The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-08-02
Prospects of Holding a
Conference.
DIRECT NEGOTIATIONS.
Desired by Spain-AdverSe Criticism
Commented on by the London Times.
Proposal by Our Continued War Prep.
arations Camara's Fleet NJ Cadiz.
Miss SchIey Leaves Nadrid-Italy Be-
comes Impatient.


comes Impatient.
London, July 2e.-The Vienna CORE
spondent Of The Daily Telegraph says:
The prospect of a European confer
ence regarding the Philippines was
brought forward long ago, and there is
every prospect that the conference will
meet in Paris"
The Daily Mail understands that the
British transport Jolunga, carrying
grenadiers TO Gibraltar, was stopped in
cruiser.
The Berlin correspondent of The
Times says:
The terms of peace which America
proposes causes no surprise here. The
National Gazette remarks that the
United States have NOT won a victory
signal enough to warrant such hard
terms and expresses the opinion that
prospects Of peace are in consequence
gloomy"
The Times, commenting editorially
upon the suggestion of The National
Gazette, that the United States have
not won a victory signal enough to
warrant the hard terms they would
impose, says: This suggestion from
would-be friends Of Spain merely
shows that these critics fail to grasp
the military significance of Americas
sea power.Only by prompt and straight
forward dealings with President Nc
Kinley can Spain hope to prevent the
fruitiOn of American imperial policy in
the Pacific, The advantages of which
even peace-loving moderate Americans
cannot ignore"
SPAIN WANTS DIRECT NEGOTIA-
TON.
A special dispatch from Madrid says:
1.-THE government does not conceal
that it hesitated for some days to go
beyond an unofficial exploration at
Washington, because the diSplOmatic
agents employed to MAKE the sound
ings gave conflicting accounts of Pres
ident McKinley's disposition. One rep
resented him as eager to terminate the
war on moderate conditions: the other,
that the most onerouS conditions would
be imposed, so much SO that the Mad
rid government thought it useless to
sue officially.
when, however, it was seen that
the American war preparations contln-
ued, Duke Almodevar de Rio, minister
Ol 1OIclSH dldllS, wa lIlSllu NlCO =
send the note. The cabinet met We'd
nesday evening to deliberate as to the
best means and han of negotia-
tions. Paris and LOndo were both
discussed. No decision was arrived at,
but a majority favored sending Senior
Moret, former minister of the colonies,
on a special mission to London to ne
gOtiate the treaty of peace with Am
bassador Hay.
"Oficial feeling favOrs direct nego-
tiations, withou interference from out
siders, eve with regard to the Philip
pines. There is little doubt that if
President McKinley's reply proves an
acceptable basis, the negotiations will
not be protracted, since Spain, for
many reasons, is DESTROYS of a speedy
settlement, INT not the least so be-
cause at the present moment public
opinion is calm.
After today's cabinet council, Senior
Sagasta, the premier, said he had
grounds for hoping that an under
standing might be arrived at, but he
could say nothing definite. Duke lmO-
devar de Rio said the European cabi-
nets had been informed of the step
Spain had taken, but not as to the text
of the note sent to President Mckinley.
The cabinet council will not meet again
until Friday evening, by which time
President McKinley's reply is expect
ed"
CAMARA'S FLEET AT CADIZ.
Madrid, July 2S.-Captain Aunon,
minister of marine, has received a dis
patch from Admiral Camara, %announc-
ing that his fleet has cast anchor at
Cadiz.
The papers generally express the
opinion that the cortes will reassemble
in September.
Miss Jessie Schley, who came here
in the hope of an interview with Senior
SagaSta, on behalf Of peace, started
for Paris this evening.
London, July 2~9.-According to a dis
patch from Berlin a newspaper there
processes to know that the Porto
Rican colonial legislature has adopted
autonomy n has resolved to protest
against American occupation of the is
land as a violation of the principles the
United States went to war to enforce.
Berlin, July 2S.-The London corre-
spOndent of The Cologne Gazette says:
Il learn that the United States recent
ly requested Italy to abstain from
forcible measures to compel Colombia's
compliance with Mr.. Cleveland'S award
in the Cerruti claim, promising Amer
lean influence to insure the payment.
Italy replied that her patience was
exhausted and that she would abide
by the ultimatum of Admiral Cam
boani. The Washington government
thereupon applied unofficially to Great
Britain asking her to use her influence
at Rome in support of the American
request. England's reply is not yet
divulged.