The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-08-11

tOiy aug. IU.-lHe DIellml
nary negotiations looking toward the
confirmation of peace advanced a long
step to-day when the secretary of state
and the French ambassador agreed
upon the terms upon which future ne
gotiations for a treaty are to be con-
Quoted and reduced these to the form
of protocol. This protocol, it is true,
is yet to be signed and is to be sub
mitted to the Spanish government be-
fore the formal signatures are affixed,
but the administration view as to the
progress made to-day was set out in
Secretary Days sentence: 1t is be-
lieved that this protocol will be exc
cuted." There is always the possibility
in dealing with the Spanish govern
ment that it may recede at the last
moment from an implied agreement,
but it is scarcely possible that it would
be willing to involve the French am
bassador in the difficultie- that would
follow what would seem to the world
to be a reputation of his benevolent
efforts in behalf of Spain. There must
be a delay, possibly from "a to As hours.
the protocol made binding upon both
the United States and Spain by the at
tachment of the signatures of the plen-
ipotentiary, Secretary Day for the
United States and NJ. Cambon for
Spain.
The delay will be largely attributable
to physical causes. The protocol is long
1t must be translated and turned back
and forth into code and simple lam
reaches Madrid through the French
foreign office. This work was not be-
gun until late this afternoon, after it
had consumed the best energies of As
sistant Secretary Adee of the state de-
partment and NJ. Thiebault, secretary
of the French embassy, in the prepara-
tion in formal shape of two copies of
the protocol one in English and one in
French. These were prepared very
carefully. The length of the protocol
imposed a great amount of labor upon
the cipher clerks or whoever is charged
with the work of rendering the original
into cipher so that altogether it is ap-
parent the consumption of time in
volved in purely mechanical functions
will be so considerable as to make the
rendition of very early answer i'm
probable.
AS to the character Of the protocol. 1t
can be stated on authority that the
a
set out in the abstract of the presi-
dents conditions published from the
white house a week ago. From this
fact it is deduced that the extra condi-
tions and qualifications sought to be
imposed by the Spanish government
were abandoned, at least in part, by
the French ambassador. This deduc
tion is supported by the circumstance
that in the early morning, and before
the conference between secretary Day
and NJ. Cambon. which resulted in the
agreement, there was a prevalent inn
preston based upon the utterances of
the public men who talked with the
president that the Spanish answer was
unsatisfactory and the negotiations
looked as If they might terminate sud
denly. AS this situation changed so
suddenly after the conference, il may
be fairly assumed that the ambassador
abandoned the conditions which the
president was reputed to have regarded
as unsatisfactory. 1t is believed that
the protocol carries within itself pro-
vision for the cessation of hostilities.
On this point the naval contingent is
urgent that our government adopt the
Napoleonic policy of refusing TO enter
into an armistice without acquiring
some substantial pledge to secure the
of peace. What they par
desire is that our government
shall demand as a condition of the ces-
sation of hostilities the surrender To the |
United States military forces of Morro |
castle at the entrance of Havana harbor |
and some such points of vantage at |
the other important ports in the terri |
tory soon to fall under our control.
The peace negotiations are now be- |
lieved to be advanced TO a point where |
the president has felt warranted in turn |
ing his attention 10 the selection of the |
TO be charged by the |
United States with the drafting of a i
treaty of peace. SO far as can be gath |
cred but one name has been positively |
upon. namely. that Of Secre- /
tary Day. who will head the commits i
sion. Beyond that point there is no GER
tainty. although some prominent names /
have been brought forward. Mr.. Wood /
ford. our late minister TO Spain. has been 4
80 mentioned. though as he is credited 4
with entertaining a desire 10 return to /
Madrid in the capacity OF United States l
after the war. the two ambi-
lions might conflict, peace commits
'ioner not always being welcome as
minister resident, particularly where he