The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-11-26
have NOT YET DECIDED
Spain VIII Exhaust Time Limit
Before Replying.
NO OANSWER UNTIL MONDAY
Senior Aontsro nsos Gives . Noncom-
INITIAL bus oonoaliasory Interview.
Spain o<iving 70 Drive Sharp
Bargain for the Philippines.

Paris, Nov. 26-Senor Montero Rios
told the correspondent Of the associated
press this evening that the Spanish
peace commissioners had not yet de-
cided on the answer to be given to the
last American memorandum.
I'VE are considering the matter" he
said, in q conciiiatory speech. land are
anxious to establish friendly relations
between the two countries. At the
same time. we are here to defend the
interests and honor Of Spain"
In reply to an inquiry az to whether
there was any truth In the report that
the Spanish commissioners had decided
to accept the American offer OF $780,
000, 900 for the Philippines Senior Rios.
shaking his head. said:
mo, no. the commission was not yet
decided on Its answer. What our reply
will be can only be determined at the
conference on Monday. when we will
discuss the matter with the Americans.
At the same time" he added in a still
lower voice, I'VE will follow the in
structions that may be received from
Madrid"
Then the final instructions have not
yet come from Madrid?" asked the cor
respondent of the associated press.
-
fidential matter" said Senor Rios in
nocently. Everything connected with
both commissions Is a secret"
II Is now known that Spain will ex-
haust her time limit, which expires
Monday. before replying to the Amer
leans offer regarding the Philippine
islands. In the meanwhile the Span
iards are canvassing the entire field
and exhausting every resource to post
pone the inevitable. AS cabled to the
associated press Wednesday. they could
not accept the American ultimatum as
final without asking ~ II were really
so. That applied to the time limit. Now
the Spaniards apparently doubt the
fixedness of the amount the Americans
offered for the Philippines and to-day
they sent a communication 70 the
American commissioners asking IL the
latter would accept counter PROPOSE
tion by Spain to cede the Philippines
for 500, 100000.
Spain imagines the Americans might
be willing to lop on the great island Of
Mfndanao from the Philippines and pay
her $50, 100000 for what would remain
instead of the $4,000. 900 now offered for
the entire archipelago. Spain will
learn in response to such inquiry that
the Americans employ the word ulti-
matum to signify the ultimate condi-
tions.
However StrenuOuSiy spain may seek
to increase her money advantage for
the cession of the Philippines. she will
finally be compelled to know the United
States offer means $40. .000. 600, no more
and no less. and the whole archipelago
must pass to the United States for that
sum.
Spain. before giving up or turning
away, will also propose some alterna-
tive bargain for the Carolines or Ca
nary islands to be held in possession of
the United States in addition to the
Philippine islands. on condition that
Spain be permitted to retain her sover-
eighty in the Philippines. In other
words. Spain would cede certain terri
tory in the Carolines and Canaries and
control Of the Philippines by the United
but with nominal Spanish SOW
ereignty and as a further inducement
proposes that the United States shall
pay Spain no money on account Of the
Philippine islands.