Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1898-08-13
PEACE IS In SIGHT.
Secretary Day and Ambassador
Cambon Agree upon a Protocol.
The AMERICAN DEMANDS UNDATED.
10 L. Believed That tho Protocol Carries
within Itself Provislon for the cessa-
tion OF Hostiiitiss- Day to
Head the Peace Commission.

washington, Aug. 1.-The preiimT
nary negotiations looking toward the
confirmation of peace advanced long
step yesterday when the secretary OF
state and the French ambassador
agreed upon the terms upon which fu.
ture negotiations for treaty are to
be conducted and reduced these to the
form Of protocol. This protocol, 1t
Is true, Is yet to be signed, and is TO
be submitted to the Spanish govern
ment before the formal signatures arc
affixed, but the Administrations view
as to the progress made yesterday was
set out in Secretary Days sentence:
ut is expected that this protocol will
be executed"
There Is always the possibility. In
dealing with the Spanish government,
that 1t may recede at the last moment
from an implied agreement, but 1t Is
scarcely probable that 1t would be
willing to involve the French ambas-
sador In the difficulties that would
follow what to the world would seem
to be reputation Of his benevolent
efforts in behalf of Spain. There must
be delay, possibly from "a to As hours,
before the next step can be taken and
the protocol made binding upon both
the United States and Spain by the
attachment of the signatures OF the
plenipotentiaries, Secretary Day for
the United States and NJ. Cambon for
Spain. The delay will be largely at
tributable to physical causes. The
protocol is long; 1t must be trans
lated and turned back and forth
into code and simple language no
fewer than five times before 1t
reaches Madrid through the French
foreign Office. This work was not
begun until late yesterday afternoon,
after 1t had consumed the best ener-
gies OF Assistant Secretary Adee, OF
the state department, and NJ. Thiebaut,
secretary OF the French embassy, In
the preparation in formal shape OF two
copies of the protocol, one in English
and one in French. These were pre-
pared very carefully, the idiomatic
variance in the two languages necessi-
tating the greatest caution, in order
that the identical character OF the two
copies should be preserved. As to the
character Of the protocol, 1t can be
stated, on authority, that the terms
are, In oil practical points, those set
out in the abstract OF the presidents
conditions published from the white
house q week ago. From this fact 1t
Is deduced that the extra conditions
or qualifications sought to be imposed
by the Spanish government were
abandoned, at least in large part, by
the French ambassador.
This deduction Is supported by the
circumstances that, in the carly morn
ing, and before the conference between
Secretary Day and NJ. Cambon which
resulted in the agreement, there was q
prevalent impression, based upon the
utterances OF public men VINO had
talked with the president, that the
Spanish answer was unsatisfactory
and that the negotiations looked as II
they might terminate suddenly. Al
this situation changed so suddenly
after the conference, It may be fairly
assumed that the ambassador aban.
doned the conditions which the presi-
dent was reputed to have regarded as
unsatisfactory.
It Is believed that the protocol car
ries within itself provision for the ces-
sation Of hostilities. On this point the
naval contingent is urgent that our
government adopt the Napoleonic pol.
icy OF refusing TO enter into an armis.
tice without acquiring some substan.
tial pledge TO secure the consumma'
ton Of peace. What they particularly
desire Is that the government shall
demand, as a condition OF the cessa-
ton Of hostilities, the surrender to the
United States military forces Of MORO
castle, ut the entrance to Havana har-
Dor and some such points of vantage
at the other important ports In the
territory soon to fall under our con-
troll.
The peace negotiations are not be-
lieved to be advanced TO q point where
the president has felt warranted in
turning his attention to the selection
OF the peace commissioners to be
charged by the United States with the
drafting of q treaty Of peace. So far
as can be gathered, but one name has
been positively determined upon.
namely, that of Secretary Day, who
will head the commission. Beyond
this point there Is no certainty, al
though some prominent names have
been brought forward.
Our government Is not particularly
concerned at the insistence OF the
Spanish government upon the refer
cnce of the peace agreement In its
present stage to the cortes. Our gov
eminent, in dealing with another. re-
cognizes only the executive branch
and holds that wholly responsible for
all Of It's acts or promises, and Il Is
probable that our government would
not concern itself MS to what further
internal steps would be necessary 10
satisfy the sticklers for constitu tional
observances in Spain. II It should ap-
pear later that the cortes should nm.
dertake to undo the work so far &C
complished between the two govern
ments. Of course the government OF
Spain would be held responsible for
that result but rs II Is presumable
that the United States military forces
by that time would be In possession OF
Cuba, Porto Rico and Manila, Il 10 not
perceivable that internal commotiou