The Saint Paul globe., 1898-08-09

NtEsy--I Peace Com.
mission.
WASHINGTON, Aug. S.-The reply
of the Spanish government to the peace
conditions laid down by the United
States was received by the French am
b&ssador NJ. Cambon, shortly before
o'clock this afternoon The reply
came in sections, the dispatch first re-
ceived giving only the opening passage
of the Spanish reply few minutes
later another dispatch brought a second
section, and these kept coming uninter-
ruptedly by q procession of messages
until seven sections of the Spanish re-
ply had been received at ten minutes
of four, when the last part was still
TO arrive. In the meantime the cipher
experts were at work, and by 4:30
o'clock they were abreast of all that
portion of the reply received up to
then, and there was a lull for some
time pending the arrival Of the con-
Guiding portions. 1t was thought
terrific storm, which swept over Wash
1ngton about 4 o'clock, might have oc-
casioned delay Of the remainder. Pend
Ing the receipt of the complete reply,
no steps were taken to fix time for
conference with the president, as the
time for that depended largely upon
some of the features of the reply and
also upon the explicit instructions con-
corning the delivery Of the answer,
which usually accompany a document
of this solemn character. Neither at
the White house nor at the state de-
partment was there any official knowl-
edge that the reply had reached Wash
ington, and at the usual hour the Of
fees closed, with no appointment made
for a conference. There was felt to
be little likelihood, even though the am
bassador received the complete reply
and instructions, that there would be
night conference at the White house
for the purpose of presenting the docu-
ment.
The concluding portion of the Spanish
reply was received during the evening.
but it was not Until a late hour that it
was deciphered as a whole and gone
over by the ambassador. No effort was
made to communicate it to the United
States government tonight, beyond a
note to Secretary Day, advising him
that the document had been received,
but not disclosing its contents. 1t Is
probable the note will be delivered to
the president before the cabinet meet
Ing tomorrow, though no hour has been
fixed
There is complete reticence In all
quarters regarding the Spanish reply,
though it is believed In all quarters
that it is not a complete acceptance of
the American proposition, but accept
Ing the essential features, and hoping
for modification Of some Of the fea-
lures which the Spanish government
seems to regard as essential.
ANSWER SEEMS INDIRECT.
Pending the official delivery of the
answer, speculation was rife as to it's
contents. There was little or no fur
ther doubt that the length Of the reply
meant that Spain had not given SIM
pie and direct affirmative to the Amer
lean conditions. 1t was evident that.
II the reply was an acceptance, it was
accompanied by extended discussion
and probably by conditions. This caus-
ed considerable apprehension In Off
cial circles here, for, while it was felt
last week that Spain would surely
yield in every particular, it began to
be felt that possibly there might be an
other period Of discussion and possibly
an indirect attempt to open up diplo-
matte exchange on the nature of the
terms. The prevailing view, however.
was that the reply was on its face an
acceptance, although not such a one
as precluded all possibility Of further
discussion.
All vital points were believed to be
conceded-the abandonment Of Cuba.
Porto Rico and the Ladrones, and the
establishment of commission to pass
upon questions relating to the Philip
pines. In the carrying out of this pro
gramme, 1t was believed that Spain
would seek to secure an understanding
on many incidental points involved
some Of them Of considerable imnor-
tance
For instance, some doubt was raised
as to whether Spain's acceptance would
be operative until referred to and rati-