The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1898-07-16

companies of soldiers now at Tortugas OIL
the Florida coast to some other point and
this place then will revent to the Marine
Hospital Service in whose custody it was
before the war broke out.
The War Board, including Secretaries
Long and Alger and Admiral Cicard and
Captain Mahan and Captain crownin-
shield had conference with the Presi-
dent at about II o'clock this morning
Secretary Day was also present. Seere-
tary Alger. on leaving the White House
said. that the conference was not partlcu-
larly important. 1t had been decldeu 10
send additional doctors and nurses and
medical supplies to Santiago as soon as
possible. The situation, however, was not
serious. but there appeared to be need
for more doctors and nurses, and these
v-onla he sent forward The Secretary
was in the best of spirits over the sltua-
tIon at Santiago. Secretary Long also
expressed himself as highly gratified at
the news from Santiago. The conference
with the War Board lasted only a short
time.
Tn view of renewed reports that the
Francb ambassador M. Cambon, has
opered peace negotiations, or inquiries
relatives TO possible terms of peace, 1t
can be stated authoritatively, after in
o,iry at the French embassy, that no ne
gotions or Inquiries of any character re-
.lating to peace have been made as yet,
officially or unofheially, direct or indirect,
by the French ambassador.
The reports grow out of NJ. Camibon's
call at the whits House on July Il. The
purpose of this call and the entire con-
versation which passed between the Presi-
dent and the ambassador is fully known,
ard it can be stated positively that ii
contained no reference to the present con-
hict between Spain and the United States
or the prospects of its being brought to
c1cse 1t related to subject wholly out
side Of the, war, or its close by pease or
otherwise and the question of the war dld
NOT come up even incidentally.
The only incidental question referred to
was the loss of the French steamship
Boureogne for which the President ex-
pressed the deepest regret, as well as
his satisfaction that the INQUEST had miti-
gated the early reports Of the occurrence.
The main question discussed, however re-
lated solely to the United States and
France without the remotest bearing on
Spain and in due time this discussion will
bear fruit in certain expressions of good
will between this country and the French
republic
Notwithstanding the well established
character of this conference between the
President and the French Ambassador
it has served as text for reports that
NJ. Cambon was sounding this governs
ment on the terms of peace This has
been asserted so positively that even
some officials have accepted 1t as accur-
ate, and as an Indication that the peace
movement at last had assumed tangible
form. The report has even been accepted
at Madrid, after being cabled to the I'm
parcial'
The French Ambassador here was never
authorized by his Government to make
peace overtures or inquiries, and in the
absence of such Instructions he would not
assume such delicate duty. Further
more. he has not taken any such step,
with or without instructions. AS a result
Of his call at the White House. the French
Government was apprised by cable fully
of what occurred, and this report convey
ed not the slightest reference to Spanish
affairs. the progress of the war or the
possibilities of peace.
The Associated Press is able to make
this statement with full information as
To the nature or the conference pe'"Set-
President Mckinley and Ambassador
Cambon. The appearance of every repre-
sentative of the European powers at the
state Department is seized upon by the
manv watchers there as evidence that
thew are the bearers of peace overtures.
Thus when the German Secretary OF
Embassy. Baron Spec Won Sternburg,
came to the department today his visit
Immediately gave rise to the story that
he had come charged with such mis-
sion. This, however, met with very
prompt denial from everybody concerned
and it was added, as well, that the visit
had no reference to the Philippines.
The statement attributed to Premier
sagasta that Spain had been making ex-
ira official inquiries to learn what terms
the United Sites might accept as a basis
for peace. failed of confirmation to this
extent, that up to this moment the State
Department has not been approached on