The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1898-07-27

answers in the affirmative then the nego-
tiations for terms win be opened between
commissioners or parties clothed with the
responsibility of bringing about a settle
ment Neither does the Spanish propo-
sition contain any reference to 'armis-
tice
idea that if peace negotiations are en-
tered upon there will be a Suspension OF
hostilities pending an agreement upon the
exact terms of peace. In this connection
there appears to be a distinction made Pc
tween the word 'armistice' and Suspen-
sion of hostilities," frow lille it Is said
the former Is not asked or expected, It
seems to be taken for granted that sus-
carrying forward the peace negotiations.
The Spanish proposition is clothed with
all the solemnity and formality OF 4 gov
eminent act despite the cable report
from Madrid that the peace proposal IS
of a private" nature The lnstruclions
to NJ Cambon bear the ofiicial Signature r.
lister of foreign affairs, and besides ex,
pressing the desires of the Cabinet ana
Government that the peace. negotiations
be opened, they are given the added sc,3
emnity of approval and earnest personal
request by Queen Regent MariaR Cris-
tina.
Madrid June 25. These fornalities dis
miss all question in the minds of officials
here as to the regularity of the Spanish
proposition as expressive of the wishes
of the government of Spain. Aside from
this NJ. Cambon is too much Of a veteran
in diplomacy to have embarked on any
private overtures toward peace.
As to the manner of conducting the
peace negotiations several plans are said
to be open besides that of having General
Porter and Senor Castillo, the United
States and Spanish Ambassadors al Paris,
respectively conduct them. One plan IS
to have Spain name peace plenipoten-
tiares who viii come directly to Washing
ton and conduct negotiations. This how
ever is said to be somewhat inexpedient,
as it would take nine days for the Span
ish plenipotcntiaries to reach Washing
ton. and there is every desire 10 aVold
delay.
Another tentative plan is to have Spain
name M. Cambon as the Spanish plenipo-
tentlary at Washington, thus conferring
ON him authority to treat directly with
the President and carry the negotiations
forward to a conclusion. 1t Is probable
that this plan will be more acceptable to
the United States as 1t would keep the
| negotiations at Washington and also
give them an agreeable personal charac-
ter as the authorities have the highest
regard for the ability and sincerity of the
French representative here
Those plans however, will not be set
tied until after the President gives his
answer to the first inquiry made by Spain
as to the willingness of the United States
to enter upon general negotiations Tor
peace.
Since the conference between the Presi-
dent and NJ Cambon both the French
government and the Spanish government
have been fully apprised of the action
taken at Washington and 1t is not i'm
probable that Spain within the next two
or three days will take another impor-
tant step forward, by voluntarily sug-
gesting what terms of peace she Will re-
gard as consistent
These, of course viii be initiatory. and
will be designed as a sort of opening
wedge toward bringing the. two govern
ments together on the final peace con-
dittons. From the standpoint of the
United States it Use for Spain to make
the first definite tender of terms, as she
is the one most interested IN terminating
the war It will then be for the United
States to say how far the terms are ac-
ceptable, and perhaps to suggest counter
terms
The yellow fever conditions are being
suggested as one reason favorable to the
conclusion Of peace, for it is being urged
that the material advantages which the
United States will gain by continuing the
war will be heavily offset by the inroads
of disease
Another point being urged in favor of
a peace settlement IS that the aspect Of
the war will be even more glorious, more.
a tribute TO the high aims of this gavern-
ment, if 1t deals in spirit oil mag
nanimity with the conquered enemy.
It is said also that Spain Is so COM
pletely humbled and so powerless to fur
ther continue the war, that the United
States can secure. through peace nego-
tiations everything which even a prolon-
cation of the war would ultimately make
nossible