The Monte Vista journal., 1898-07-30

CoAsldef The Qusstloa-Torms Not Dles
c1sssA
Washington, July 2G-The Spanish
government has sued for peace, not In
directly through the great powers Of
Europe. but by direct appeal to Presi.
dent Mckinley. The proposition was
formally submitted 10 the President at
3 o'clock this afternoon by the French
ambassador. NJ. Jules Cambon. who
Ind received Instructions from the for.
elgn office at Paris to deliver to the
United States government the tender Of
peace formulated by the Spanish Cab
met. At the conclusion OF the confer
ence between the President and the
French ambassador. the following Ofii-
cial statement was issued from the
White House:
1.-The French ambassador, on behalf
Of the government Of Spain. and by d.
rection Of the Spanish minister Of for
eign affairs. presented to the President
this afternoon at the White House, a
message from the Spanish government,
looking to the termination Of the war
and the settlement Of the terms Of
peace"
This was the only official statement
made public. but II sufiiced to put at
rest all conjecture, and to make clear
and definite that mt last Spain had
taken the initintive toward peace.
The proposition submitted by the nm.
bassador. acting for the Spanish gov.
ernment, was quite general In terms.
and was confined to the one essential
point Of an earnest plea that negotin-
tons be opened for the purpose OF
termination OF the war aud arriving nj
terms Of peace. The communication
OF the Spanish government. did not
suggest any specific terms OF peace.
nor was amy reference made to Cuba,
the Philippines, Porto Rico or other
Spanish possessions.
The evident purpose Of the Madrid
authorities was to first learn whether
the United States would treat on the
subject OF pence, and afterwnrd to take
up such terms ms the two parties might
suggest. Neither was there my sug-
gestion from the Spanish government
that nn nrmistice bc established pend.
Ing the pence negotiations. 1t seemed
natural. however. from the proposition
that formal peace negotiations be en-.
tered upon: that pending their conclu-
sion cessation OF hostilities would
occur. Owing 10 the Importance OF
the communication. the ambassador
adopted the usual diplomatic procedure
OF reading the communication from the
original In French. the trnnslat ton he
Ing submitted by NJ. Thibcnut. In the
conversation which followed the read
Ing OF the proposition. neither the
President nor the nmbn ~sadOr entered
into the question OF terms of peace
The Instructions Of the ambassador
had been confined to the one essential
point OF opening peace negotiations.
and II was evident that the President
desired to consider the proposition Mt
this moment before giving any definite
reply.
l, was finally determined that the
President would consult the members
Of his Cabinet concerning the PROPOSE
tiOn. nnd that. after Il decision had
hen arrived mt. NJ. Cnmhon would
then bc invited to the White House for
n further conference and for a final
answer from the United States gov
ernmcnt. Before the cnll closed a
brief official memorandum wns agreed
upon. In order to set mt rest mislead-
Ing conjecture and to give to the pub
" information on subject which had
advanced beyond the pOin, where dip
Iomnilc reserve was essential.
When the President will submit the
Spanish proposition To the Cabinet has
not yet been announced. The call Of
the ambassador was two hours after
the Cabinet meeting Of to-day hnd
closed. and there will not he another
regular Cabinet meeting until Friday.
II Ii generally understood. however,
that special Cabinet meeting will be
held In order to make prompt reply
TO the proposition. Secretary Lonysar.
rived mt the White House shortly after
the French ambassador had departed
and had talk with the President. dur
Ing which the spanish proposal was
gone over briefly. Mr.. Long said after.
wards that II WIS an initial move. but
In reply to Inquiries an to whether Il
was likely To bring speedy cessation
Of hostili,ieS he expressed some doubt.
saying thnt no decision ON the points
Involved Ind hcen reached.
Naturally. the plcn Of Spain to open
peace negotiations opens up q wide
nel1 Of conjecture on what the terms
Of peace Will he. Thus far there II no
oficial warrant for saying what terna
the United States will ofer or Accept
No FAR ~ this country II concerned. Il
II the general Impression that the com.
plete Spanish evacuation Of Cuba and
Iorto RLco will lse insisted upon as Q
sine quo non. There Il not the came
certainly NJ to the Philippines. Ia.
droues and Caroiinca, although the be.
lief h growing that the terms Of the
United States will include coalIng sta.
tIons In th~~e groups.
secrctarics bay. Algrr and Long
were at the white House during the
afternoon. and Ia the evening the Prs.
ident was Joined by kscrtarics Bliss
and Wllson aud l'ostmas,cr General
Smith. There was no Cabinet meeting
In the ordinary s,nsc. hut these talks
with Individual members served about
the sntnc purpose ~ u formal meeting
u wsn understood the President would
In prepared to give au spswcr within
the next few days. md certainly ls..
fore the next regular Cabinet day, on
Friday. No intimntIon came froui nny
oeiscinl sotirrr NJ To the probable char.
actcr of the answcr. Ther~ were strong
iniinintions. however. that there would
tc no acceptance, which would Imply
the stopping of il,~ wnr when ihe
American arms wer~ adding victories
nm Vtpfurts>a Tn atntha ~ mn = - wss. Ats