Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1898-08-12
PEACE NEAR At HAND
NEGOTIATIONS STILL PROGRESSING
TO THAT END.

Hostilities Likely to Cease Thi. Week
spain Wri-gles and sqnirms, But Must
Accept Our Terms-OHioial~ Are silent
as to the status of Affairs.
Washington, Aug. 10 The preliminary
negotiations looking toward the cOnilrma-
/ ton of peace advanced a long stride to-
day when the secretary of state and the
French Ambassador agreed upon the
terms upon which future negotiations for
treaty are to be conducted and reduced
these to the form of a protocol. This pro-
tocol, it is true, is yet to be signed and
is to be submitted to the Spanish govern
ment before the formal signatures are af-
fixed, but the administrations view as to
the progress made to-day was set out in
Secretary Day s remark:
"It is expected that this protocol will
be executed"
There is always possibility in dealing
with the Spanish government that it may
recede at the last moment from an implied
agreement. but it is scarcely probable that
it would be willing to involve the French
ambassador in the difficulties that would
follow what to the world would seem to
be a reputation of his benevolent efforts
in behalf of Spain.
There must be delay-possibly from
"a to IS hours-before the next step can
be taken and the protocol made binding
upon both the United States and Spain
/ by the attachment of the signatures of
the plenipotentiaries, Secretary Day for
the United States and NJ. Cambon for
Spain. The delay will be attributable
largely to physical causes.
As to the character of the protocol it
can be stated on authority that the terms
are in all practical points those set out in
the abstract of the presidents conditions
published from the White House week
ago. From this fact, it is deduced that
the extra conditions or qualifications
sought to be imposed by the Spanish
government were abandoned at least in
llarge part by the French ambassador.
This deduction is supported by the
circumstances that in the early morning
| and before the conference between
Secretary Day and NJ. Cambon, which
resulted in the agreement, there was
Eutterances of public men who had talked
with the president, that the Spanish
answer was unsatisfactory and that the
.negotitions looked as if they might
terminate suddenly. As this situation
changed so suddenly after the confer
ence, it may be fairly assumed that the
Ambassador abandoned the conditions
which the president was reputed to have
Regarded as unsatisfactory. 1t is believed
that the protocol carries within itselfp pro-
vision for the cessation of hOstilities.
4 On tins point the naval contingent is
urgent that our government adopt the
policy of refusing to enter into an
armistice without acquiring some sub
stantial pledge to secure the consum-
nation of peace. What they particularly
desire is that our government shall
demand as a condition of the cessation
of hostiities, the surrender to the
United States military forces of Moro
castle at the entrance Of Havana harbor
and some such points of vantage at other
4 important points, in the territory soon
. to fall under our control.
The peace negotiations are now
believed to be advanced to point where
. the president has felt warranted in
. turning his attention to the selection of
the commissioners to be charged by the
United States with the drafting of a
treaty of peace. SO far as can be
gathered but one name has been posi-
lively determined upon. namely that
! of Secretary Day, who will head the
commission. Beyond that point there is
no certainty, although some prominent
names have been brought forward.
. Mr.. Woodford, our last minister to Spain,
has been so mentioned, though as he is
credited with entertaining a desire to
return to Madrid in the capacity of
United States minister after the war,
the two ambitions might conflict.
Gen. Merritt's force in the Philippines
: is to be increased by 1000 troops now at
San Francisco which Will be sent as soon
as transportation can be obtained. Sec
retary Alger said to-day that troops
would sail at once. The department
: has not sufficient transports at hand to
convey the remaining 5000 at present
but the secretary says with those already
arrived and on the sea, together with the
2000 which are to leave San Francisco at
once, Gen. Merritt will have a force of
Is 900 and there will be no hurry for the
embarkation of the remaining troops.
Sick Soldiers Come to Vermont
A Plattsburgh dispatch of the 10th
says: Capt. Stamper, in command of
Pattsburgh barracks, has received
orders from the war department to
prepare the post quarters for the re-
cepton of 400 sick and wounded soldiers
expected to arrive within a few days
from Santiago and other southern points,
The order readsas follows -
"To Commanding Oficer, Plattsburgh bar
racks, \. y: l have the honor TO inform
. Won fhnt nnon the recommendation of fhf