The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-08-02


States in the Pacific or to diminish in
any vital particular the terms on which
peace will be restored The modifica-
ton brought about practical unanimity
between 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.
UNEXPECTED RESULTS.
The profoundly important results de-
velOped today came about most unex-
pectedly. Amba assador Cambons call
was set for 2 o'clock and it was expect
ed to last but a few minutes, while the
answer Of the United States was being
handed to him, but since the original
proposition of Spain was presented
last Tuesday. NJ. Cambon had prepared
himself to speak with authority on the
questions which were to arise. The
president himself had preferred this
course although outside Of himself and
the ambassador few were aware that
the latter would come ready to treat
as the envoy of Spain. The first in
structions to NJ. Cambon made him
merely a medium of communicating
Spain'S first note, but now he appear
ed with all the attributes of the dip
lomatic officer Of Spain, empowered to
act for the government The meeting
was held in the presidents library and
both from the subjects discussed, and
the impressive manner in which the
argument proceeded, it was a confer
ence destined to become memorable.
After M. Cambon had presented his
credentials, as plenipOtentiary, and
they had been examined and his status
recognized as the envoy of Spain, the
first business was the presentation of
1ai 1yr hn Troif cd Cfatn
government. Secretary Day read the
terms pausing at the end of each sem
tence to allow M. Thiebaut, first secre-
| tary of the French embassy. to inter-
| pret into French, as the ambassadors
| knowledge of English is limited. This
reading by Secretary Day, and inter-
| preting by M. Thiebaut took about fif-
! teen minutes. Then began the discus
sion point by point. The president and
| the ambassador addressed each other
directly with the greatest freedom and
| frankness, each StOutly maintaining
| the justice of his position on the sew
| eral points involved. When at last
after an eloquent plea by the ambas-
| sador, it was agreed to modify the
conditions in one particular, Secretary
D.. Day withdrew for half an hour and
| attended to drafting the notification
| This accomplished, the 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 interest in hu-
| manity. M. CambOn is a man of fervid
! eloquence, and he spoke with an in
| tensity of feeling which made a deep
! impression on the president and the
! others present. He spoke in French,
I each sentence being caught up and in
| terpreted by M. Thiebaut with rapidi-
| ty, so that the earnestness of the am
l he &C 6ny g cSc<i0 1o, -
| indirect method Of communication The
| president spoke with equal frankneSs,
! and in the lengthy discussion there
| was scarcely point in the whole range
| of the war which was not met and free
! ly considered.
| THE MODIFICATION.
! What the modification is that has
! been agreed upon can be only conjec-
| tured, but there is reason to believe
| that it relates either to the time when
| actual hostilities will be suspended. or
else to the extent of our interest in
| the Philippines, leaving unchanged the
, condition that Spain shall withdraw
| from Cuba and Porto Rico, grant the
| United States coaling stations in the
| Pacific and make important conces-
| sions in the Philippines.
1t is now for Madrid government to
| give final approval to what was par
| TALLY accomplished today. 1t is even
possible that this approval may come
very speedily, within a day or two, for
| there is no need of extended confer
ences or correspondence. All that was
accomplished today, when NJ. Cambon
| acted as plenipOtentiary. From the
! fact that he acted under instructions
the prospect would seem to be hopeful
| for Spain's ratifying what has been
done. 1t is for Spain herself to deter
mine between the issue of peace or
| war as now presented