Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1898-08-04


most momcntuous character occurred at
the conference at the White House this
afternoon between the President, AmbaS-
sudor Cambou Of France and Secretary
Day, carving the peace negotiations far
beyond the mere submission of terms OF
peace by the United States and reaching
The point of a preliminary basis OF peace
between the government of Spain ana the
government of the United states, need
ing only the ratification of the Madrid
caNnct H. what was done to-day to bring
the war to an onl.
This was accomplished on the part of
Spain when Ambassador Canton present
ed to the President the credentials he had
received from the Spanish government ap-
pointing him envoy extraordinary ANA
plcnipotentiary, with complete instruc-
tionS as to the manner of action upon
every one of the peace conditions pre-
scented ~ the United States. including the
disposition OF cuba. Porto Rico, the PIN
irpincs, the LHdroncs, indemnity, armis-
tice, and all other questions likely to arise
I'm the course of the negotiations. With
these credentials authorizing him to speak
as plcuipotcntary, for the government of
Spain ana with run instructions on every
point 1T issue. Ambassador tamhon, In
behalf of Spain, not only received tn"
peace conditions laid down by the Ann
crican cabinet earlier IN the day, but
,hercupon entered upon their fun discus
sion with Il view OF reaching final and
complete agreement After strong argu-
mcnt the President and Secretary Day
consented to a modification of the Am
cricar terms I'm one particular. What
that modification relates to Is not dis
closed but IL Is believed not TO apply to
the condition for the absolute indcpen-
doncc Of cuba. the ccssion Of Porto Rico
or the granting of adequate coalug sta
IA. Mt in Ia flo
or to diminish in any vital particular the
terms on which peace will be restored
Tho notifications brought about practical
unnnimity between the President and
Amha ssador CANTON as pleniput"ntiary
! for Spain and the latter has now trans
mit,cd the results of the conference to
Madrid for approval. which, If given, vii.
end the war.
The profoundly important results dc.
/ Voloped to-day came about most uncN-
pcctcdly. since the original proposition ot
Spain was presented last Tuesday. NJ
/ Cambon had prepared himself Ia speak
! with authority ON the questions which
were to arise. The president himself had
! preferred this course, although outside OF
| himself and the ambassador few were
| aware that the latter would come ready
| to treat as the envoy of Spain. The first
instructions to NJ. Camhon made him
/ merely a medium of communicating
/ Spdin's first note but now he appeared
with all the attributes of the direct diplo
matte officer Of Spain, empowered to act
/ Tor the government within his very com
/ plote instructions.
Tho meeting was held In the Presidents
/ library and both in the subjects discussco
| and in the impressive manner I'm which
| the the argument proceeded, IL was con
| ference destined to become memorable
| After NJ. Camhon had presented his ere
f l,p n tails ,l, hsN
/ been examined ana his status recognizct
| as the envoy of Spain, the first bushes:
was the presentation of the terms lait
down by the United states Secretary
| Day read the terms. pauslng at the end o
each sentence to allow NJ. Thicbaut, frs
| secretary Of the French Embassy to inter
pref into French, as the Ambassador
| knowledge of English Is limited rhi
| reading by Secretary Day and interpret
ing by MIR Thiebaut took but fifteen min
utcS Then began the discussion point b,
point. The President and the Ambassn
dor addressed each other directly with tn
greatest freedom and frankness, cncl
stoutly maintaining the justice Of his pc
sit!on on the several points Involved
When at last after an eloquent plea b,
| the Ambassador II was agreed to motif,
the conditions in one particular, Secre
tary Day withdrew for half an hour AM
attended to drafting the modification
| Tbs Accomplished, the RlnDuSSuuOT iti
dressed himself to the President not :
much as the advocate of Spain, but per
sonally. Nj. Camhon is Il man of ferv
eloquence, and he spoke with an intenslt
of feeling which made a deep impressio
on the President and others present II
| spoke in French, each sentence bein
caught up and Interpreted by Mr.. THE
baut with rapidlty, so that the ernestnes
of the Ambn ssador's expression lost lii
tie by this indirect method of communi
cation. The President spoke with equs
frankness and the lengthy discusslo
there was scarcely point in the Who'll
range of the war which was not met an
freely considered.
What the modification is that has pee
agreed upon can be only conjectured, bu
there is reason to believe that II relate
either to the time when actual hostilitie
will be suspended or else to the extent {
our interest in the Philippines.
1t Is now for the Madrid government
give final approval to what was PARTIAL
accomplished to-day. 1t Is even possibl
that this approval may come very speed
ily for there Is no ne ed of extended cor
ferences or correspondence. All that wa
accomplished to-day when NJ. Cambon ac
ed as plenipotentiary. From the fact thi
he acted under Instructions the prospe'
would seem 10 be hopeful for SPANS rat
flying what has been done. But 1t is fC
Spain herself to determine between the II
7 sue Of peace or war as now presented