The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-08-11
The Spanish Government Has Yet to
Act Upon II.
CESSATION OF HOSTILITlES.
II is Believed That the Protocol Carries
Provision for This Within ITSELF
Naval Officials Believe in Napo.
IeOnic Policy-TrOops sun
Being Sent 10 Gen.
Merritt.

WASHINGTON. Aug. 1o.-The prelimi-
nary negotiations looking toward tho
confirmation OF peace advanced a long
step to-day. when the Secretary Of state
and the French Ambassador agreed upon
the terms upon which future negotiations
for a treaty are TO be conducted, and re-
duced this TO the form of a protocol. Tho
protocol 1t is true, is yet TO be signed
and is 10 be submitted 90 the Spanish
Government before tho formal signatures
are affixed. but the administration view
as 20 the progress made to-day is set out
In Secretary Days sentence. "lt Is eN-
pectod that this protocol Will be exc
Cuted.'
WATCH SPAIN.
There Is always the possibility I'm deal
Ing with the Spanish Government that
50 may recede al the last moment from
an implied agreement, but IL IS scarcely
probable that II would be willing 10 in
volvo the French Abassador In the DIM
oulties that would follow what TO the
world would seem 10 be % benevolent el-
fort I'm behalf OF Spain.
There must be delay-possibly from
twenty-four to forty-eight hours-before
the next step can be taken and the pro-
tOcol made binding upon both the United
States and Spain by the attachment of
the signature Of the plenipotentiaries.
Secretary Day for the United States
and VI. Cambon for Spain. The
delay will be largely attributable to
physical causes.
The protocol is long: it must be trans
lated and turned back and forth into code
and cypher language no less than five
Il b. ssfrH,
the French foreign o1hce. This work was
not begun until late this afternoon. after
70 had consumed the best energies of
Assistant Secretary Adee. Of the Stale
department. and NJ Hhiebaut secretary
Of the French embassy. I'm the preparation
in formal shape of two copies of the
protocol. one in English and one i'm
French.
These were prepared very carefully the
idiOmatic variance i'm the two languages
nccessitating the greatest caution. I'm
order that the identical character OF the
two copies should he preserved.
The length of the protocol imposed
great amount of labor upon the cipher
clerks so that altogether 10 is apparent
tho consumption of time involved I'm
purely mechanical functions will be so
considerable as 20 make the rendition OF
an early answer impossible.
OUR TERMS AGREED TO.
As TO the character of the protocol it
can be stated on authority that the terms
are in an practical points those set out
In the abstract OF the Presidents condi-
tions published from the White Ouse
week ago From this fact 10 is deducted
that the notifications sought 20 Dc lm-
posed by tho Spanish government were
abandoned in least I'm large part.
This deduction is supported by the cir
Cumstanccs that in the early morning
and before the conference between Sec
retary Day and NJ. Cambon, which re-
suited in am agreement there was prev
alcnt impression based upon the utter
ances of public men who had talked with
the President. that the Spanish answer
was unsatisfactory and that the negotia-
tious looked as IL they might terminate
suddenly. As This situation change so
suddenly after the conference, IL may be
fairly assumed that the ambassador
abandoned the conditions which the
President was reported TO have regarded
as unsatisfactory.
HOsTuITIES TO CEASE.
II IS believed that the protocol carries
within Itself provision for the cessation
of hOstinties. ON this point the naval
contingent urged that our government
adopt the Nap0loOnic OF refusing TO enter
into "a armistice without requiring some
substantial pledge TO secure the consum-
nation Of peace What they particularly
desire Is that our government shaA de-
mand as condition OF cessation OF hostil-
ties the surrender to the United states
forces. Moro Castle al the entrance OF
Havanna harbor and some such points
al the other important ports In the ter
ritory soon TO fall under our control
SELECTING THE COMMISSIONERS
The peace negotiations are now be-
lieved To a point where the President has
felt warranted in turning his attention
10 the selection of the commissioners TO
be charged by the United States with the
drafting Of Eeaty Of peace so far as be
gathered. but one name has positively
To be determined upon. namely that OF
Secretary Day. who wilf head the COM
mission. Beyond that point there is no
certainty, although some prominent
names have been brought forward. AIR.
Woodfora. our last Minister 20 Spain.
has been so mentioned, though he is
credited with entertaining "a desire 10
return 20 Madrid IN the capacity OF
United States Minister after the war. the
two ambitions might conflict peace
commissioner not always being welcome
as a minister resident particularly Wneie
he has been q party TO forcing an op-
noNlous peace upon tho country 10 Whloh
nc fr lN iN NNtifNNatNNs NfAiN RA ht.f -''t-
that finds universal approval among per
SONS Nerscd m diplomacy Is tnat OF Mr.
Eustis cN-AmbassadOr 20 France whose
staunch Amcrlcanlsm. combined with al
piomatic know ledge and legal ability. are
urged as fitting him especially for ap-
pOintment as peace commissioner
liz Is a DEMOCRAT
The fact that Mr. Eustis Is a Democrat
would not mitigate his chances, as ID IS
presumed the President would rather pre-
fer 60 make the commission non-partisan.
The naval officers have made up their
minds that peace is az hand, and are
planning FOR "a reduction OF the naval
establishment 20 a peace basis The FIRST
step TO be taken VIII be the retirement
OF the monitors from active service. They
are uncomfortable crafts 20 live I'm. and
afford the men little opportunity for
general training.
ARRANGING PROMOTIONS.
Another matter which has received at
tentiou is the promotions to be accorded
10 officers who have distinguished them