Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1898-11-22

ouisition of one of the Caroline Isl
ands for an American naval station
and of cable landing rights at otner
places in Spanish jurisdiction and the
revival Of certain Spanish-Amerlcan
treaties as heretofore in force.
The memorandum of the American
commission embodying the above prop
ositions is long and was not read In
full. The vital portions, however, were
communicated verbally to the Spanish
commissioners in practically these
terms.
The fact was cited that the proposal
presented by the American commas
sioners in behalf of the government for
the cession of the Philippine Islands to
the United States having been reject
ed by the Spanish commissioners ana
the counter proposal of the latter for
the withdrawal of the American FORCES
from the islands and the payment OF
an indemnity by the United States to
Spain having been rejected by the
American commissioners, the later,
deeming it essential that the present
negotiations, already greatly protract-
ed should be brought to an early ana
definite conclusion, now begged to pre-
sent new proposition embodylng the
! concession which, for the sake OF peace
their government would, under the cir
cumstances. be willing to tender.
The government of the United States
| is unable to modify the proposal mere
tofore made for the cession OF the en-
tire archipelago of the Philippines; but
the American commissioners are au-
thorized to offer to Spain, in case the
cession should be agreed to, the sum
of 500 600 600 to be paid in accordance
with the terms to be fixed in the treaty
of peace.
It being the policy of the United
States to maintain in the Philippines
an open door to the worlds commerce.
tbe American commissioners are pre-
pared to insert in the treaty now IN
contamination. a stipulation to the eff
feet that, for a term OF years, spanish
shins and merchandise shall be admit
ted into the Philippine ports on the
same terms as American ships and mer'
chandise.
The American commissioners are
also authorized and are prepared te
insert in the treaty in connection wltr
the cession of territory by Spain to the
limited States proposition for the mu
tual REIMBURSEMENT of all claims TOT III
demnitv national and Individual, O
every kind. of the United States
against Spain and of Spain against 1n'
instruction and prior to the conclu
sion to the treaty of peace.
Next followed the terms nearest ap
preaching to a formal ultimatum tC
Spain. The United States commission
ers expressed the hope that they Nigh,
receive from the Spanish commission
ers on or before Monday, the twenty
eighth instant, definite and final accept
ance of the proposals made as to the
Philippines, in connection also with
the demands as to Cuba, Porto Rico
and the other Spanish islands of the
West Indies, and Guam, in the form in
which these demands have been pro-
| visionally agreed to. In this event it
will be possible for the joint commits
sion to continue its session and pro-
coed to the consideration and adjust
ment of other matters, including those
which, as subsidiary and incidental to
the principal provisions, should form
part of the treaty of peace.
1t was at this iuncture the Ameri-
cans notified the Spaniards they de-
sired to treat of the religious freedom
of the Carolina islands, as agreed to
| twelve years ago; also of the release of
present prisoners now held by Spain
in connection with the insurrection in
| Cuba and the Philippine islands, also
of the taking over of the island of Ku-
sale or ITALIAN, in the Carolines. for a
| Geographic and naval station, also OF
cable station rights at other points in
SPANS jurisdiction and also of the re-
newal of certain treaties previously in
! force between the United States and
Spain and which may have lapsed or
been vitiated by war
The commissioners then adjourned
until Wednesday next.