The herald., 1898-08-03
A QUIET SESSION
CABINET TALKS OVER THE
TERMS OF PEACE
They Give an Authorized Statement
to the Press-Every Detail
Considered

WASHINGTON, Aug. 2-The cabinet ses.
sion today which had promised to be I'M
portant In view Of the pending peace prop
csitions, proved to be uneventful. IT oc: l.
pieo an hour and ten minutes, but most Of
Tie time was devoted TO O statement, SUD-
Sequently given to the press briefly sum-
thariaing the terms of peace. Aside from
the discussion of this statement which was
carefully drawn and scrutinized line by
hne by the members of the cabinet, with
unusual precaution, for diplomatic rea-
sons, the meeting was devoted largely to
the talking over of minor war details
The informal exchange of views Of in H.
vidual members during the meeting indi-
Gated a strong belief in peace, though no
word of any kind had yet come from the
Spanish government. One member of the
cabinet, after the meeting, said he ex-
pected the Spanish reply. would be made to
this government sorie day this week. but
that when peace Could be made operative is
problematical and might require two
months or more
The session was marked by an absence
OF news from the front in any direction.
Official Terms
WASHINGTON, Aug. 2-The following
VI an official statement given out by the
authority of the president today as to the
terms OF peace offered by the United
States:
IN order to remove any misapprehensi sion
In regard to the negotiations as to peace
between the United States and SPAIN it Is
deemed proper to say that the terms Of
Tered by the United States to Spain in the
note handed TO the French amba ssador on
Saturday last are In substance as follows:
= Inc president does not now put forwar I'd
any claim for pecuniary indemnity, but re-
quires the REIMBURSEMENT of all the claim
OF sovereignty over or title to the island
OF Cuba, as well as the immediate evacua-
don by Spain OF the island: the cession to
the United States and immediate Evacua-
ton Of Porto Rico and other islands under
Spanish sovereignty In the West Indies and
the like cession of an island in the La
drones. The United States will occupy and
hold the city. bay and harbor of Manila,
pending the conclusion of a treaty of peace.
which shall determine the control, disposi-
tion and government of the Philippines
II these terms are accepted by Spain in
their entirety 1t is stated that commission
ers will be named by the United States to
meet commissioners on the part of Spain
FOR the purpose of concluding a treaty of
peace on the basis above indicated.
A Hopeful Sign
WASHINGTON, Aug. 2.-Up to the time
the Cabinet met today no word had come
from Spain either directly or through the
French Ambassador. in response to the de-
mand of the United States. Notice was
taken of the statement from Madrid that
F,,rf hav 49,
the Spanish government, but there has not
been any directed SO far to either the
State Department or the French Embassy.
The reference to further negotiations, how
ever, is regarded as a rather hopeful sign,
as tending to show disposition on the
part Of Spain to close early with our terms,
for 1t Is said that the expectation was that
the Spanish reJoinder would take the form
OF counter proposal, the effect of which
would be to lead to diplomatic sparring.
It has been admitted at last by members
Of the Administration that the terms of
peace laid down by the United States have
been practically stated with accuracy in
the press dispatches, and realizing the fu-
tility Of further concealment. some off,
cial character was to be given to the press
statements by formal declarations from the
White House.
Some such step has been In contemr,ot,or
for several DAYS past In Difference 20 rrass
ing requests not only from the newsnaners
but from number of public men. who felt
that the people should he taken nova thor
ouehlv into the confidence NJ tho adr,,n,...
tion. It was represented ON the othor hara
that the negotiations might he sar,o,,s,,
,eonardized by the i'll effect IN Sno,, of
nublica ton of the terms ;mnosed uon,
ever as has been ALREADY statod ~ s,,,
accurate newspaper publicat,ons dssor,n,,,,o
of the peace conditions have made n urna,-
cssary TO maintain secrecy lonper ana
when the cabinet met IL was the urdar-
standing that a short statement touoh,n.
the matter, though not Including the tex1
of the peace terms. should he made nub,,.
It is understood to be the nresent tntent,or
Of the administra ton TO assume all ua h,,,,,,
for all the claims presented nv Amsrioor
citizens against Spain on account ~ ini,,r,,
n nersonal propertv IN Cuba
some mart of this liabilitv MAJ, h.
cosed unon the government ~ Cvha ,ata
~ vhen that shall have heor as.ot,,.SI
~ include such cases az can hs airaat,.'
charged I'm against the insur,ent. -.
th.y have DESTROYED nronertv If Arar,on,
o,.,vans In the course of tbe,r ororat,on.
This a.sumntion bv Tho v,ctor,ov. nat,o
- tho I,a b,litv for neace cond,,,ons =. 80.
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