE viii follow
the instructions that may be received
from Madrid''
Then the final instructions have not
yet come from Madrid?" asked the
correspondent of the Associated Press
All, but we are approaching a con-
fidential matter said Senior Rios, in
nocently. Everything connected with
commissions is a secret"
SPANISH CABINET CONSIDERS
THE SUBJECT.
MADRID, Nov. 25-After visiting the
Queen Regent to-day in order to con-