The Portland daily press., 1898-08-01
BY TUESDAY.
Spain's Reply Looked for
Tomorrow.

Washington, July 31.-Tbe persons best
informed as to the probabilities declare
shat the answer of the Spanish govern
ment to the terms Of peace outlined p5
5he government of the United States II
cot to be expected before Tuesday. iha
opinion is based upon knowledge o.
the time when the United States commu-
aication was received In Madrid wnlci
was not until an early hour this morning
he time required to decipher 1t, the me-
essity for an extended consideration ot
the matter by the Spanish cabinet ant
also the necessity for carefully formins
the rejoinder. 1t is not meant by thi
statement to question in any manner the
full plenipotentIary powers Of M. Cam
bon, the French ambassador in dealing
with the subject. On the contrary, they
ire in latitude wider than those usually
conferred in such cases. But his posit-
ion is somewhat similar to that Of the
President himself, who is obliged to Sc
cure the sanction of the United States
Senate to any treaty Of peace that he
may prepare, for the--ambassador must
submit to the Madrid cabinet for it's ap-
proyal any agreement that he may enter
into. But in the. drafting of such all
agreement he is fully authorized to pro-
ceed in his discretion and to guard
against any possibility Of repudiation of
his action, he has been given the minutesr
definition of the concessions that will be
made by the.Spanish governmenton every
point that by any possibility could be
expected to arise in, the course of the ne
gotiations. It was known to our govern
ment that NJ. Cambon had such powers
when he appeared yesterday afternoon at
the White House to receive the American
answer but once the President was salts
fed that he was competent to. .dealSin an
authorized manner with our government,
the production of his credentials was
hailed with satisfaction, as tending to
hasten the reaching of an agreement
without loss of time and in the most di-
rect manner, for technically the United
States is now treating with Spain with
ont the intervention of any third party.
It may be said also that NJ. Cambon is
proceeding with straightforwardness
toward his object and that there is no
fear of devious diplomacy being intro
duced into the negotiations.
There is much speculation as to the na-
ture of the amendment in the answer of
the United States that the ambassador
succeeded in inducing President McKin-
ley to make, after the document had tesn
so carefully construed by his cabinet.
All that can be knowingly stated is that
it relates to that part Of the answer which
deals with the future of the Philippines.
It is known that the Spanish efforts
were concentrated upon the retention OF
the islands, and the Madrid cabinet was
willing to make almost any sacrifice in
it's power to secure that end. Whether
or not the ambassador prevailed In this
is not known, but there is reason to be-
lieve that the success he attained was
limited and that the United States pro-
poses to retain some foothold little
more important than simple coaling
station in the Islands. Had our demand
been limited to q coaling station there
would have been no doubt of its accep-
tance and it Is even probable that he
concession might have been made OF
considerable tract of land for naval
station and supporting zone. But 1t is
believed that there was strenuous OBJ
lection to the cession of the city OF Ma
ni1a and particularly to the reference to
commission to discuss the question of
the future government of the island, for
the Spanish government is desirous that
it's full sovereignty shall remain IN
affected and without question. It is as
sumed that 1t was this point which was
the subject of amendment at the hands
of the President yesterday, though what
form that change took is still unknown.
AS some mention has been made in the
public discussions of the possibility of the
acquisition of one of the Caroline islands
it may be stated. authoritatively that the
matter has not been considered by the
cabinet up to this time.
The progress made in the negotiations
has given rise in some quarters to an ex-
pectation that hostilities are to be sus-
pended very soon. This will depend en-
tirely upon tho attitude of the Spanish
government and the nature of it's answer
to our demands. 1t has been ma1e clear
to the French ambassador that hostili-
ties will not be suspended except upon
the assurance of full acceptance of our
conditions and he has undoubtedly in
formed the Spanish cabinet that it de-
pends upon Spain when the war shall
cease.
Meanwhile, as an earnest that our gov
ernment has not interrupted the execu-
| tion Of its campaigns. an order was issueo
from the war department today Tor 1he
despatch of an entire army division "
reinforce Gen. Miles and Gen. Brooke III
Porto Rico. This will be known as tne
provisional division and will be COM
manded by MAJOR Gen. Wade, at present.
in command at Camp Thomas he Is
ordered to turn over that command W