The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-07-31

| most mOmentOuS character occurred a
the conference at the White House thi:
afternoon between the president, Am
bassador Cambon of France. and Sec
rotary Day. carrying the peace nego-
tiatiOns far beyond the mere submits
sion of terms of peace by the United
States. and reaching the point Of q
preliminary basis OF peace between the
! government of Spain and the govern
ment of the United States. needing only
the ratification of the Madrid cabinet
in what was done today to bring the
war n an end.
This was accomplished on the part
| of Spain when Ambassador CambDn
| presented to the president credentials
| he had received from the Spanish gov
| eminent appointing him envoy ex-
| traordinary and minister plenipOtentia-
ry. with complete instructions as TO the
manner of acting upon every one of the
! peace conditions presented by the Unit
| ed States. including the disposition of
! Cuba, Porto Rico. the Philippines. the
LadrOnes, indemnity. armistice and all
| other questions likely to arise in the
course of the negotiations.
With these, credentials. authorizing
| him to speak as plenipOtentiary for the
government of Spain. and with full in
structiOns on every point at issue, Am
bassador Cambon, in behalf Of Spain.
not only received the peace conditions
laid down by the American cabinet
early in the day, but thereupOn entered
upon their final discussion with a view
to reaching a final and complete agree
meat.
After strong argument, the president
and Secretary Day consented to mod
ification of the American terms in one
particular. What that modification re-
lateS to is not disclosed, but it is be-
lieved not to apply to the condition for
the the absolute independence of Cuba,
the cession of Porto Rico, or the grant
ing of adequate coaling stations TO the
United States in the Pacific. or to d.
hlinish in any -Vital particular the
terms on which peace will be restored.
The modification brought about prac-
teal unanimfty between the president
and Ambassador Cambon as pltnipcte
tiary for Spain, and the latter has now
transmitted the results of the confer
ence to Madrid for approval. which, if
given, will end the war.
UNEXPECTED RESULTS.
The profoundly important results de-
veloped today came about most unex-
pectedly. Ambassador Camb0n's call
was set for , o'clock, and II WIS ex-
pected to last but few minutes. while
the answer of the United States was
being handed to him
But since the original proposition Of
Spain was presented, last Tuesday, NJ
Cambon has prepared himself to speak
with authority on the questions which
were to arise. The president himself
preferred this course, although outside
of himself and the ambassador. Jew
were aware that the latter came ready
to treat as the envoy of Spain The
first instructions to NJ. CsmbOn made
him merely a medium of cOmmulicat-
ing SPANS first note, but now he ap-
peaPed with ell the attributes Ct Ill
rect diplomatic officer of Spain. empoW-
cred to act for the government. within
his very complete instructions
The meeting was held IN the pres
dents library and both in the subjects
discussed and in the impressive naRrer
in which the argument proceeded. il
was a conference destined to become
memorable
PEACE TERMS READ
After NJ. Cambon had presented his
credentials as plenipotentiary and they
had been examined and his status rec
ognized as the envoy OF Spain, the first
business was the presentation OF the
terms laid down by the United states
government Secretary Day read the
terms, pausing at the end of each SEN
tence to allow NJ. Thiebault, FIST So
rotary of the French embassy, 10 IN
terpret il into French, as the ambaS-
sador's knowledge of English IS I'm
tied This reading by Secretary Day
and interpreting by NJ. Thiebault took
but 10 minutes. Then began TIE .l1- I
cussion, point by point. The president
and the ambassador addressed each /
other directly with the greatest free /
dom and frankly, each stoutiy mann
tanning the justice OF his position on |
q y
last, after an eloquent plea by the am
bassador, it was agreed 10 modify the (
conditions in one particular, Secretary
Day Withdrew for half an hour and 1
attended to drafting the modification
This accomplished, the ambassador I
addressed himself to the president, not /
so much aS the advocate OF Spain, but I
having with the president, /
man for man, a like interest in human 4
ity. N. Cambon is man of fervid 4
force. and he spoke with an intensity |
of feeling which made deep impress
sion on the president and the others !
present He spoke in French. each
sentence being caught up and inter-
preted by III. Thiebault, SO that the
earnestness of the arlb ass1d0r's ex-
preston lost little By this Indirect 7
method of communicated. I2e pres
dent spoke with equal franlSnesS, and
IN the lengthy discussion there WAS
a point ia tho whole range CT
the war which was not met and freely
What the modification is that has
been agreed upon can only be conjec-
tured, but there is reason 10 believe
that it relates either to the tine wnea
actual hostlities will be suspended or
Else to the extent of our interest in
The Philippines, leaving unchanged tie
condition that Spain shall Withdraw
from Cuba and Porto Rico. grant the
United States coaling stations in the
Pacific and make important conccs-
sions in the Philippines. IL IS now IL
the Madrid government 10 give iitoi
approval TO what was partially accom-
pIished today. 1t is even possible thst
this approval may come very SPEEDILY. /
within day or two, for there is no (
need of extending conferences or cor
All that Was accom- ,
Dlished today. when NJ Carbon acted i
as plenipotentiary- From the fact that .
ne acted under instructions, the pros
pect would seem to be hopeful for !