St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1898-11-23
AN ULTIMATUM.
Spain Hears the Final PROPOSE
ton of America.

Of the World-Last Opportunity OF
spaniard. to Avoid the Resumption Of
Hosiilitie-.
Paris, Nov. 22.-The United States
peace commissioners have undoubtedly
made their final proposition here. When
the conference opened yesterday after
noon, Judge Day, addressing Montero |
Rios and his colleagues of the Spanish |
commission required to the protracted |
negotiations and reafiirmed the desire |
of the American commissioners to reach |
an amicable conclusion. Then, hand
ing the American presentation to the
interpreter Judge Day concluded his |
remarks by saying that the Americans,
preferring not to break the armistice or
resume hostilities, had determined upon
another and final proposition, which ha
hoped would lead to a speedy and ami
cable adjustment
That portion of the presentation set
ting forth the new proposal-the pro-
posal that the United States must have
possession OF the entire Philippine archi-
pelago, with a tender of $40 900, 900 for
treaty cession Of the islands,-was then
read. Without betraying their mental
attitude, the spanish commissioners sug-
gested an adjournment until Wednes-
day.
The new proposition, with its collat'
erals. WAS embodied toward the end Of
the American memorandum, which filled
30 typewriter sheets. Only this part
was read in the joint session, the men,
orandum then being delivered to the
Spaniards for translation by their own
staff.
Spain's proposition to invoke the Off
ces of a third power to construe the
words control, disposition and govern
ment of the Philippines" was rejected
by the American commissioners on the
ground that dictation Of the third article
of the protocol, dealing with the Phil
ippines, is so broad and clear as to
afford no justification for arbitration as
between the parties to the agreement.
On the terms named the United States
proposes a mutual REIMBURSEMENT Of all
| CldlI11S IOT IHueIlUlly, VI per
sonal, subsequent to the outbreak of the
last Cuban Instruction. Nov. 2S is fixed
as the date on which the United States
commission desires definite response
to yesterdays propositions and all other
subjects in issue here.
1t is also declared that the United
States desires to treat Of the religious
freedom of the Caroline islands, as
agreed upon between the United States
and Spain in 1886, and also of the ac-
QUESTION of one of the Caroline islands
for an American naval station, and of
the cable landing rights at other places
In Spanish jurisdiction and the revival
of certain Spanish American treaties as
heretofore in force.
The vital portions of the American
commissions memorandum were COM
municated verbally to the Spanish COM
missioners in practically these terms:
The fact was cited that the proposal
presented by the American commission
ers In behalf of their government for the
cesson of the Philippine islands to the
United States having been rejected by
the Spanish commissioners, and the
counter-proposa of the latter for the
withdrawal of the American forces from
the islands and the payment Of an in.
demnity by the United States to Spair
having been rejected by the American
commissioners, the latter deeming 1t es,
sential that the present negotiations
already greatly protracted should bt
brought to an early and definite con.
clusion, now begged to present new
proposition embodying the concession
which, for the sake Of peace, their gov
eminent would under the circumstance.
be willing to tender
The government of the United State!
Is unable to modify the proposal hereto
fore made for the cession Of the entir
archipelago Of the Philippines, but tn
American commissioners are authorized
to offer to Spain, in case the cessiol
should be agreed to, the sum of 500, 900, OOC
to be paid in accordance with the term.
to be fixed in the treaty of peace.
1t being the policy Of the United State
to maintain in the Philippines an opel
door of the worlds commerce, the Ameri
can commissioners are prepared to in
sert In the treaty stipulation to tn
effect that for term of years the Span
ish ships and merchandise shall be ad
mtted into Philippine ports on the sam
} terms as American ships and merchan
disc.
? The American commissioners are ais
authorized and prepared to insert
the treaty, in connection with the ces
sion of territory by Spain to the Unite
States, a provision for the mutual re
, linquishment Of all claims for indemnit.
national and individual of every kin,
OF the United States against Spain, an
= Of Spain against the United States, this
may have arisen since the beginning {
: the late Cuban insurrection and prior |
t the conclusion of the treaty of peace.
!, Next followed the terms nearest al
!, preaching TO formal ultimatum I
d Spain. The United States commission
/. ers expressed the hope that they migl
q receive from the Spanish commission
!. ers on or before Monday, the 2Sth day
% the present month, definite and final a,
ceptance of the proposals made as to Il
. Philippines, in connection also with II
demands as to Cuba, Porto Rico and Il
l. other Spanish islands of the West Indie
II and Guam. in the form in which the'
n demands have been Professionally agree
10 to. In this event, 1t would be possib
j. for the joint commission to continue |
80 sessions and proceed to the consider
ton and adjustment Of other matter
including those which, as subsidiary al
incidental to the joint provisions, shou
4. form part of the treaty of peace.
40 II was at this juncture that the Anne