Evening journal., 1898-07-27

rest misleading conjecture and 10 givl
10 the public Information on a subject
which had advanced beyond the point
where diplomatic reserve was essential.
Naturally the plea Of Spain TO open
peace negotiations opens up a wide field
of conjecture on what the terms Of
peace viii be. Thus far there is no Of
fetal warrant for saying what terms
Spain viii propose or what terms the
United States will offer or accept.
So far as this country is concerned 1t
is the general impression that the COM
plete evacuation OF Cuba and Porto
Rico will he insisted upon as a sine
qua non. There is not the same GER
tainty as TO the Philippines. Ladrones
and Carolines, although the belief Is
growing that the terms OF the United
States will include coaling stations in
these groups. on the part OF Spain II IS
believed that she now has reached
such a realization of her misfortune
that she will readily consent to terms
for the evacuation Of Cuba and proba-
bly, Porto Rico
The Spanish desire is apparently very
strong for the retention of the Philip
pines. although there is little doubt
that coaling stations there and at other
points would be conceded. The matter
Of war indemnity is for future consid-
Grafton, although there does not ap-
pear to be a disposition among the Of
flcials here TO pile up a heavy war in
demnity against Spain in her present
helpless condition.
During the late afternoon and even
lng the president conferred with most
Of the members Of the cabinet and the
Spanish proposition was thoroughly
ranvassed. Secretaries Day. Alger and
Long were at the White House during
the afternoon. and in the evening the
president was Joined by Secretaries
Bliss and Wilson and Postmaster Gem
sral Smith. There was no cabinet meet
Ing I'm the ordinary sense but these
talks with individual members served
about the same purpose as a formal
meeting.
1t was understood the president would
be prepared to give an answer within
the next few days and certainly before
the next regular cabinet meeting on
| Friday. No intimation came from any
official source as TO the probable char
acter of the answer. There were strong
| ntmations, however. that there would
be no acceptance which would imply
the stopping Of the war when the Amer
can arms were adding victories on vic
tories and the embarking on a vague
diplomatic negotiation. II was felt that
this government had everything TO lose
IN a subtle game Of diplomacy. in which
the only certain element would be the
lnaction Of our army and navy For
this reason there was a disposition IN
official quarters to know what terms
we're In sight before entering upon gen.
| aral negotiations.
The contents Of the message which
NJ. Cambon submitted to the president
are said to be. in brief, as follows:
THE government OF the United States
and the government Of Spain are un-
happily at war as a result OF the de-
mand cf the United States that Spain
withdraw from Cuba. which demand sh
refused TO comply with.
I'm the contest Of arms which follow
ed Spain admits that she has beer
worsted and that her sufferings as a re-
suit are very great.
"She believes that the time has now
some when she can properly ask the co.
operation of the United States in ter.
minating the war, and therefore asks t,
be furnished. through the French EN-
hassador, with statement Of the term.
lpon which the United States would b,
willing 10 make peace"