The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-07-29

/ nOlC Sucn territory as liey OCCUPY. Inc
need for limiting this cessation of hes
tilities is obvious, for until a Ssigaed
agreement is made there is no k-.ew!-
edge of the extent of the armistice.
EFFECT OF ARMLSTICE.
In the present case an armistice
might include or exclude the Philip
pines or Porto Rico, as the two pan ties
might agree, but until they agree there
viii be no obligation to abate military
! operations in any field of operations.
! After the signing of the armistice pre-
| liminary 20 peace, a status quo is estah-
! lished. and all military operations came
II a halt at the points designated, and
at points not designated the military
operations proceed. In the present case.
/ if the truce is general, General Shafter,
General Miles and Admiral Dewey
would simply retain the positions they
now occupy, and a. moral obligation
would be imposed not to strengthen
/ these positions or to make secure prep
arations for a more effective cc2tinu-
ance ot the war hereafter. The mill
tary authorities agree that the only
qualification of this rule is that the re-
] infOrcements may be sent forward, and
that defensive, but not offensive oDer-
atoms may be continued. Under such
q rule Spain could continue her prep
aratioa for defending the coast of
Spain, even after a suspension of hos
tilities, and at the same time the Unit
ed States could send forward reinforce
ments to General Miles and Admiral
Dewey, but all offensive operations
wcu.d cease.
SPANISH DUPLICITY.
With these well defined rules of mill
tary procedure accepted by all nations.
the assertion attributed to Premier Sa-
41,,~ for q
cessation of hosti!it:es woult in itself
stop these hostilities, is regarded as I'M
accountable. Moreover. it is looked
upon as showing disposition on the
part OF Spain rot to deal with FRANK
ness and with the usual customs Of in
ternational procedure, but rather to
adopt methods which will excite for
eign powers and create a misleading
prejudice against the United States.
This view is likely to seriously preiu-
dice the efforts of the Spanish govern
ment for peace mere, as it seems the
only method which viii be clearly I'M
derstood by Spain is to push the war
forward vigorously and without re-
course to evasive diplomacy.
1t has been suggested in some quar-
tiers that SPANS real purpose in max
ing the advances of last Tuesday was
to develop the position of the United
States regarding the Philippines, hop
ing in this way to secure the active
support of some European powers that
have so far held aloof from her. While
this belief is not seriously entertained
at the state department, the govern
ment, without regard to its soundness,
will proceed in a plain, straightforward
way to let Spain know what is expect
ed of her if she desires peace. It is not
likely that the European powers could
profit materially by learning what the
intentions Of the United States are.
but at any rate it is due to the world
at large and in the interest of fair
dealing in international matters that
our statement should be made.
MUST BE NO DELAY.
If there were any chance to procras-
innate, to secure an armistice without
committing themselves, in fact, to
adopt any course that would postpone
the evil day of settlement, the Sagasta
ministry undoubtedly would turn
quickly towards it. But from that point
of view the case is hopeless. Meeting
the Spanish overtures with frankness,
the United States will demand that it
should be treated in the same spirit.
If a disposition is shown to parley at
length, this will not be encouraged, nor
is it believed that the French ambas-
Sador would be a party to any such
programme. If there must be talk in
stead of action upon the United States
the discussion may proceed,
but absolutely without in any way re-
tarding military or naval operations.
Dewey and Merritt will proceed unin-
terruptedly to execute their programme
in the Philippines; Miles will continue
his advance upon Porto Rico, and Wat
son will head with his squadron for
the shores OF Spain.
MUST PAY FOR IT.
As these extensive movements will
cost a great deal of money, the Span
ish government. if it delays, must ex-
pect to meet the expense when it comes
TO a settlement. The present DISPOSE
ton of our government is to demand
no money indemnity from Spain. al
though il might be fairly questioned !
the small proposed territorial
acquisition of Porto Rico and couple /
Of coalinG stations is anything like an !
adequate recompense for the $500. 000, 600 |
that the war has imposed upon |
US. From this time on, however, the !
Spaniards are to be held to good faith I
by imposing upon them any further |
and additional charges to which the /
United States is put. Dewey and Mer- |
rift, it is calculated. will spend so !
many millions; Miles so many and /
Watson so many per week. and the to- I
tai will be balanced up, with interest |
growing rapidly with the passage of |
every week.
SPANS APPROVAL.
The report from Madrid towards the /
close of the day that the newspapers /
there had given their approval of the /
terms of peace described by the presi-
lent went towards relieving Il certain /
feeling of discourag cement that was
at the opening of The day,
'or it was patent that members of the
apprehended arejection
If our demands by Spain at the begin
hing If. however, it shall appear that
his Madrid statement is well founded,
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