Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1898-07-29
SPAIN WANTS PEACE.
SIZE AT LAST TAKES INITIATIVE TO
END THE WAR.


the French Ambassador-Wants to know
What our Terms VIII BE to Cease Hos
tIitfes-Views of the Cabinet
Washington, July 26.-The Spanish
government has sued for peace, not in
directly through the great powers of
Europe. but by direct appeal to Pres-
dent Mckinley. The proposition was
formally submitted to the president at 3
o'clock this afternoon by the French
ambassador. NJ. Jules CambOn. who had
received instructions from the foreign
office at Paris to deliver to the United
States government the tender of peace
formulated by the Spanish ministry. At
the conclusion of the conference between
the president and the French ambassador
The following official statement was is
sued from the White House:
.sThe French ambassador, on behalf of
the government of Spain, and by direc-
tiou of the Spanish minister of foreign
affairs. presented to the president this
afternoon at the White House message
from the Spanish government looking to
the termination of the war and settle
ment of terms of peace
This was the only official statement
made public, but it sufficed to put at rest
all coniectures, and to make clear and
definite that at last Spain had taken the
initiative toward peace. Although peace
rumors have been current almost daily
heretofore since the war began, not one
of them had the shadow of foundation,
and until the French ambassador re-
ceived instructions from Paris late last
night no overtures of any kind had been
received. Shortly before midnight last
night a despatch to the French embassy
made it known to the embassy that the
ambassador would be charged with the
important mission of opening peace ne
gotiations in behalf of spain. The com
plete instructions. including an official
letter from Duke Almadover Rio Spanish
minister of foreign affairs, was received
this morning ThereupOn NJ. Thiebaut'
first secretary of the embassy. called at
the state department, and asked that an
hour be appointed for call by Ambas-
sador CambOn on the president Ihe
purpose of the call was not stated. 1t
was arranged at the White House that
the call should be made at o'clock. NJ
Cambon first went to the state depart
ment. where he was joined by Secretary
Day, and the two then proceeded to-
gether to the White House.
The call lasted about half an hour and
after the first fOrmalities had been eX-
planned by NJ. Cambon, the talk became
general and quite informal, the president,
the ambassador and the secretary of
state discussing the outlook for con-
clusion of hostiities.
The proposition submitted by the am
bassador acting for the Spanish govern
ment was quite general in terms, and
was confined to the one essential point
of an earnest plea that negotiations be
opened for the purpose of terminating
the war and arriving at terms of peace.
The communication of the Spanish
government did not suggest any specific
terms of peace, nor was there any refer
ence made to Cuba, the Philippines
Porto Rico or other Spanish possessions.
The evident purpose of the Madrid
authorities was to first learn whether
. the United States would treat on the
subject of peace, and after that to take
up such terms as the two parties might
suggest. Neither was there any sug-
geston from the Spanish government
d that an armistice be established pending
the peace negotiations. 1t seemed
natural, however, from the proposition
. that, if formal peace negotiations be
entered upon, pending their conclusion
a cessation of hostilites would occur
Owing to the importance of the com
munication the ambassador adopted the
usual diplomatic procedure Of reading
4 the communication from the original, in
. French, the translation being submitted
3 by NJ. Thiebaut. In the conversation
which followed the reading of the propo
sition neither the president nor the am
. bassador entered upon the question OF
the terms of peace. The instructions OF
the ambassador have confined him to the
one essential point of opening peace ne
gotlations, and it was evident that the
president desired to consider the propo
sition before giving any definite reply
1t was finally determined that the presi
dent would consult the members of hi!
cabinet concerning the proposition, anC
after a decision had been arrived at NJ
Cambon would then be invited to thu
White House for further conference anC
for final answer from the United State
government. Before the call closed,
( brief official memorandum was agreed
upon in order to set at rest misleading
s conjecture and to give to the public in
formation on a subject which had ad
vanced beyond the point where diplo
matte reserve was essential.
When the president will submit tn
Spanish proposition to the cabinet ha
not been announced. The call of the an
bassador was two hours after the cab
net meeting of today had closed, an
there will not be another regular cabine
meeting until Friday. 1t is general
understood, however, that specit
cabinet meeting will he held in order
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