The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-06-20
MOTTO BE TAKEN SERIOUSLY.
Talk of Peace was Only on Part of a
Faction.

Wasbington- June lS-The cable report
from Madrid that newspapers tnere eoa"y
publish a manifesto in favor OF peace was
at first looked upon by the officials mere
as surprising and most impoi'anU 10
velopment On fuller conslderaoioh' ~"
ever, the impression prevails thao this
might be little more than an expression
from some of the many parties III Spanish
politics. Aside from the liberal anu oon-
sentative party there are many t 'et
factions and wings, one OF when ao aoaso
has favored peace, although tne Veam ao
suggested are not likely to make peaoo
possible. Beyond reading the press re- g.
port with interest, the officials mere nave
received no information that spain mas
considering peace proposition. Az tne
same time there would be little surprise
here II an actual peace movement, pacheu
By the Sagasta ministry, assumed denhiCe
shape at any time. Indeed it is generally
believed that the Spanish government
would be exceedingly glad to secure peace
and that it has already endeavoreo
through Senior Castillo, theSpanish am
bassador at Paris. to induce the powers TO
inaugurate a peace movement whlcn
would save Spain from complete humllla-
tion and at the same time give her terms
preserving her colonial possessions, VI
course from the standpoint of ofhclals
hers, emo such terms are possible ana
consideration of them would not even Dc
entered upon. The complete freedom OF
Cuba has always been sine qua non
of any peace proposalsand now that Ad-
miral Dewey is practically in possession
of the Philippines, it is likely that the
Spanish peace propositions would have to
go considerably beyond the surrender and
evacuation OF Cuba.
At the various embassies and legations
no significance was attached to the
Madrid report of the publication OF
lomat pointed out that these manifestos
were like South American revolutions
and changes in the French cabinet, quite
frequent, but not impressive as indicating
government policy. None of the foreign
representatives here has received the
slightest 1ntimation that peace move
ment is in the air and they hold the view
that peace is not likely to be secured at
the present juncture. They are beginning
10 make summer arrangements on the
OASIS OF continuance of the struggle.
A recent speech made by President
faure OF France gives the most direct IN
tlmatlon of peace overtures thus far
heard. The cable brought only BRIEF
reference to this speech, but the full text
OF it was given in the Journal Officiale OF
France, which has just besn received
here, shows M, Faure to have made the
following reference to peace:
In the name of working people you
have deplored the state of war existing
between Spain and the North American
republic. True to our national tradition
and the principles whicl have always
guided our policy we did not hesitate to
join other European powers who tried to
prevent final rupture. Unfortunately
these offers were vain and the conflict took
place. Today the same sympathies which
animate France in regard to the United
States as well as to Spain dictate to us
our duty. We are decided to observe
exact neutrality. We can only form
wishes that circumstances may offer to
them joint action of the neutal powers
and a prompt opportunity to display their
influence, to the satisfaction of both par
ties, in favor of the establishment of
peace. We do not doubt that these senti.
ments are in accord with those of the en-
tire world.