The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1898-08-10
SPANS ANSWER.
1t Has Been Sent to Spain's Agent
at Washington.
Task of Translating the Document from
the Cypher was Long One and PresI-
dent Mckinley Does Not Know
Its COntents-A Belief Pre-
walls that Reply Is Not
straightforward.

Washington, Aug. 9.-The reply OF
the Spanish government to the peace
conditions laId down by the United
States, was received by the French
ambassador shortly before 3 p. m.
Monday. The reply came in sections,
the dispatch first received giving only
the opening passages of the Spanish
reply. A few minutes later another
dispatch brought second section and
these kept coming by procession of
messengers until seven sections of the
Spanish reply had been received at ten
minutes of a, when the last part was
still to arrive. In the meantime the
cipher experts were at work, and by
4:30 they were abreast of all that por-
ton of the reply received up to that
time and there was a lull of some
time.
The concluding portion of the Span
ish reply was received during the
evening, but it was not until late
hour that it was deciphered as whole
and gone over by the ambassador. No
effort was made to communicate it to
our government last night beyond n
note to Secretary Day advising him
that the document had been received,
but not disclosing its contents. 1t is
probable that the reply will be deliv-
cred to the president before the cabi-
net meeting to-day, although no hour
has been fixed. There is complete re-
ticence in all quarters as to the text
of the reply, but there is reason to be-
lieve it is not an unqualified accept
ance of the American terms, but is
framed on the theory of accepting the
essentials and trusting to hoped for
conciliatory spirit on the part of this
government to moderate to some eX-
tent features which the Spanish gov
ernment seems to regard as unessen-
tial.
Pending the official delivery of the
answer, speculation was rife as to its
contents. There was little doubt that
the length of the reply meant that
Spain had not given a direct atfirma-
tive to the American conditions. 1t
was evident that if the reply was an
acceptance, it was accompanied by ex-
tended discussion and probably by
conditions. This caused considerable
apprehension in official circles, for
while it was felt last week that Spain
would surely yield in every particular,
it began to be felt that possibly there
might be another period of discussion
and possibly an indirect attempt to
open up a diplomatic exchange on the
nature of the terms.
The prevailing view, however, was
the reply was on its face an accept
ance, although not such one as pre-
cluded all possibility of further dis
cusson. All vital points were believed
to be conceded-the abandonment OF
Cuba, Porto Rico and the Ladrones,
and the establishment of commits
sion to pass upon questions relating
to the Philippines. In the carrying
out of this programme it was believed
that Spain would seek to secure an
understanding on many incidental
points involved, some of them of con-
siderable Importance. For instance
some doubt was raised as to whether
Spain's acceptance would be operative
until ratified by the Spanish cortes
and it was understood that the reply
might call attention to this condition
The same condition, it was pointed
out, exists as to the United States, fol
a peace treaty requires the ratification
of the senate to become operative. In
case Spain's answer discussed these
incidental points there promised to be
wide latitude for controversy and de
lay.
Late in the afternoon the presiden
received an indirect intimation thai
the Spanish reply had come to the
French embassy. A cabinet officer
who was with him at this time sale
on leaving: "The information tha
has come from Madrid about the ac
ton of the Spanish cabinet indicates
that the Spaniards have accepted oul
terms in general way, but leaves sey
eral questions that we did not include
in the terms submitted. The com
munication Offering those terms wa'
explicit, specifically stating sucl
points as would be left open to fur
ther negotiation. We will stand OF
those terms"
The administration has not ye
given serious consideration to the per
sonnel of the peace commission, bu
it can be stated that no one not il
accord with the presidents presen
views as to the disposition of th
Philippines will be appointed and MI
Mckinley favors keeping at least Ma
Mia harbor and bay and sufficient ter
ritory around it for its support ant
protection, if not the whole of Luzol
Island.