Semi=weekly graphic., 1898-07-30
Such Will Be Carefully Investigated by This Government and Ac-
 cepted or Rejected.
THE RIVALRY TO
 ACT AS TNTFRMEDIAT0R,
The British and French Ambassadors Each Wanted to Conyey the Mes. sage to Washington and
 France Won.

Washington, July 29-In diplomatic quarters Spain speace proposition, made through the French ambassador is the absorbing topic, and the answer of the president is awaited with keen interest. The diplomats showed their interest by calling at the state department and at the French embassy to learn with more exactness the details of Spain's propos- al. This developed several features of the proposal which had not been entire ly clear before. In the first place no foreign government outside of France has been consulted by Spain in this overture for peace and the present move ment is not shared, directly or indirect ly by Germany, Austria, Italy, Russia or Great Britain.
 It can now be stated, however, that the formal proposition submitted Tues day has been under consideration at Madrid for five days previous, during which time the British as well as the Wrench authorities were cognizant of the fact that Spain was about to sue for peace. This being settled, it appears that good natured, but keen rivalry, aprang up between Sir Drummond Wolff, the British ambassador at Mad rid, and M. Patenotre, the French am bassador there, as to which government should have the honor of initiating tho movement designed to restore the Foaco of the world Owing to the cordiality existing here between the governments of Great Britain and the United States, 1t was felt at first that Sir Drummond Wolff would be commissioned to ap- proach the United States, acting at Washington through Sir Julian Paunce. 2te.
 But Spain appears to have preferred the intermediayioa of the French gov ernment, as result the negotiations were finally entrusted to the French ann bassador at Washington.
 The Spanish proposition is clothed with all the solemnity and formality of government act, despite the cable re- port from Madrid that the peace pro- posal is of q ''private' nature. The in- structions to NJ. Cambon bear the of fcial signature of Duke AlmodoYar de Rio, the Spanish minister of foreign af- fairs, and besides expressing the desires oF the cabinet and government that the peace negotiations be opened, they are given the added solemnity of approval and earnest personal request by Queen Regent Maria Crisriana.
 Since the conference between the president and M. Cambon both the French government and the Spanish have been fully apprised of the action taken at Washington, and it is not i'm probable that Spain within the next two or three day will take another impor tant step forward, by voluntarily sug gesting what terms of peace she will re gard as consistent. These of course Will be initiatory and will be designed as . sort of opening wedge toward bring Ing the two governments together or the final peace conditions. From tht standpoint of the United States it IS fol spain to make the first definite tendel oI peace, as she is the most interested m terminating the war. twill then 5' TOT the United States to say how far he, ! terms are acceptable, and perhaps t suggest counter terms.