New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-08-10
A STEP NEARER PEACE.
SpAIN'S REPLY DELITERED
no PRESIDENT M'KINLEY.
CONDITIONS OF THE UNITED STATES
ACCEPTED WITH CERTAIN RESER-
ATIONS-WANTS THIS COUN-
TRY To GOVERN CUBA.

VATlONS-WANTS THIS COUN-
TRY TO GOVERN CUBA.
washington, Aug 9-More than twentyfour
,ours after II had begun TO reach Washington
tho Spanish note III answer to the Presidents
,soce conditions wes presented at the White
,o,se nv the French Ambassador. What the
nature Of the answer was can only be con-
,sc,,red at this stage. the Secretary of State
st ,he conclusion Of the conference making the
,ornoI statement that nothing whatever could
he said upon the subject.
The conference lasted an hour and twenty-five
minutes. This prolonged discussion be-
ueved 10 indicate that the Spanish answer
was not satisfactory in all respects though IN
inst what points II fell short OF meeting the
expectations of the President IT is impossible
N say 1t felt by the observers that
had the answer been 4 complete
ceptance Of the Presidents terms. the
sult would have been made public. on
the other hand. il would be a strained
inference 10 conolYfe tha; the answer
satisfactory entirely. for in that case according
10 the Presidents statement heretofore made. his
offer would have been definitely withdrawn and
the war resumed with greater energy than be-
fore II would seem that there could scarcely
be a good reason in this case for Withholding
the result of the conference On the whole II Is
rather 10 be concluded that middle result was
obtained; that Spain found to have at
'tached certain conditions to her acceptance OF
the Presidents terms but that the latter was
not disposed 10 regard tho injection Of the
matter as sufficient in itself TO warrant an i'm
mediate termination Of the peace negotiations.
According TO this view. the President has taken
exception to some of the Spanish conditions.
be withdrawn or modified
The reply Of the Spanish Government is un-
derstood 10 be a document embracing about
twelve hundred words. II bears the signature
Of the Spanish Minister OF Foreign Affairs. and
the form Of statement throughout is that Of Her
Majesty's Government similar to the American
terms being in the name OF the President The
copy delivered to the President was in Eng
lish. the translation from Spanish to French
having been made at Paris. and that from
French TO English having beer made here. prior
10 the presentation OF the answer at the White
House This obvated delays. and gave the
President and Secretary Day an English text
at the outset OF the conference with the Am
bassador.
THE REPLY IN FIVE DIVISIONS.
The Spanish reply is said TO be divided into
Ave points or heads namely: Cuba. Porto Rico.
Ladrone Islands. occupation II Manila. and
appointment of a commission. which are treated
in the order named. So far as can be learned
no mention is made Of the Cuban debt The
tention Of arms and ammunition by the Span
ish troops comes in for indirect reference under
the head Of Cuba.
In the absence OF an Official statement. it is
imrossib to outline Spans position the
several American conditions. But the following
is from the best information Obtainabe. In
treating each subject Cuba. Porto Rico. the
Ladrones. Manila and the peace commission
On acceptance in some cases is understood to re-
late to conditions somewhat different to those
laid down by the American Government. AS TO
Cuba. the American terms demanded the evacu-
alton Of the island without specifying the future
TO accept the principle that Spanish sovereignty
over Cuba will terminate but IT is understood
to take up the future government Of the island.
and because Of the extent Of Spanish interests
there is said to take the view either expressed
or implied that the United States should ad-
minister the affairs OF the island.
AS to the time Of eyacuating Cuba, this Is a
detail which the Spanish reply Is said TO regard
as among many which can be left TO the COM
mission for final determination.
The American conditions as TO Porto Rico
the Ladrones. Manila. etc. are believed to be
accepted but the topics treated at some
length. and IT will require the full text to show
how far the language used may be construed as
an acceptance.
The provision as to the commission is as
sented to. The commission IS to consist Of five
commissloners on each side with Paris as the
Probable meeting place.
SPAIN MUST CONSIDER AGAIN.
The Spanish reply is said 20 develop sorre-
What the scope Of the commission. leaving
70 II not only the determination Of the future
OF the Philippines but also the details involved
IN the arrangement OF a lasting peace The
Outcome Of the conference is unknown. but the
best opinion Cbtainablc is that the matter Is
still open. that Ambassador Cambon Will repor.
70 Spain the results OF his efforts. and the de-
sires OF this Government and that another re-
Sary TO a final conclusion.
There Wcra ,uet four nartics to the conference