The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-08-03
STILL WAITING ON SPAIN.
NO ANSWER YET RECEIVED FROM
MADRID TO OUR OFFER.

Offered-Apprehensi in Regard
to Philippine Situation stin Re-
maiEs.
Washington, Aug. although this was
the third day since the President delivered
to NJ. Cambon the terms offered by the
United States to Spain as basis of peace,
no answer came from Madrid. and, in
fact, was scarcely expected.
The press reports of the long cabinet
meetings held in the Spanish capital yes
terday indicated that the Spanish cabinet
was unprepared at least TO accept the
terms offered at once, aud without ap-
pearing 10 attempt TO secure some modif-
cation in the interest of Spain.
1t is felt that such course is absolute
ly imposed upon the Sagasta ministry by
the existing conditions in Madrid. Never
theless it is to be seen the President cher
lshes not the slightest intention of con-
senting to any essential modification Of
the conditions, and the slight delay that
has occurred in making answer is not be-
lieved to be discouraging nor to be taken
as a sign of the purpose of the Spanish
cabinet ultimately to reject the PROPOSE
tion
When the doors of the state department
closed this afternoon, it was realized that
owing to the difference of time between
Washington and Madrid there was little
chance of receiving the expected answer
before tomorrow, and indeed should IL
come tonight the French ambassador
would not be able to deliver it. because
the time required for it's translation would
make the hour too late, and the announce
ment could not be made until tomorrow.
The following Is the official statement
given out by authority Of the President
at the state department as TO the terms
OF peace offered by the United States:
In order to remove any msapprehen-
sion In regard to the negotiations as TO
peace between the United States and Spain
It's Is deemed proper to say that the terms
offered by the United States to Spain in
the note handed the French Ambassador
ON Saturday last are in substance as fol-
lows:
The President does not now put forward
any claim for pecuniary indemnity. but re-
! quires the REIMBURSEMENT Of all claim of
| sovereignty over the island of Cuba ms
well as the immediate evacuation by Spain
I Of the island; the eession to the United
| states and immediate evacuation of Porto
! Rico and other islands under Spanish SOW
| ereignty in the West Indies and the ike
cession of an island in the Ladrones.
THE United States will occupy and hold
the city bay and harbor of Manila pend
ing the conclusion of a treaty of peace
which shall determine the control. dispo-
sition and government Of the Philippines.
IF these terms are accepted by Spain
in their entirety, Ii is stated that commits
sioners 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 indi-
Gated"
The officials here make no conceaIment
of their apprehension of serious trouble to
follow the execution of our programme in
regard to the Philippines. The reports of
the military and naval commanders of late
have contained warnings of expected con-
flcts with the insurgents, and no surprise
will be felt at the receipt of news of an
outbreak at any moment
The United States goYrnment feels that
it has assumed a moral obligation towards
not only the foreign residents a Manila
but toward the unprotected classes of the
Spanish community, women, children
nuns and priests.
Therefore, when intima ton came that
the insurgents were threatening the lives
OF some helpless monks, orders were sent
to the American military commander to
Jock into he matter in the interest of CIVIL
ization and humanity. As according to re-
port. the insurgents have shown particular
hostility towards the monks il is a rea
sonab,e expectation that before long a col
lision will have occurred between them
selves and the American troops if the lat
ter undertake to interfere in the execution
Of the vengeance of the insurgents.
Some reports which have been received
from Porto Rico, but which for polite
reasons cannot be made public, have Civ
en- great satisfaction 10 the officials OF
the war department since they 90 to show
that the resistance which can be made
by the Spanish troops will be very little.
and it is even possible that Gen Miles
will achieve an almost bloOdless victory
In fact it has been suggested with some
plausibility that the Madrid government.
realizing the imminence of peace and the
lack of loyalty towards the monarchy of
the mass of Porto Ricans have allowed
the Spanish garrison Of the island to un-
derstand that they are not expected 10
sacrifice their lives in useless resistance
of superior force, so that all that is to
be expected is an informal opposition to
the progress of Gen. Miles triumphant
march against the island.
Gen. Skaters health reports to-day
state that he is now caring for over 5000
sick people including Spanish sick SOL
diers, many of whom were found to be
very ILL., The task is a formidable one and
the attempt to care for all hands proba-
bly, explains In a measure the lack of
adequate preparation for transports en-
ployed In bringing home some of the
wounded and sick. The conditions on
these boats were found 10 be so shocking
as to demand an immediate official inves-
tgation which was begun to-day. and
some court martials may be looked for In
high places unless il can be shown clear
ly that the lack of preparations was un-
avoidable
Mai Gen. Young called at the war de-
partment to-day fresh from the front,
where his health broke down under the
severe exertions imposed by the cam
paign He spent some time with Secre-
tary Alger, as did Maj. Gen. Wade who
has not yet been able 20 perfect the ar
rangements for his expedition 10 Porto
Rico.
For the transportation thereof the war
department Is making an effort to secure
the two American liners, Harvard and
Yale. late the New York and Paris, now
in the charter OF the navy department
and it is believed that the effort will be