Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1898-08-02
ALL EYES ON MADRID.
Peace Now Depends on the
Spanish Cabinet.
ANSWER MAY COME TODAY
Question as to the Authority OF the French
N'nis'cr Settled by Ohicial
Statement. Recapitu l,arion
OF Our Terms.
tI.v Telegraph.e

.N ..... Ky Ielegrapn.)
WASHINGTON. Aug. l.-Al eyes
turned today toward Madrid. for 1t was
realized that upon the Spanish cabinet
depended the restoration of peace. II
had been announced here in a quarter
That removed the information from
any question of it's accuracy that the
decision of the Spanish government
was not to ice submitted before tomor-
row at the earliest. In the absence
of any new phase in the negotiations
here today. speculation naturally turn.
ed backward toward the remarkable
meeting ut the White House Saturday.
and great interest was manifested In
every particular respecting that event.
y disposition was shown in some quar-
lerS to question the authority OF the
French ambassador TO act as he did
respecting Spain. But it can be again
stated that. regardless of any technical
point, such as the absence OF signed
scaled and delivered mail credentials.
which. of course, could not reach mere
in the little time at hand, the President
regarded NJ Cambon as fully qualified
to nct as Il representative of the Span
lsh government in the negotiations.
subject. Of course. as are almost ill
ministers or ambassadors in these days
to the reference of the work accom-
pitshed by them to the government
they represent for final approval. ~
Cambon made it SO clear that he had
been fully instructed on every point
likely to rise in the negotiations that
the President was satisfied that by &C.
cepting him as the representative or
Spain in this matter u vast saving OF
time would be effected, and, a point Of
the utmost Importance. that the nego-
tiations would be technically conduc- &
ted without the interposition of any
neutral government. However, any
question that might have arisen as TO
the powers of the French ambassador
was set ut rest by Il short, guarded.
and concise statement issued TO-DAY
from the embassy itself.
Then the discussion turned on the
nature OF the change made at the In
stance of NJ. Cambon in the list or
American demands. 1t was commended
in some quarters that no change had
been made in others, that an impor-
'ant modification had developed. AS
Il matter of fact. as to the Importance
or this change, there is a difference Of
opinion between the parties, the adj
nlinistration looking upon 1t as incop-
-sert-.9a tia1 -ii4laI.ahx,la .tachas III
Importance to it. However. this may
be, as the administration believes that
the change is not essential and that 1t
certainly does not affect the principle
of the document. 1t might be well to
recapltulate briefly just what the de-
mands of the United States were. AS
to Cuba. it Is demanded that Spain is
and control. 1t will be noticed that
nothing is said nf Cuban independence
ana that the acceptance of this posi-
ton leaves the United States free to
deal with the island as it may be best.
Porto Rico. with the small islands ad-
Jacent. and embraced within her jl,-
risdiction, is to be ceded unconditional
y to the United States.
One of the Ladrone islands, likewise.
IS to be coded to the United States as
u coalinS station. These three condi-
tons, being granted by Spain, are to
De taken as part payment In lieu Of
the full indemnity What further
payment shall be required is to be de-
,ermned by communication having au-
thority 10 act for the President, sub 55
lect To his approval. Whether Spain
shall retain possession Of the Philip
pines, AZ 4 whole or in part, Is left to Fl
that commission to determine. The
reason for deferring the decision as to
ihe future Of the islands in this fashion
is because the administration is not
yet satisfied itself: 1t is not clear at
this moment what sound policy should
dictate ia the matter. Meanwhile, and
until The commission has satisfactorily
disposed OF the future of the islands,
the United States is to exercise q mill
tary government over Manila harbor
and bay. The commission will be ac-
tuatiy Il peace commission, and will
prepare the treaty which will termin-
ate the war with Spain. However, a
suspension of hostlities may soon be de-
clared when the Spanish government
shall definitely accept the conditions
above laid down and renounce it's au-
thority over Cuba and Porto Rico
notwithstanding the fact that he now
has direct cable to Washington. NJ
General Miles sent no message during
the day. and all that was heard from
him was contained in a belated tele az,
gram on his arrival at Ponce.
II is believed General Miles has sue
ceeded in his plan Of intercepting
The troops
Acting on the recommendation Of
Surgeon General Sternberg, Secretary
Alger has practically concluded to
abandon Camp Alger, near this city,
because of the dissa tisfaction with the
sanitary conditions there, as exhibited
by the large number of sick soldiers
The change will not be made immedi-
ately. however for it is not positively
known yet which regiments now in the
camp will be withdrawn to make UP the
total of about 5000 required to be sup
piled to General Wade'S command, and,
in the second place. it is believed to be
absolutely essential to have the new
camps selected with the greatest care
and put in perfect order for the recep-
ton of troops before any attempt is
made to install them. Major Heistand
and Surgeon Smart. who have been
making a tour through Pennsylvania
recently returned today and reported
the result of their search for camp
sites to Secretary Alger. Further in-#