The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1898-08-06
SAGASTA'S
DILEMMA.
,..
Anxious For Peace, But
Fears Political Foes.
C5XFERS WITH PARTY LEADERS.
The Majority in Favor of Yielding
to the Demands.
ONE WHO WANTS WAR CONTINUED

Senior Nocedal Insists That Spain Should
Fight For Better Terms-Senor Robledo
Believes That Should Americans Attack
Spanish Ports the Powers Would Prompt
ly Interfere - Many Conferences With
Party Leaders and an Effective Cabinet
Meeting.
Madrid, Aug. 6.-ln yesterdays con-
ference between Senor Sagasta and
Senor Silvela the latter urged that it
was imperative to summon the cortes
for the negotiation of a treaty of peace.
General Polaveja who was present,
declined subsequently to speak of the
conference to representatives Of the
press, on the ground that his duty as
soldier imposed secrecy upon him,
but General Azcarraga said that If
Spain possessed adequate resources the
war would be continued in order to Sc
cure more acceptable conditions, other
wise peace ought to be Immediately
concluded.
General Chinchela, captain general
of Madrid, said: I'VE have a brave
and well disciplined army, and 1t is
ready to go wherever II is sent"
Later Senior Sagasta conferred with
Senior Salmeron, the Republican leader,
who told the premier in the course of
a long conference, that he blamed the
government greatly for closing the
cortes and sitting the press. After the
interview he said he assured Senior
Sagasta that he would reserve his opin-
Ion on the general situation until the
chamber was cOnvoked, but that, neith-
er directly nor indirectly, would he sup
port the existing oligarchy, which is
the cause of all Spain's misfortunes" i"
Last evening the premier conferred
with General Weyler, Marshal Primo de
Rivera, Senior Gamazo, minister of
public instruction and public works,
and Senior Romero Giron, minister of
the colonies.
Senior Sagasta pointed out all the
facts of the situation with the utmost
frankness to the various politicians, in
dicating reasons for and against a con-
tinuatiOn of the war, and citing, for
example, the fact that General Blanco,
so far from being detected, proposed
plans to continue the resistance.
Senior Sagasta's picture as a whole,
however was painted in sombre col
ors. Senor Montero Rios, president of
the senate, the Marquis Vega de Arme-
10, president of the chamber of depu-
ties, Marshal Martinez de Campos, the
Duke of Tetuan and Senior Silvela, the
leader of the Dissident Conservatives,
all favor peace. The Duke of Tetuan,
however, thinks government of great
er authority necessary to negotiate the
conditions.
A majority of the politicians who
conferred with Senor Sagasta coun-
seled peace. But Senor Nocedal, leader
of the Ultramontanes, urged war al
'outrance, even If the Yankees, he said,
were to capture Spanish ports. as prob
ably then an international confagra-
tion would avenge Spain by placing
her in a position to gain more than by
making a shameful peace now. Senior
Romero Robledo, in the course of an
interview, said
"Senor Sagasta informed me as to
the contents of the American note.
In addition to the demands already
known the American government asks
the occupation and possession Of Man
liza and Subig bay. M. Cambon OBJ
talned from President Mckinley the
substitution of the word possession
of another word meaning practically
the same thing"
This revelation has caused a ferment
here. 1t was understood at first that
the Americans only demanded tempor-
ary occupation, pending arrangement
for the future government of the Phil
ippines. II is believed the powers OBJ
ject to the Americans retaining per-
manent possession of Manila and Su-
big bay. The latter is a splendid naval
station.
At last nights council Senor Sagasta
recounted to his colleagues what had
been said in the conference with the
various political leaders earlier in the
day. No decision was taken.
Senior Puigcervier, minister Of finance,
read a proposal to increase the note
circulation and guarantee of the Bank
of Spain.
The council also considered an official
dispatch from Santiago, signed by Gen
eral Toral, saying that owing TO the
Bmallness of the camp which the Amer
leans had conceded, the absence of
tents and the improper food, the num-
ber of Spanish sick had increased to
10000, the death rate being from 12 to
IA daily. The dispatch said also that
the beds were now altogether insult
fcient for so large a number of sick
soldiers, and that their transportation
home ought to commence Immediately.
General Toral informs the government
that the wound of General Linares had
not developed any complications, but
was causing him a great deal of pain.