Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-08-04
A Long and Highly Important Con-
ference Took Place.
DISCUSSING THE PEACE SITUATION
Some of the Points Spain Wants
Made Clearer.
r SPONS TO CAMBON

1
al morning in conference with President
! Mckinley regarding the peace situation.
| Secretary Long was present greater part
| OF the time and later there were with the
| President Secretaries Alger and Long and
| Postmaster General Smith.
| After NJ. Cambon had seen President Nc
! kinley and Secretary Day yesterday after
| noon it agreed that he and Secretary
! Day should have a more extended confer
| ence over certain propositions. According
| Iy they met last night and We're together
| long time All that was said and done was
| reported to the President today by the Sec
J rotary of State. The President and Secre-
| taIy undoubtedly decided on answers to be
| given NJ Cambon- These answers will
| probably be communicated TO Spains rep
/ resentative this afternoon or tonight, and
| will be forwarded to Spain.
| Pending this the answer of Spain to the
main propositions will be withheld. The
answer may be delayed several days, but
| the general understanding is that Spain
| will accept in toto the terms proposed to
| her last Saturday.
| The best information obtainable around
| the White House today is that Spain's &C
| ceptance of American terms has not been
| presented to the President and that at
| yesterdays conference with M. Cambon
| Spains representative, did not refer to a
reply to the note of the United States.
| Points to Be Cleared Up.
| NJ. Cambon is thought to have received
| from Madrid instructions to ascertain the
| position of this government on certain de-
| tails lot affecting the main propositions
| submitted. 1t was necessary, Madrid held,
| that there should be understanding or
! these "details before an answer to the main
| propositions could be sent.
| Among these details, it is said today, are
| the evacuation and transportation to Spain
| of Spanish troops; the continuance dis
| cortinuar ce of the blockade of Havana;
| the status of Spanish subjects and prop
| erty at Havana while an evacuation was
| in progress; the same status at Manila
| pending the work of the peace commits
| SIGN; hundred questions necessary to a
| settlement before a basis for peace can De
| agre ed upon. Having lost practically ev-
| erything, the Spaniards would naturally
seek every advantage in the settlement of
details. which. after all, important.
| Evacuation of Cuba.
| For Instance. it is said that Spain would
| probably desire to know how quickly the
| United States wants Spanish troops gotten
away from Cuba and Porto Rico and how
| the transportation should be carried on.
| She would probably express inability to get
| all of her troops away in months AMI
| would desire the assistance of the United
| States.
The rote sent to Spain last Saturday de-
| nGnded the Immediate evacuation of
| Cuba and Porto Rico. This word has
| limit to a country incapacitated to do any
| thing Immediately.
| In aDcuar 70 no n1,aStiop Of
| date evacuation of Cuba, the President is
said to have told NJ. Cambon that this
! country might not desire to at once step
| into Cuba with its troops. but it would iI.-
| sist on the immediate preparation of Spain
| for removal of her troops and the imme-
| date removal of at least a portion of the
| Spanish soldiers.
| As to the evacuation of Porto Rico the
| President will say to Spain that this can
| begin at once, as the United States will be
| in position tc replant the Spanish troops
| with American soldiers.
War Material ut Havana.
Spain is also said to desire an under
standing about the artillery, arms and am
munition at Havana and other points. She
desires to retain these.
| In fact the numerous details Spain wants
| Information about gives the President and
| Secretary Day a great deal of work and
study. The questions have to be answer
| ed and must be carefully answered
not to clog the swift-moving wheels OF
| peace.
The question of the evacuation of Spanish
| troops is by no means a small one. To
! Spain it is of the greatest Importance. To
evacuate Cuba is to end the war. leaving
only details to be settled. With her troops
|
| no way of renewing the war if she disliked
| the findings of the peace commission.
! Therefore it is admitted that she shows
| fol esight in wanting certain things made
clear before finally agreeing to accept the
| terms imposed by The United S rates. The
President is willing to answer these ques-
! lions and TO be liberal to Spain in doing so.
No Hint at Spain's Reply.
| The positive statement is made by a
| person of good authority that NJ Cambon
| has not yet referred to the final answer
| of Spain. Because ne has not done so, and
| has confined himself to the question of de-
tails. the adminisu alton has strong ground
! for believing that Spain is ready to ac-
cept the main terms
| 1t may be stated that the President is
confident that Spain will accept the main
| terms without modification, which would
| not be made If asked for.
| No Notifications.
The President and cabinet agreed last
| Friday that the terms submitted to Spain
| should be final; that notifications should
| not be made in any particular. NJ Cambon
was made acquainted with this determina-
| ton and so notified Spain. He was in Do
sition TO inform Spain that it would be
| useless to ask for changes in the main
| terms
| This understanding, as clear as crystal.
| puts out of question the stories that Spain
| has asked our intentions as to permanently
| holding Manila and Manila bay. If that
had bean her question the President would
| have quickly replied that our intentions
would be made known only when the peace
commission meets.
| Cabinet officials say positively today that
| Spain wouid get no satisfaction should she
ask anything about the Intentions of the
/ United States.