Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1898-07-30
SPAIN SUES FOR PEACE,
lhltlal Stop Taken Through the
French Ambassador.

quest on to BE Canyasscd by the Cabinet
"l'r winch Answer win he Returned
through the Same Medum-Cessa-
ton of iiostilitios Probable.
WASHINGTON. July 27.--The Spanish
| government has sued for pcace-not
indirectly, through the great powers
ot Europe, but by Il direct appeal to
President Mckinley.
The proposition was formally sub
mltted to the president at 3 o'clock this
afternoon by the French ambassador.
NJ. Jules Cambon, who had received in
s'rncuons from the foreign Office at
iariS to deliver to the United States
government the tender of peace form
ulated by the Spanish ministry.
AT the conclusion of the conference
between the president and She French
ambassador, the follow ny official state
ment was issued from the White House:
THE French ambassador, on behalf
OF the government of Spain, and by
direction of the Spanish minister of
foreign affairs, presented to the prcsi-
Cent, this afternoon, at the White
| House, a message from the Spanish
government, looking to the termina-
tlon OF the war and the settlement of
terms of peace.
This was the only Official statement
made public, but it su1iced to put at
rest all con lecture and to make clear
and definite that at last Spain had
taken the initiative toward peace. Al
though peace rumors have been cur
rent almost daily heretofore since the
war began, not one of them had the
shadow Of foundation, and until the
French ambassador received instruc.
tions from Paris, late last night, 1T
oyerturcs of any kind had been re
ccived.
Initial step Monday Night.
Shortly before midnight last night 9
dispatch to the French embassy mad,
it known to the embassy that the am
baSsador would be charged with th,
important mission of opening peace ne
gotiations in behalf of Spain. Tn,
complete instructions, including an of
fetal letter from Duke Almodovar d,
Rio, Spanish minister of foreign af
fairs, were received this morning
Thcreupon, NJ. Thiebaut. first sccretar,
of the embassy, called at the state dc
| partment and asked that an hour b
g appointed for call by AmbaSsado
Cambon ON the president. The purpos
t of the call was not stated. 1t was al
1 ranged at the White House that tn
=. call should be made at o'clock.
NJ. Cambon first went to the stat
i department, where he was joined b
t Secretary Day, and the two then pr'
,eedcd together to the White llous'
!, The call lasted about half an hour, an
c after the first formalities had bee
e executed by NJ, Cambon, the talk b
came general and quite informal, Il
5 president, the ambassador and the So
l. retary of state discussing the outloc
d for Il conclusion Of hostilitieS.
= Proposition "A General One.
d The proposition submitted by the Al
= bassador, acting for the Spanish 80
W arnment, was quite general in term
i" and was confined to the one essenti
" point Of an earnest plea that ncgoti
~ tions be opened for the purpose of te
~ minating the war and arriVingat teri
of peace. The communication OF Il
y, Spanish government did not suggt
" any specific terms of peace, nor was al
" reference made to Cuba, the Philippin,
II Porto Rico or other Spanish possession
=; The evident purpose of the Madrid a
- thorities was to first learn whether t
United States would treat on the su
=, iect of peace, and after that to take
such terms as the two parties mig
u suggest. Neither was there any su
pestion from the Spanish governme
=. that an armistce be established per
ho ing the peace negotiations. 1t seem
~ natural, however, from the propositl
n that formal peace negotiations be
re- tered upon. and that, pending tn
i, conclusion. a cessation of hostilit
IN would occur.
Ile In conversation which followed
reading of the proposition, neither
president nor the ambassador enter
upon the question of terms of pea
id The Instructions of the ambassador l
an confined him to the one essential'po
OF of opening peace negotiations, and
re was evident that the president dcsil
ce to consider the proposition at this
mp ment before giving any definite rer
on Goes to the Cabinet.
w 1t was finally determined that
oi president would consult the memb
~ of his cabinet concerning the prop
~ y, tion. and after decision had been
~, rived at NJ. Cambon would be inv
=" tn the White House for further c
ference and Tor final answer from
81 United States government Before
:. call closed, a brief official memorand
nd was agreed upon in order to set at
no misleading conjectures, and TO give
inn the public information on SUB,
,,v which had advanced beyond the pc
mt where diplomatic reserve was essent
lrv When the president will submit
ith Spanish proposition to the cabinet
ps, not vet been announced Inc cal
md the ambassador was two hours n
ON. the cabinet meeting of today
er. closed, and there will not be anot
regular cabinet meeting until Eric
It is generally understood move we
., that a special cabinet meeting VIII
~ held in order to make prompt repl.
On the proposition. ~,
. Secretary Long arrived at the "
net House shortly after the French
civ bassador had departed, and had
soy with the president, during whlcn
Spanish proposal was gone over orl'
all Mr.. Long said afterward that ~ wa
initial move, but in reply to lnqn'
mid as to whether it was likely 10 p'
n speedy cessation of hostilities' ne
ext presscd some doubt. saying that nc