The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-08-01

informed as to the probabilities declare
that the answer of the Spanish gov
ernment to the terms of peace outlined
by the government OF the United States
is not expected before Tuesday. This
opinion is based upon a knowledge of
the time when the United States COM
munication was received in Madrid,
which was not until an early hour this
morning, the time required to decipher
it, the necessity for an extended con-
sideration of the matter by the Span
ish cabinet and also the necessity for
carefully framing the rejoinder. 1t Is
not meant by this statement to ques-
tion in any manner the plenipotentiary
power of NJ. Cambon, the French am
bassador. In dealing with the United
States. On the contrary, they are n
latitude wider than those usually con-
ferred in such cases. But this position
is somewhat similar to that of the pres
ident himself, who Is obliged to secure
the sanction of the United States sem
ate to any treaty of peace that he may
prepare, for the ambassador must sub
NIT to the Madrid cabinet for it's
approval any agreement that he may
enter into. But in the drafting of such
an agreement, he is fully authorized to
proceed, in his discretion, and to guard
against any possibility of reputation
of his action, he has given them the
minutest definition OF the concessions
that will be made by the Spanish gov
ernment. NJ. Cambon had such powers
when he appeared at the white house
to receive the American answer.
Ii was not known to our government
that NJ. Cambon had such powers when
he appeared at the white house to re-
ceive the American answer, but the
president was satisfied that he was COM
petent to deal in any authorized man
ner with our government, and the pro-
duction of his credentials was hailed
with satisfaction. as tending to hasten
the reaching of an agreement without
loss OF time and In the most direct man
ner. for, technically. the United States
is now treating with Spain without the
intervention of any third power. 1t
may be said also that NJ. Cambon pro-
ceeded with straightforwardness to-
wards his object and that there is no
fear of any devious diplomacy being in
troduced into the negotiations.
There Is much speculation as 10 the
nature OF the amendment in the answer
Of the United States that the ambassa-
dor succeeded in inducing President
Mckinley to make after the
document had been constructed by his
stated is that II relates to that part of
the answer which deals with the future
OF the Philippines. 1t is known that the
Spanish efforts were concentrated upon
the retention of the islands and the
Madrid cabinet was willing to make al
most any sacrifice In its power TO secure
that end. Whether or not the ambassa-
dor prevailed in this Is not known, but
there is reason to believe that the sue
cess TO be obtained was limited and that
the United States proposes to retain
some foothold a little more important
than a simple coallng station in the ISL
ands. Had our demand been limited to
a coaling station there would have been
no doubt of its acceptance. and IL is even
probable that the concession might
have been made of a considerable tract
of land for a naval station and support
ing zone. But IL Is believed that there
was a strenuous objection to the cession
of the city of Manila the metropolis Of
the group, and particularly to the ref
erence to a commission of the question
of the future government Of the islands,
for the Spanish government is desirous
that its sovereignty shall remain unaf-
fected and without question. IL is as
sumcd that II was this point which was
the subject of the amendment at the
hands of the president yesterday.
though what form that change took is
still unknown.
As mention has been made in the pub
lie discussions Of the possibility of the
acquisition of one Of the Caroline ISL
ands, IL may be stated authoritatively
that the matter has not been considered
by the cabinet up TO this time.
The progress made in the negotiations
has given rise in some quarters to an
expectation that hostilities are to be
suspended very soon. This will depend
entirely upon the attitude of the Span
ish government and of it's answer to our
demands. 1t has been made clear to the
French ambassador that hostilities will
not be suspended except upon the as
surance of full acceptance of our con-
ditions and that he has undoubtedly in
formed the Spanish cabinet that II de-
pends on Spain when the war shall
cease. Meanwhile. as an earnest indi-
cation that our government has not in
terrupted the execution of its campaign,
an order was issued from the war de-
partment to-day for the dispatch of an
entire army division To reinforce Gen.
erals Miles and Brooke in Porto Rico
This will be known as the provisional
division and will be commanded by
Major General Wade, at present in COM
mand at Camp Thomas, Chickamauga.
He Is expected 10 turn over that COM
mand TO Major General Breckenridge.
inspector general OF the army, ana TO re-
port 10 Secretary Alger in Washington
for instructions before departing for
Porto Rico. bringing with him his adju-
tant general and his aides. The pro-
yislonal division will consist Of Is full
regiments. and General Wade will Sc
lect them. not from the troops under his
old command alone. but with particular
reference 10 an equitable representa-
tion in the Porto Rican campaign OF all
Of the states OF the union. Secretary
Alger feels that his department has been
subjected 10 some unjust criticism upon
the selection of troops for active serv-
ice and pronounces as without founda-
tion the allegation that politics have die
tated these assignments. In the case Of
the 5th Illinois volunteer regiment. which
was withdrawn from the Porto Rican
expedition in favor Of the Indiana regi-
ment just as the troops were about TO
board the cars. IL has been already
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