The Mena star., 1898-08-03
IHE TERMS OF PEACE.
Statement of What Was Offered Spain Given Out by Authority
 of the President.
OFFICIALS BELIEVE PEACE IS NEAR.
The Belief Based Upon CircumstantIai Eyi- dence Rather Than Upon Any Assur- anoe Received from spain Reports from Havana Show That BIanco Cannot Hold Out Much Longer.

Washington, Aug. 2.-The oabiue was in session an hour and ten minutes. It is positively stated that no word in any form has come from Spain, nor were there dispatches of any signifi- canoe from the front. There was no important action taken, so far as could be learned, except that it was decided to make public statement of our terms of peace. The official statement given out by authority of the president to-day as to the terms of peace offered by the United States is as follows:
 In order to remove any misapprehension in regard to the negotiations as to peace between the United States and Spain. it Is deemed proper to say that the terms offered by the United States to Spain in the note handed to the French ambassador on Saturday last are in substance as follows:
 | The president does not now put forward any claim for pccuniary indemnity, but requires the rslinquishment of all claims of sovereignty over title to the island of Cuba well as the immediate evacuation by Spain of the island; the ccssion to the United States and immediate evacuation of Porto Rico and other islands under Spanish sovereignty in the West Indies; and the like cession of an island In the Ladronea
 The United States will occupy and hold the city. bay and hsrbor of Manila, pending the conclusion of treaty of peace which shall de termine tho control disposition and govern mert of She Philippines
 If these terms are accso oted by Spain In their entirety, 1t is stated that commissioners will be named by the United States to meet cona- missioners upon the part of Spain for the pur- pose of concluding treaty of peace on the basis above indicated
 President Mckinley believes that the next 4s hours will determine the question of peace or continued war; Reports which he has received have shown the situation in Havana to be such that Blanco cannot hold out much longer and have convinced the president that Spain will accept hiS terms There will be no ha9- gling or bargaining as to the price ot peace. President McKinley'S note is an ultimatum which Spain must accept or reject It's acceptance will result in the framing of 8 treaty with the terms as . basis which will at once be submitted to the senate for ratification. Tine committee to deter~ mine the future of the Philippines will not be required to report prior to the ratification of the treaty, its decision to be incorporated in a treaty which will also be submitted to the senate for ratification.
 | There is not member of the admin istration who does not confidently be- lieve that peace is near at hand. It is belief based upon circumstantials evil dcnce rather than any assurance re- ceived from Spain. The reply of Spain to the presidents note on the terms upon which the United States will consent to peace is not looked for be- fore tomorrow, but when 1t comes the authorities are sanguine that 1t will be virtual, if not full, acceptance. The president told . number of his callers yesterday that he considered it certain that there would be m early terminati of hostilitiss. A cabinet member also said last night that he had reason to believe that peace would be an established fact inside of 45 hours He said, however, that he based this belief mainly upon the logic of the situation.