New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-07-31
4 MEMORABLE CONFERENCE.
DISCUSSION OF PEACE TERMS B1 IRE
PRESIDENT AND AMBASSADOR
CAMBON.
CAM BON

Washington July 30.-The profoundly lmpoT-
,or, res,,lts devslcpei to-day came aoout most
unexnectedly. Ambassador Cambons call was
set for . o'clock. and it was expected to last
only few minutes, while the answer OF the
United States was being handed to him. But
since the original proposition OF Spain was pre-
sented last Tuesday. NJ. Cambon had prepared
himself to speak with authority on the questions
which were to arise. The President himselt
had preferred this course. although outside or
himself and the Ambassador few were aware
that the latter would come ready to treat as the
envoy of Spain.
The first instructions to VI. Cambon made him
merely a medium ot communicating SPANS
FIRST note. but now he appeared with all the at
tributes Of the direct diplomatic officer Of Spain,
empowered TO act for the Government within
his very complete instructions.
DISCUSSING THE TERMS.
Tie meeting was held in the Presidents IL
brarv. and both in the subjects discussed and
the impressive manner in which the argument
nroceeded It was a conference destined to be-
come memorable. After VI. Cambon had pre-
sented his credentials as Plen'potentiary and
they had been examined and his status recog-
nized as the envoy of Spain, the first business
was the presentation II the terms laid down by
the United States. Secretary Day read the
terms. pausing at the end ~ each sentence to
allow NJ. Thiebaut. first secretary Of the French
Embassy. 10 interpret them into French. as
the Ambassadors knowledge OF English is linn
tied This reading by Secretary Day and in
,erpretirg by NJ Thlebaut took only fifteen
minutes.
Then began the discussion point by point
The President and the Ambassador addressed
each other directly, with the greatest freedom
and frankress. each stoutly maintaining the
Justice Of his position on the several points in
volved When at last. after an eloquent plea
by the Ambassador. IT was agreed to modify
the conditions in one particular, Secretary Day
withdrew for half an hour and attended TO
drafting the modification.
NJ CAMBONS PLEA FOR SPAIN.
This accomplished the Ambassador addressed
himself to the President. not so much as the ad-
vocate Of Spain. but personally. having with the
President man FOR man. like interest In hu-
rnanity. 81 Cambon is man OF fervid
eloouence and he spoke with an intensity OF
feeling which made a deep impression on the
President and the others present He spoke In
French each sentence being caught up and In
terpreted by VI. Thebaut with rapidity. so that
the earnestness Of the Ambassadors expression
lost little by this indirect method Of communi-
cation. The President spoke with equal frank
ness. and in the long discussion there was
scarcely point In the whole range OF the war
which was not met and freely considered.
TIE MODIFICATION NOT KNOWN
what the modification Is that has been agreed
nnon can be only conJectured bu, there Is rea-
son 10 believe that II relates either TO the time
when actual hostill,es viii be suspended. or
else 20 the extent of American interests In the
Philippines. leaving unchanged the condition
that Spain shall withdraw from Cuba and Porto
Rico grant to the United States coaling stations