Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1898-07-17

newspapers of this city say the Span
ish government opened peace negotia-
tons to-day through the French am
bassador at Washington, NJ. Cambon,
with the government Of the United
States.
It is said in connection with the
Spanish suggestion of leaving the ques-
ton Of the future government OF Cuba
to be decided by plebiscite OF its in
habitants, that Spain would unreserv-
eddy accept the decision given in such
4 case.
Washington, D. c., July 16.-1n view
of renewed reports that the French
Ambassador at Washington, M Cam
bon, had opened peace negotiations OF
inquiries relative to possible terms or
peace. it can be stated authoritatively,
after inquiry at the French embassy,
that no negotiations or inquiries OF any
character relating to peace, have been
made as yet, officially or unofficialiy,
direct or indirect, by the French am
bassador.
The reports grow out of M. Cam
bon's call at the White House on July
II. The purpose of this call and the
entire conversation which passed be-
tween the President and the ambassa-
dor is fully known, and it can be
stated positively that it contained no
reference to the present conflict be-
tween Spain and the United States, or
to- the prospects of it's being brought
to a close.
1t related to subject wholly outside
of the war, or it's close, by peace or
otherwise and the question of the war
did not come up even incidentally.
The only incidental question referred
to was the loss Of the French steam
ship Bourgogne, for which the
President expressed the deepest re-
gret. as well as his satisfaction that
the inquest had mitigated the early
reports of the occurrence.
The main question discussed. how
ever. related solely to the United
States and France, without the re-
hottest bearing on Spain, and IN que
time this discussion will bear fruit IN
certain expressions of good Will be-
tween this country and the french re-
public.
Notwithstanding the we'll established
character of this conference between
the President and the French Ampas-
sador it
HAS SERVED AS A TEXT
for reports that M. Cambon was sound
ing the government on the terms OF
peace. This has been asserted so
positively that even some officials have
dication that the peace movement had
at last assumed tangible form, the re-
mort has even been accepted at Madrid
after being cabled to the impartial.
The French ambassador here was
never authorized by his government to
make peace overtures or inquiries. and
in the absence of such instructions he
would not assume such delicate duty.
Furthermore he has not taken any
such step with or without instructions.
AS a result of his call at the White
House, the French government was
apprised by cable fully of what occur
red, and this report conveyed not the
slightest reference to Spanish affairs,
the progress of the war or the pissibil-
tiles of peace. The Associated Press is
able to make this statement with full
information as to the nature of the con-
ference between President Mckinley
and Ambassador Cambon.
The appearance of the representa-
tiyes of the European powers at the
State Department is seized upon by the
many watchers there as evidence that
they are bearers of peace OvertureS.
Thus when the German
SECRETARY OF EMBASSY,
Doror CDoc Won Sternherp caun 70
the Department to-day his visit i'm
mediately gave rise to the story that
he had come charged with such a mis-
sion. This, however, met with very
prompt denial from everybody con-
cerned, and 1t was added as we'll, that
the visit had no reference TO the Phil
ippines.
The statement attributed to Premier
Sagasta that Spain had been making
extra official inquiries to learn what
terms the United States might accept as
a basis for peace. failed of confirma-
ton to this extent: That up to this
moment the State Department has not
been approached on the subject, direct
ly or indirectly. Perhaps the Spanish
premier may have some means of OBJ
tanning the information he desires that
is not known to our officials here, but
however that may be, the statement
still remains good that the United
States government has not even unofii
cially indicated the terms 1t would ac-
cept as a basis for peace negotiations.
Of course, these matters have been dis
cussed between government officials
without relation to any Spanish in
quiries, and it is also true that the
President would like very well to ac-
curately guage the wish of the major
ity of the American people in this mat
ter. Without assuming to speak for
him in matter of this Importance, it
Is gathered from high members of the
administration that the President Is
disposed to be
MODERATE IN HIS DEMANDS
and while securing all that he feels
that the United States is fairly en-
titled to exact from a nation in SPANS
distressed condition, he is not disposed
to embark in world-conuuering en-
terprise and insist upon the retention
OF remote territories that would be
unserviceable to u.s. In other words.
unless there is an overwhelming de-
mand on the part Of the American peo-
pie for the adoption OF such course
It is not believed that the President as
a finality would insist that Spain ADAM
don all of her colonial possessions