The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1898-08-03
Terms of Peace
submitted to Spain Through the French
Ambassador.
THE SPANISH FLAG TO DISAPPEAR
FRoWTHE WESTERN
HEMISPHERE

WAsuINaToS, July 3l.-When M. CAM
bon, the French ambassador, went to the
White House yesterday afternoon TO re-
ceive the reply OF this government 10
the Spanish plea for peace, he presented
to the President credentials from the
Spanish government appointing him en-
voy extraordinary aad plenipotentiary
with complete instructions as 10 the man-
nsr Of acting upon every one OF the peace
conditions presented by the United States,
including the disposition of Cuba, Porto
Rico, the Philippines aud the Lsdrones,
indemnity, arlnistice and all other ques-
tions likely TO arise in the course of the
negotiations. Cambon's interview with
the President lasted two hours and three
quarters, during which be and Mr.. Me-
Kinley fully discussed all the points OF
contention between the two countries
At the end of the conference canbon
cabled 70 Spain the reply of the United
States. The persons best informed as TO
the probabilities, declare that the answer
of the Spanish government 10 the terms
of peace outlined by the government of
the United States, is not expected before
Tuesday. This opinion IS based upon
knowledge of the time when the United
States communication was received in
Madrid. which was not until an early
hour this morning. the time required to
decipher it, the necessity for an extended
consideration Of the matter by the Span
ish cabinet, and also the necessity for
carefully framing the rejoinder.
During the discussion Cambon induced
the President to make one amendment in
the answer of the United States
after the document had been care
fully drawn up by the Cabinet. There is
much speculation as to the nature Of this
amendment, but all that can he know
ingly stated is that it relates to that part
of the answer which deals with the future
of the Philippines.
Barring the one amendment agreed to
by the President, the terms of the United
States are that as the price Of immediate
peace Spain must relinquish in our favor
her claims to sovereignty in Cuba, Porto
Rico and all other Islands in West Indian
waters now controlled by her. She must
grant us the choice of an island in the
Ladrones group for coaling station. In
addition she must allow the United States
to hold for the present the city and bay
of Manila and a zone of territory there
about, and must agree TO submit all
questions affecting the Philippine islands,
IL. L. 1fcr.Ocfffnra aud
government to joint commission 10 be
made up of representatives of the gov
ernments of Washington aud Madrid.
1t is known that some members Of the
Cabinet strongly favored the retention
by the United States of the entire group
of islands although the majority of the
Presidents advisers were opposed to this.
The majority believed it would be a
most dangerous step for a government
such as ours to embark on a coionia
policy by taking the Philippines, and they
therefore advised that only coaling sta
tion be retained there, or at most a coal
ing and naval station, where our vessels
in Oriental waters could get supplies and
make repairs at all times, but those who
advocated the latter course were forced
TO admit that we had become involved
in obligations to Aguinaldo and his fol-
lowers that could not honorably be dis
regarded, and that we owed a duty TO
them and 70 humanity 20 see that the
harshness and ineompeteney of Spani
rule in the Philippines were corrected for
the future.
At the conference at the White U)a5
there were present, besides President Nc
Kinley and NJ. Cambon, Secretary ofState
Day and NJ. Thiebant, secretary of the
French embassy, who translated the
documents and the discussion between
the President and NJ. CImbon. While
Cambon has full plenipotentiary author
ity from Spain. his position is somewhat
similar 10 that OF the President, who is
United States Senate to any treaty of
peace that he may prepare. for the am
bassadOr must submit 10 the Madrid
cabinet for its approval any agreement
that he may enter into. But in the draft
ing of such an agreement he is fully au-
llOIlLCu ~ RIRNINA lis QAoNANttChf oha
to guard against any possibility Of re
pudiatiOn of his action he has been given
the minutest definition of the concessions
that viii be made by the Spanish govern
ment on any point tn by any possibil
ity could be expected to arise in the course
Of the negotiations. Il was not known to
our government that NJ. Cambon had
such powers when he appeared yesterday
afternoon at the White House to receive
the American answer. bat once the Pres
ident was satisfied that he was competent
TO deal in an authorized manner with our
government. the production OF his ere
dentials was hailed with satisfaction rs
tending to hasten the reaching of an
agreement without loss of time aud in the
most direct manner, for technically the
United States is now treating with Spain
without the Intervention of any third
power. Cambon is proceeding with
straightforwardness toward his object,
and there is no fear of devious diplo-
macy being introduced into the nsgotia-
tions.
The progress made in the Negotiations
has given rise in some quarters u an ex-
pectation that hostilities are to be sus-
pended very soon. This will depend en-
tirely upon the attitude of the Spanish
government and the nature of its answer
to our demands. Il has been made clear
to the French Ambassador that hostilities
will not be suspended except upon an as
surance of the acceptance of our eondi-
tions, and he has undoubtedly informed
the Spanish cabinet that it depends upon
SDai n when the war shall cease.
AMERIcAEIzIs PORTO RICO.