Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1898-07-27
PEACE NEGOTIATIONS.

The Spanish government, through
E. Jules Cambon, the French Ambas-
sador, has made formal proposal for
ending the war and arranging terms OF
peace to the United States government.
NJ. Cambon called personally on the
President and Secretary of State at the
White House yesterday evening, exer-
cising the prerogative Of an ambassador
in that respect, and presented note
authorized by the Spanish minister OF
foreign affairs, embodying the initial
overtures of the government at Madrid.
An hour after the interview ended the
President directed the following official
statement to be given to the press
1.-THE French ambassador, in behalf
of the government of Spain, and by di-
rection of the Spanish minister of for
eign affairs, presented to the President
this afternoon at the White House q
message from the Spanish government
looking to the termination of the war
and the settlement of the terms OF
peace"
The note handed to the President by
NJ. Cambon is a brief affair. 1t does not
propose any definite terms, but merely
asks the United State government for u
statement of the terms on which it will
be willing to cease hostilitie5 and ar
range peaceful settlement with Spain
Yesterday morning NJ. Cambon called
on Secretary Day and informed him OF
the mission with which he had been
instructed. 1t was arranged by the
Secretary of State and the ambassador
that they should meet at the White
House at 8 o'clock to allow M. Cam
bon to present the note directly to
President Mckinley.
At the appointed hour NJ. Cambon
appeared at the White House, accom-.
panied By the first secretary OF the
French embassy, NJ. Eugene Thiebault
Here they were met by President Nc
Kinley and Secretary Day, the note
was presented and an interview lasting
| for three quarters OF al hour ensued.
1t was understood the President in.
formed NJ. Camhon that he would moi
| be prepared TO give an answer until be
had had the opportunity of laying the
note before the cabinet and obtaining
their views.
A cessation of hostilities, it was said
would naturally naturally be one of the
first things looked for; and negotiations
| if the present situation should develop
them, would probably be carried on al
Paris between General Porter, the
United States ambassador there, and
the Spanish ambassador to France.
1t is stated that the terms of peace
are to be decided later and that nc
specific proposition has yet been pre-
sented by Spain. The general opinion
among officials in Washington is that
} the end OF the war is probably in sight
| There will be no cessation of hostilities
as at present planned, until Spain show:
willingness to concede all that the
United States will demand.
| Secretaries Alger, Bliss, and Wilson
and Postmaster General Smith spent
the evening at the White House dis
cussing informally the request of Spain
in regard to peace terms. They left al
midnight Secretary Alger, on leaving
said that Spain's overtures would have
NO effect on the operations ofthe United
States forces in Porto Rico and else
where.
A dispatch from Washington says: Sc
far as this country is concerned it is the
general impression that the complete
Spanish evacuation of Cuba and Porte
Rico will be insisted upon. There il
doubt as to the Philippines, Ladrone:
and Carolines, although the belief il
growing that the terms of the United
States will include coaling stations il
these groups.