The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1898-07-27
lnal annwer from the United States

final angwer from the United States
government. Before the call closed, q
brief official memorandum was agreed
upon In order to set at rest misleading
conjecture and to give to the public
information on subject which had ad-
vanced beyond the point where diplo.
matte reserve was essential.
Naturally the plea OF Spain to open
peace negotiations opens UP a wide
field Of conjecture on what the terms
of peace will be. Thus far there is no
official warrant for saying what terms
Spain~will propose. or what terms the
United States will offer or accept. So
far as this country is concerned 1t IL
the general impression that the COM
plete Spanish evacuation OF Cuba and
Porto Rico will be insisted upon as
sine ,qaanon. There 1s not the same
certainty as to the Philippines. La
drones and Carolines. although the be-
iicf-is growing that the terms Of the
United States will include coaling
stations In these groups.
On the part Of Spain 1t is believed
that she now had reached such reali-
cation Of her misfortune that she will
readily consent to terms for the evacu-
alton Of Cuba. and probably Porto
Rico. The Spanish desire is apparently
very strong for the retention of the
Philippines. although there is little
doubt that coaling stations there and
at other points would he conceded.
The matter Of war indemnity is for
future consideration. although there
does not appear to be disposition
among the officials here to pile up
heavy war indemnity against Spain IN
her present helpless condition.
During the late afternoon and even
ing the president conferred with most
of the members of the cabinet. and the
Spanish proposition was thoroughly
canvassed Secretaries Day. AIger and
Long were at the White House during
the afternoon. and In the evening the
president was joined ty Secretaries
Bliss and Wilson and Postmaster Cen
eral Smith. There was no cabinet meet
ing In the ordinary sense, but these
talks with individual members served
about the same purpose as formal
meeting. It was understood the presl-
dent would be prepared to give an
answer before the next regular cabi-
net day. tomorrow. No intimation came
from any official source as to the prob
able character Of the answer There
we're strong intimations, however, that
there would be no acceptance which
would imply the stopping of the war
when the American arms were adding
victories on victories, and the en-
barking on q vague diplomatic ne
gotiation. 1t was felt that this govern
ment had everything to lose in sub
tie game Of diplomacy, in which the
only certain element would be inaction
of our army and navy. For this reason
there was disposition in official
quarters to know what terms were in
sight before entering upon general ne
gotiations.
A prominent administration official
said after talking with cabinet officers
that In his opinion the situation was
not materially changed by the Span
ish proposition, and that the war
would be pressed with undated vigor
until something more tangible in the
way of peace terms was at hand. In
case the peace negotiations are opened,
the means by which they will be car
ried on are not determined, nor have
they been officially considered. 1t is
understood, however, that one means
likely to be proposed is to authorize
direct negotiations between Spain and
this country, Spain being represented
by Senor Leon Castillo. the Spanish
ambassador at Paris. and the United
States by General Horace Porter, our
ambassador to France.