The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-07-30
DELAY Was Fatal.

Delay Was Fatal.
London, July 3O.-The Madrid cores
pendent of the Times explains that the
functions of NJ. Cambon. the French
ambassador at Washington in SPANS
approach to the United States was
merely that of a transmitting agen-
cy."
The correspondent proceeds:
The message was dispatched from
Madrid Thursday night The DELAY in
its delivery at Washington arose from
the fact that when Senior Polo de Ber-
nabe, the Spanish minister to the Unit
ed States, retired on the breaking off of
diplomatic relations and cOnffded the
interests of Spain to France and Aus
tria, he left only a single copy of the
diplomatic cipher.
When NJ. CambOn received the peace
message the cipher happened to be in
the possession of the Austrian col
league, who was out of town. The
idea is current here that but for this
delay the Porto Rico expedition might
have been indefinitely deferred.
This will not. however, stand the
test of careful examination
More Spanish Honor.
London. July 30 The Madrid cor
respondent of the Times says that ac-
cOrding to a newspaper statement, Sc
nor GamazO, the Spanish minister of
public instruction and public works
said in the course of an interview at
Madrid yesterday:
Spain has not asked an armistice or
even a suspension of hOstilities That
would be tantamOunt to beseeching the
enemy not to strike US. We shall new
er come to that.
1.-THE message to the United States
while recognizing the superiority of the
Yankee forces and their military oper-
atoms, is confined to terms so dignified
that when the document is published
no one will be able to say it is humili-
ating. 1t asks whether the United
States is disposed to make peace, but
requests neither truce nor armistice.'
The Times correspondent says Senior
GamazO added:
If Manila surrenders, the capitula-
ton will only apply to the walled town"
1t is feared. the correspondent re-
ports, that the peace negotiations will
not be very smooth or expeditions AL
ready there are premOnitOTy signs of
agitation against the inevitab BILE cOnces-
siOns, and the correspondent of the
Times considers it very doubtful
whether all the ministers have the NOR
al courage to accept the responsibility
and to face boldly a certain amount OF
unpOpularity."
Wants to Keep Porto Rico.
London. July 8O.-A special dispatch
from Madrid says:
Though it is not likely that the gov
eminent will decide to prolong the war
because of Porto Rico, considerable
feeling is manifested and every posi-
bic diplomatic effort will be made to
retain it.
Apparently there is little objection to
ceding a coaling station in the Philip
pines provided Spanish sovereignty is
respected in the island which in the
opinion of government and official cir
cles generally will afford cOmpensat ton
in commerce for the loss of the AntiI-
les, beside procuring occupation for the
West Indian army in re-esta bIshing
SPANS rule
The American reply is still anxiously
awaited Judging from press opinions,
anything beyond the cessiOn of Cuba
will be considered harsh and unjust.
This is the unanimous feeling among
even the strongest advocates of peace.
The people are beginning to realize that
peace Will mean almost a total loss of
colonies. and looking to the delicate
and difficult position of the queen re-
gent, great care is still necessary to in
duce the nation to accept the terms.
The CarliSt and republican papers
are making the most of the situation.
while many of the Catholic prelates de-
cline to comply with orders from the
vatican to censure the Carlist agita-
ton. FL Imparcials Rome correspond
ent says the pope is so displeased with
this attitude of the priests that he has
washed his hands of the whole af-
fair
According to Ell Liberal. the govern
ment would not allow even the loss of
some of the Philippines to hinder the
conclusion of peace, because it is very
doubtful whether the country would en-
dOrse sending an enemy of 40. 900 men to
crush the rebellion. One of the leading
Carlists here denies the reports of dis
sensiOn-
FL TeraldO publishes a warning as to
the necessity for closely watching the
Carlists as peace approaches. It is es-
timated that there are 10000 persons
out of employment in Catalonia.
How It Strikes London.
London. July 30.-Except upon the
unsettled point of the Philippines the
main lines of the peace terms were al
ready discounted here. The editorials