Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1898-07-28
SPANISH DIPLOMACY
Madrid Government Showing Dis
position Not to Deal with Peace
Question Frankly.
HOPES TOCREATE PREJUDICE
Real Purpose Of Note Presented to Presi-
dent to Develop United States Position
Respecting Philippines Spain Must
Meet Further EXPENSES,

Washington, July est can be stated
on the authority of the State depart
ment and foreign embassies here that
there were no overtures in behalf OF
Spain for the cessation Of hostii..,!s,
until the Frei. IA ambassador. last Tues
day afternoon, presented note to the
president. This statement is made with
full knowledge Of European denials, and
must be accepted as that of the govern
a,ent of the United States.
y, Therefore, all talk about bad faith
esown by our government in pressing
/. ne Puerto Rican campaign during the
ast few days is absolutely without
foundation, and our government has
done nothing that can subject it to
criticism on this score. The charges of
bad faith against the United States at
tributed to Premier Sagasta are dis
credited as inventions designed to pre-
judice the successful progress of the
present peace movement. Even sup
posing there had been peace overtures,
military authorities regard Senior Sa-
gasta's alleged statement that peace
overtures operate to stay the course of
military operations as directly contrary.
not only to the military law of the Unit
ed States, but to the whole recognized
principles of international law.
1t is looked upon as showing dispo-
sition on the part Of Spain not to deal
with frankness and with the usual Gus
tom of international procedure, but
rather to adopt methods which will ex-
cite the foreign powers and create a
misleading prejudice against the United
States. This view is likely to seriously
prejudice the efforts of the Spanish gov
ernment toward opening peace nego-
tiations here and leads to the belief that
only the method of procedure which
will be clearly understood by Spain is to
push the war forward vigorously and
without recourse to evasiye diplomacy.
1t has been suggested in some quarters
that Spain has been disingenuous in
making the advance last Tuesday and
that the real purpose was to develop the
position of the United States respecting
the Philippines, hoping to secure the
active support of some of the European
powers While this belief is not serious
ly entertained by the State department,
the government, without regard to its
soundness, will proceed in plain, straight
forward way to let Spain know what is
expected of her ii she desires peace. 1t
should be confessed that little hope is
that Spain will at once &C.
cept the terms OF peace proposed. On
the contrary, wave of popular indigna-
tior is expected to sweep over the penin-
st1ia up0Ht announcement Gf the
cenditionsy which will cause the Span.
sshigovernment to drop negotiations and
light on. If there must be talk instead
of action upon the United States pro-
posal, Admiral Dewey and General Mer-
ritt will proceed uninterruptedly to ex-
ecute their program in the Philippines;
General Miles will continue to advance
upon San Juan de Puerto Rico and Com
modore Watson will head with a
squadron for the Spanish shores. As
these extensive movements will cost
great deal of money, the Spanish gov
ernment, if it delays, must expect to
meet the expense when it comes to a
settlement.
The present disposition of our govern
ment is to demand no money indemnity
from Spain for the $500, 900, 900 expense
of the war imposed upon the United
States. From this time on, however.
the Spaniards are to be held to good
faith by imposing upon them any further
additional charges to which the United
States is put. Although rejection by
Spain of our terms is expected in the
beginning, there will be steady pres
sure brought to bear that, it is expected,
Will lead to success in the near future.