Rocky Ford enterprise., 1898-08-04
STUDYING OVER 1T.
SPAIN coNs,DERlnoouRrE
saEasta and His Colleagues Said to Bo
willing to Accept tho Main PROPOSE.
tIons, Hut Object to Assuming the
Colonlal Debt.

says:
1t is learned TINT the Spanish Cabi-
net found some unexpected demands
in President McKinley's reply to
Spaln's peace proposal. Among them
are these stipulations:
That Spain assume the municipal
debts Of Cuba and Porto Rico.
That Spain pay lndemnities to Amer
lean citizens for dnmnges suffered at
the hands of the Spanish forces and
authorities In Cuba.
To the main issues no serious or pro-
longed objections probably will be
made.
They are as follows:
Recognition of the independence of
Cuba.
The ceding of Porto Rico to the
United States.
The ceding to the United States Of
naval stations in the Philippines, Caro-
line and Ladrone islands.
The referring of the ultimate dispo-
sltion of the Philippine and Ladronc
islands to n mixed commission to sit In
London.
The members of the Cabinet are
not unanimous OH all points, though
the majority, including Sagasta. Ga
mazo and Almodovar, Is favorable to
out tolerabIy well In the settlement of
the Philippine question and attempt to
do something for the Cuban debt with
the assistance of French diplomacy.
Most of the newspapers today dis
crss the terms as II they regard 1t as
almost certain that they will be agreed
to.
All the aspects of the peace condi-
tions have been so thoroughly dis
cussed In Madrid and also In the prov
inces that their effect has been dis
counted, making the governments
task the easier.
Even the impartial expresses the
belief that the peace treaty Will be
signed before the end of August.
The Spaninrds are far more anxious
now about the internal consequences
of peace-the action of the Carllsts
and the financial future.
Another dispatch to the News from
Washington says:
Spain's reply to the peace terms OF
the United States is expected to be re-
ceived by NJ. Cambon, the French am
bassndor, tomorrow or Wednesday at
the latest.
President Mckinley and his Cabinet
will be ready to act promptly as the
tenor of the reply indicates which OF
two courses is to be taken.
II Spain agrees to begin peace nego-
tatlons and accepts the outlined pre-
liminary terms, the President will at
once name the American members of
the peace commission and insist that
Spain be equally prompt in appointing
her commissioners and in inaugurating
the movement for the evacuation of
Cuba and Porto Rico.
If the terms are not accepted or
Spain begins to bubble for delay, the
Washington government will start at
once for Porto Rico an additional army
of $4,000 men under Generals Wade
and Coppinger. and will order Wat
sons eastern squadron to start for the
Mediterranean sea. Should the Presi-
dent name commission to negotiate
terms with Spain, Senator Cushman
Davis chairman Of the Senate commit
tee on foreign relations, will be n men,
Der. possibly chairman: General Stew
art L. Woodford will also doubtless be
member, while ex-senator Edmunds
of Vermont may be left out because
lie is opposed to keeping any territory
in the Pacific. Ex-Secretary of State
Richard Olney, spoken of rs the DEM
ocratic member. may be selected, but
there will be decided opposition to his
selection.
Anticipating. Spain's probable accept
ance of the terms of peace, Secretary
Alger has instructed the War Depart
ment officials to begin the work of pre-
pairing for the military occupation Of
Cuba. 1t is estimated that Mt least 5O,-
600 American soldiers will have to be
sent to the island within the next three
months IL peace is declared. They will
have to garrison all the cities and
towns and do military duty until the
form of government to be allowed the
Cubans be created and in running or
der.
A good-siZed army will be required
for Havana alone, and Major General
Fitzhugh Lee is expected to be placed
in command at Havana. The prelimi-
nary work by the secretary relates to
the qunrtermaster's department. to the
commissary and subsistence and to the
transportation of troops from the At
lantic seaboard to Cuba. This work
would have to be done In any event,
but the Significance of its being start
ed now is that the government believes
1t would be necessary soon.
An army will also be left In Porto
Rico. Major General Brooke will prob
ably be appointed military governor of
that island. In fact. before the end of
the difficulties involved by the Spanish
war all the troops of the United States
Will have seen actual service of some
nature.
Nine thousand additional troops We're
Today ordered to Porto Rico. The as
slgnment will be under the command
or Major General Wade. The troops
10 constitute the command will be
chosen from states not hitherto repre-
sented at the front.