The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-07-28
SPAIN'S FUTURE PEACE STEPS.
NJ. CANNON MAY REPRESENT HER
IN THE NEGOTIATIONS.

European Cnpital-SD0in has 10
Date Merely Asked Whether the
United states VIII Consent to Ne
gotiate for Peace and Has Not
Asked That Terms De Submitted.
Washington. July 27.-In diplomatic
quarters Spains peace proposal, made
through the French ambassador, as the
absorbing topic, and the answer of the
President is awaited with keen interest
The diplomats showed their interest early
to-day by calling at the state department.
and at the French embassy to learn with
more exactness the details of Spain's pro-
posal. This developed several features OF
the proposition which had not been en-
tirely clear.
In the first place no foreign government
outside of France has been consulted by
Spain in this overture for peace, and the
present movement is not shared directly
or indirectly by Germany, Austria, Italy,
Russia or Great Britain. 1t can now be
stated, however, that the formal PROPOSE
ton submitted yesterday has been under
consideration at Madrid for five days pre-
vious to yesterday, during which time the
British, as well as the Frech authorities,
were cognizant of the fact that Spain was
about to sue for peace.
This being settled, it appears that a
good natured, but keen, rivalry sprang up
between Sir Drummond Wolfe, the Brit
ish ambassador at Madrid, and NJ. Paten-
otre the French ambassador there, as to
which governments should have the honor
of initiating the movement designed to re-
store the peace of the world. Owing to
the cordiaity existing between the gov
| ernments of Great Britain and the United
! States, it was felt at first that Sir Drum
mond Wolfe would be commissioned TO
approach the United States, acting at
Washington through Sir Julian Paunce-
fote But Spain appears to have preferred
the intermediation of the French govern
ment and as a result the negotiations
finally were entrusted to the French am
bassador at Washington.
! Another essential point is the exact
proposition made by Spain. There has
| been some Misrepresentation over this ow-
! ing to the publication of an alleged text
of the proposition and other reports as
serting that Spain asked President NcKin-
! ley to state the terms of peace. As a
matter of fact the Spanish proposition
does not mention the word terms" and
there is no request or suggestion in il
that the President shall state terms Of
peace.
The distinct inquiry made by Spain is as
to whether the United States win open
negotiations toward the settlement of the
war and the arrangement of peace. 1t is
based on the theory that if the President
answers in the affirmative then the nego-
tlations and the terms will be opened be-
| tween commissioners or parties clothed
with the responsibility of bringing about
settlement.
The Spanish proposition is clothed with
all the solmenity and formality Of Il gov
ernment act despite the cable report from
! Madrid that the peace proposal is OF a
private" nature The instructions to N.
| Cambon bear the official signature Of
! Duke Almodovar de Rio, Spanish minister
I of foreign affairs, and beside expressing
the desire of the cabinet and government
! that the peace negotiations be opened they
are given tn added solmnity of approval
| and earnest personal request by the Queen
! Regent, Maria Cristina. The instructions
! bear the date of Madrid June %. These
| fOrmalities dismiss all question on the
minds of officials as to the regularity of
| the proposition as expressive of the
wishes of the government of Spain. Aside
| from this, NJ. Cambon is too much Of
veteran in diplomacy to have embarked
in any private overtures toward peace
AS 10 the manner of conducting the
( peace negotiations several plans are said
! to be open, beside that of having Cen
! Porter and Senior Castillo, the United
| States and Spanish ambassadors at Paris
| respectively, conduct them. One plan is
| to have Spain anne peace plenipotentiaries,
! who will come directly to Washington
! and conduct negotiations. This. however,
! is said to be somewhat inexpedient, as it
would take nine days for the Spanish
| plenipotentiarieS to reach Washington,
| and there is every desire to avoid delay
Another tentative plan is to have Spain
! name NJ. Cambon as the Spanish plenipo-
! tentiary al Washington, thus comforting
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
| it would keep the negotiations at Wash
| 1ngton and also give them an agreeable
| personal character, as the authorities
have the highest regard for the ability
| and sincerity Of the French ambassador
| here. These plans, however. will not be
! settled upon 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 for
| peace.
The Secretary of State is engaged in
! making the draft of a reply TO be consider
ed al the cabinet meeting Friday 1t is the
purpose of this government to set forth
distinctly and Unreservedly its position
/ Spain will be called upon 10 accept or re-
/ ject the terms offered, for there is to be
no equivocatiOn and no possibility Of long
drawn-out diplomatic negotiations looking
| to delay.
There will be no demand for money in
demnity This decision IS reached ostcn-
sibly as a magnanimous concession to
Spain, but really because Spains ability 10
pay is 50 small that IL is believed a money
| indemnity, even if agreed upon, would
| prove more trouble in the collecting than
1t would be worth. In this however the
idea OF its being a concession on the part
OF this government will be featured
NNith renard 10 the phllinninns tho I'd