Evening journal., 1898-08-09
SPANS ANSWER.
Received Last Night by
ambassador CambOn.
-
GOES TO M'KINLEY TODAY
Will Probably Be Presented BefOrt
the Cabinet Meeting.
ITS CONTENTS NOT YET KNOWN.
Tt Is Said to he a Full Acceptance Of
Main Terms, hut to Propose Many
Questions on Minor Points.
Skaters Sick List.

Questions on Minor Points.
Skaters Sick List.
WASHINGTON, Aug. g.-The reply Of
the Spanish government 70 the peace
conditions laid down by the United
States was received by the French em-
bassador, NJ Cambon, shortly before 3
o'clock yesterday afternoon.
The reply came IN sections. the dis
patch first received giving only the
opening passages Of the Spanish reply
A few minutes later another dispatch
brought a second. and these kept COM
Ing by n procession OF messengers until
seven sections of the Spanish reply had
been received at 10 minutes Of 4. when
the last part was still 10 arrive In the
meantime the cipher experts were at
work and by 1880 o'clock they were
abreast OF all that portion Of the reply
received up TO that time, and there was
a iull for some time pending the ar
rival OF the concluding portions. 1t
was thought terrific rainstorm which
swept over Washington about 4 o'clock
might have occQsioned tho delay OF the
remainder.
Pending the receipt OF tho complete
reply no steps were, taken TO fix q tlnae
for a conference with the president. es
tho time for that depended largely upon
some Of the features of the reply. and
also upon tho explicit inBtructions CON
cernlng the delivery Of She answer
which usually accompanies a document
OF this solemn character. Neither at the
White House nor at the state depart
ment was there any knowledge that the
reply had reached Washington. and tho
usual Office hours closed with 40 ap-
pointment made FOR a conference. There
was felt TO he little likeiihegd. even
though the ambassador rGoeived tho
complete reply aud inatructions, hat
thOre would be "a Night ootAferoRco at
tho white House Dor tie purp0ss az pro-
sontns the doounsnt
Pending tho oflcfal dolvery q tue
answer speculation was rife a8 60 tH
contents. There was lttre or no fnrther
doubt that tho leagth ~ the r0ply Lett
meant that Spain had rot givon a sim
pie and direct affirmative to the Aneri-
can conditions. Ii was evident that u
tho roply was an acceptance IL was
accompanied by extended discussion
and probably by conditions. This caused
considerable apprehension IN onlcial cir
cies here. for while Il was felt last week
that Spain would surely yield In every
particular. II began to be felt that pos
siblY there might bo another period of
discussion and possibly an Indirect at
tempt TO open up a diplomatic exchange
on the nature of the terms.
The prevailing view. however was
that the reply was on its face an ac-
ceptance. although not such one as
precluded all possibility OF further dis
cusslon. All vital points were believed
20 be conceded--the abandonment Of
Cuba, Porto Rico and the I.adrones and
the establishment of a commission TO
pass upon questions relating TO the
Philippines. In the carrying out OF this
programme II was believed that Spain
would seek 20 secure an understanding
on many incidental points involved,
some OF them OF considerable impor-
tancO For instance, some doubt was
raised as 10 whether SPANS acceptance
would be operative until referred to and
ratified by tho Spanish cortes. and Il
was understood that the reply mlpht
call attention 10 this condition. The
Same condition II was pointed out eN-
lists as TO the United States. for peace
treaty requires the ratification Of tn,
senate TO become operative In case
Spains answer discussed these incl
dental points there promised 20 be wild,
latitude for controversy and delay un.
less tho president and cabinet declined
20 enter the field OF discussion.
Late IN the afternoon the presiden
received an Indirect intimation that thl
Spanish reply had come % the Frcncl
embassy a cabinet officer who was viii
him M this time said on leaving:
'"rhe information that has come from
Madrid about the action Of the Spanlsl
.rtf.f fraH Sos .f..f.
accepted our terms In q general way
but leaves several questions open tha
we did not include In the terms sub
mltted The communication offerin,
those terms was explicit. specincalr
stating such points as would be LEI
open 10 further negotiations We vii
stand on those terms"
The administration has not yet give
serious consideration 10 the personne
Of the peace commisslon but Il can b
stated that no one not in accord Wit
the presideRts present views as to Ia
disroaticR OF the Philippines viii b
appointed. and Mr.. Mckinley favor
keeping at least Manila harbor and ba
and sufficient territory around il IL
its support and protection, II not tn
whole OF luzon island. AS 10 member
OF the cabinet as members of the com
mission, there are precedents for the
appointment notably the treaty
Ghent
The concluding portion Of the Spar
ish reply was received during the ever
ing. but Il was not until q late hor
that IL was deciphered as a whole an
gone over by the ambassador. No emoi
was made TO communicate Il 10 N
United states government last nigl
beyond a note 10 Secretary Day a,
vising him that tine document had heg
received. but not disclosing its content
1t is probable that the reply viii be d
livcred 20 the president before the cab
net meeting today. although no hol
has been fixed There Is complete re
fcence in an quarters as 10 the text
3he reply but there Is reason to b
neve 1t Is not an unqualified acceptan