The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1899-03-30

mands and exactions imposed by the
other, without the latter recognizing in
the former any right OF making any
concessions whatever to it.
Senior Rios goes on TO suggest happy
medium between the demands Of the
United States and refusal to accede to
them, and says: "This medium consists
in substituting for the treaty minute
in which there shall appear the exac-
tions of the United States with respect
to Spain and the statement of the lat
tor Of the absolute impossibility in
which she finds herself owing to lack Of
means to oppose such exactions, and
that, in consequence, she gives way to
force, abandoning that which the Unit
ed States demands she shall deliver over
and protesting against the injustice and
the violence of such demands
"The United States, l know not how,
after such manifestation on the part of
Spain, may renew the war, since every
thing is acceded to, although the
right to make such demands is not
recognized. and their injustice is pro-
tested against. Clear Il is that the con-
sequence Of this Is the absolute and
complete rupture Of all kinds Of rela-
tions between Spain and the United
States for an indefinite time. but, on
the other hand, IL offers the advantage
Of preventing new disasters to our un-
fortunate country"
Senior Rios telegraphed the minister
Of state on Oct. "a that the firmness Of
the American commission made rup.
ture imminent The Spanish embassa.
dor at Paris, in view Of the unswerving
attitude Of the American commissioners
on the Cuban debt question, held an
interview with Embassador Porter and
tried 10 demonstrate to him that an
agreement might be reached upon that
| question by the United States making
concessions with regard to the Philip
pines; that In this way the negotia.
tions might be carried on as whole
and not discussed piecemeal. and that
an understanding might be reached
through proper compensation
From this point 1t is apparent that
the Spanish government was actuated
by a desire 10 get a sufficient sum of
money from the United States in ex-
change for the Philippines to cover the
| Cuban debt. The demand Of the United
States for the cession of the entire Phil
ippine archipelago brought an indig-
nant message to Senior Rios from Mad
rid stating that "such a demand, in
the form it is made, far oversteps the
uttermost pretensions that il could be
supposed the United States would
have" To this Senior Rioe replied on
Nov. l, 'It is to be presumed that the
powers Of Europe, signally England,
Germany and Russia, must be surprised
at 30 enormous an exaction by the
American government, and they will
not find it very much in harmony with
tho interests Of each in the far east.
The first suggestion Of the intention
Of the United States to pay for the ces-
sion Of the Philippines which reached
the Spaniards was through ambassador
Porter, who informed the Spanish en-
bassador that it had been determined
by the United States to compensate
Spain for the islands. the amount to be
determined by the American commits
sioners. Negotiations continued until
the offer Of $50, 900, 900 for the Philip
pines was made by the American COM
missioners and the latter had presented
their ultimatum, which called for an
swer from the Spanish commissioners
on Nov. 29. On the previous day the
minister of foreign affairs thus conclud-
ed his instructions upon this subject to
the Spanish commissioners:
| L.
other of the propositions in the closing
part Of the American ultimatum is &C.
ceptable to Spain. In this view il
would be proper to terminate the con.
ferences, leaving the Americans at lib
erty to dispose Of whatever they de-
mand, but as this may produce ulterior
complications and greater ills to our
situation. no other means remains than
to succumb TO force, accepting the prop
osition, but as whole, without analyz-
ing or discussing any Of its parts, all
equally unjust
There was division in the Spanish
commission as to the propriety Of the
acceptance of $40. 900, 900 for the Phil
ippines Senior Rios himself considered
that the American proposition was far
more harmful than beneficial to Spain,
and as last resort Spain should offer
the West Indies and the Philippines to
the United States gratuitously on con-
dition that the colonial obligations
should follow them or that the United
States should pay to Spain sum suf6-
cient to discharge these obligations II
she were to assume them, and that II
the United States did not accept this
proposition 1t were preferable to leave
the West Indies and the Philippines at
their disposal, as Spain lacked the ele-
ments necessary to defend them, and to
bring the negotiations to an end with
ont concluding treaty Of peace
In telegram dated Nov 90 the
Spanish ambassador speaks Of a call
made upon him by Whitelaw Reid,
during which that commissioner in.
formed him that the ultimatum pre-.
sentGd by the American commissioners
was the last word Of the United States
upon the subject To this the Spanish
ambassador replied that he considered
himself as having been notified of the
fact, and that he had no reply to make,
| since all discussion was now useless
and idle. Our terms were finally ac-
cepted Cor New York Herald.
A..