The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1898-08-03

OiTicial advices have reached the presi-
dent in the form not only of press dis
patches, but of private dispatches
from confidential agents of the United
States government
While this government has strong
reasons for believing that its terms
of peace have been agreed to by the
Madrid government, the president is
taking nothing for granted. Arrange
ments for pressing the war to sue
cessful conclusion are going forward
precisely as If no negotiations for
peace were in progress. At a confer
ence between the president, Secretary
Alger and Adjutant General Corbln
last night a final decision was reached
as to the constitution of the provis-
ional corps for Porto Rico to be com
manded by General Wade. Secre-
tary Alger said that the corps might
be en- route to Porto Rico within a
week
Notwithstanding these warlike prep
arations, the belief In official circles
amounts to almost a conviction that
active hostillties practically have been
concluded. A prominent official of the
administration said:
"The end Is near, in my opinion.
The information thus far received Is
unofficial and meager, but that 1t Is
accurate, in the main we have no
reason to doubt. In fact, we have
reason to believe 1t Is correct"
1t Is understood that the reason"
referred to is contained in the private
advices received by the president and
from private dispatches received by
representatives. of foreign governments
at this capital
In the event of Spain's acceptance
of the terms proposed by this country
the first step probably will be towards
an agreement to close active hostill-
ties, pending the drafting of a treaty
of peace along the lines of the ac-
cepted terms. According to prece-
dents ordinarily regarded an armistice
would be proclaimed, and In the cir
cumstances this would mean the
practical close of the war.
1t is pointed out, however, that sew
eral precedents have been set aside
by this government in the conduct of
the war and in the treatment of events
which led up to it. One notable in
stance In which recognized diplomatic
precedents were swept away was the
personal demand made by Secretary
Day upon Minister De Lone to know
whether the Spanish minister was the
author of the letter rejecting upon the
president. Another precedent was rele-
gated to the past when the government
decided to return to Spain the pris-
oners of war taken with the surrender
Of Santiago.
Precedents have been disregarded
In other instances by this government.
In view of this fact, therefore, prece-
dent may not govern absolutely in the
conduct of the peace negotiations.
The terms proposed by this govern
ment provide for a joint commission
to draft peace treaty and to solve
the difficulty relative to the future
government of the Philippines. 1t
has been suggested that the commits
sion may assemble In Paris, but as yet
that is the merest conjecture. The
commission might meet in either OF the
belligerent countries
Pending the conclusion of the work
Of the commission the probabilities
are that the armies of both Spain and
the United States will be kept in the
field, their relative positions remain
ing unchanged during the diplomatic
negotiations Here again, however,
precedent may be put aside by the
United States.