The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-07-31

Washington, D. c., July 30.-EventsI
of the most momentous character occur
red at the conference at the White
House this afternoon between the Prcsi-
dent. Ambassador Cambon of France,
and Secretary Day, carrying the peace
negotiations far beyond the mere sub
mission of terms of peace by the United
States, and reaching the point of Il pre-
liminary basis of peace between the
Government of Spain and the Govern
ment of the United States, needing
only the ratification of the Madrid Cabi-
net in what was done to-day to bring
the war to an end This was accom-
plished on the part of Spain when Am
bassador Cambon presented to the Prcsi-
dent credentials he had received from
the Spanish Government appointing him
Envoy Extraordinary and Plenipoten-
tary, with complete instructions as to
the manner of acting upon every one
of the peace conditions presented by the
United States. including the disposition
of Cuba and Porto Rico the Philippines.
the Ladrones, indemnity, armistice, and
all other questions likely to arise in the
course. of the negotiations. With these
pIenipotentiary for the Government of
.Spain. and with full instructions on
every point at issue, Ambassador Cam
bon. in behalf of Spain, not only re-
ceiyed the peace conditions laid down
by the American Cabinet earlier in the
day. but thereupon entered upon their
full discussion with view to reaching
II final and complete agreement After
ctr ant ppnS al md
Secretary Day consented to modfica-
ton of the American terms in one parti-
cular. What that modification relates
to is not disclosed. but it is believed not
to apply to the conditions for the abso-
lutte independence of Cuba, the ccssion
Of Porto Rico, or the granting of ade-
quate coaling stations to the United
States in the Pacific. or TO diminish in
any vital particular the terms on which
peace will be restored. The modification
brought about practical unanimity be-
tween the President and Ambassador
Cambon, as plenipotentiary for Spain,
and the latter has now transmitted the
results of the conference to Madrid for
approval, which, if given, will end the
war.
The profoundly important results de-
veloped to-day came about most uneX-
pectedly Ambassador Cambons call
was set for o'clock, and it was expected
to last but Il few minutes while the an
swcr of the United States was being
handed to him. But since the original
proposition of Spain was presented last
Tuesday, Nj. Cambon had prepared him
self to speak with authority on the ques-
tons which were to arise. The President
himself had preferred this course, al
though outside of himself and the Am
baSsadOr few were aware that the latter
would come ready to treat as the envoy
of, Spain. The first instructions to M.
Cambon made him merely Il medium of
communicating Spain first note, but now
he appeared with all the attributes of
the direct diplomatic officer of Spain, en-
powered to act for the government with
in his very complete instructions.
The meeting was held in the Prcs-
dents library. and both i'll the subjects
discussed and in the impressive manner
III which the argument proceeded. 1t was
conference destined to become mcmor-
able. After NJ. Cambon had presented
his credentials as penipotentiary. and
they had been examined and his status
recognized as the envoy of Spain, the
terms laid down by the United StatesGov
ernment. Secretary Day read the terms.
pausing at the end of each sentence to al
low NJ Thehaut, First Secretary of the
French Embassy to interpret into
French. as the Ambassadors knowledge
of English is limited This reading by
Secretary Day and interpreting by NJ
Thieubeaut, took but fifteen minutes
Then began the discussion point by point
The President and the Ambassador adj
dressed each other directly with the
greatest freedom and frankncss. each
stoutly maintaining the justice of his
position on the several points involved
When at last. after an eloquent plea
by the Ambassador, it was agreed toI
modify the conditions in one particu
lar, Secretary Day withdrew for half
an hour and attended to drafting he
modification. This accomplished thel
Ambassador addressed himself to the
President, not so much as the advocate
of Spain, but personally, having with
the President, man for man, a like in
terest in humanity. NJ Cambon is a
man of fervid eloguence. and he spoke
with an intensity of feeling which made
n deep impression on the President and
the others present. He spoke in French.
each sentence being caught up and in