Evening star., 1898-08-01

derstanding of the extent of the ambas-
sador's authority in representing the views
of Spain on the settlement of peace.
Aside from the foregoing statement, and
without giving these statements any au-
thorized FORM because of their juxtaposi-
ton with the foregoing authorized state
ment, considerable light can be thrown
upon the official capacity of the French
ambassador in his three hours conference
with the President Saturday. The first
visit of the ambassador to the President
was to present the peace propositions of
Spain, and at that time NJ. Cambon's au-
thority was strictly limited to that of be-
ing the bearer of Spains communication
He had no authority whatever to speak in
the name of Spain beyond presenting
Spains communication. In view, however
of the fact that the United States govern
ment was prepared to make speedy re-
ply to the Spanish proposition, 1t was
deemed desirable that M. Cambon should
be clothed by the Spanish government
with larger measure of authority than
that of merely conveying and receiving
communications passing between the two
governments. Accordingly. the destrability
of this course was made known to the au-
thcrities at Madrid. The latter shared in
authority than that OF merely conveying
notes, and as a result the Spanish minis
ter of foreign affairs. Duke Almodovar de
Rio, cabled to the French embassy last
Friday, entirely changing and enlarging
the scope of NJ. Cambons authority from
that given when the original Spanish prop
osition was presented.
Instructions From Spain.
The dispatch from Duke Almodovar de
Rio was most complete in it's dealings with
the subjects of controversy between the
United States and Spain which would be
involved in the discussion of terms of
peace Besides treating each subject in
volved, it fully enabled the ambassador to
discuss at the Spanish governments point
of view the propositions about to be made
by the United States on all questions of
peace. OF course, between Tuesday and
Friday there was no time for mailing writ
ter. credentials, in the usual sense employed
in diplomatic intercourse. The matter be-
ing urgent and about to culminate in
meeting at the White House, the instruc-
tions were necessarily embraced in a cable
dispatch bearing the signature of the Span
ish minister of foreign affairs. Even the
dispatch was in cipher, so that it lacked
those usual formalities of written creden-
tials by which the right Of a diplomatic
official to express the direct views of for
eign government are made known.
To Represent Spain.
The essential point, however, free from
technicalities, was that NJ. Cambon received
from the Spanish minister of foreign af-
fairs enlarged Instructions, permitting him
to speak the views of Spain upon various
points at issue, and thus to bring the two
governments. United States and Spain, into
direct communication.
1t was under such circumstances that the
French ambassador and his secretary, NJ
Thiebaut. made their notable call at the
White House last Saturday. NJ Cambon
was In possession of the enlarged instruc-
tions, whether they be termed credentials
or something else, and the conference pro-
ceded, with the ambassador expressing the
views Of the Spanish government. The
official communication. when made public
will, 1t Is understood, make plain this au-
thority Of NJ. Cambon.
Similar to Presidenfs Position.
His position is somewhat similar to that
of the President himself who is obliged to
secure the sanction Of the United States
Senate to any treaty of peace that he may
prepare. for the ambassador must submit
to the Madrid cabinet for its approval any
agreement that he may enter into. But in
the drafting Of such an agreement he is
fully authorized to proceed in his discretion.
and to guard against any possibility of re-
pudiation of his action he was given the
minutest definition of the concessions that
will be made by the Spanish government on
every point that by any possibility could be
expected to arise in the course of the nego-
tiations
1t was not known to our government that
NJ. Cambon had such powers when he ap-
peared Saturday afternoon at the White
House to receive the American answer, but
when the President was satisfied that he
| was competent to deal in an authorized