Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1898-08-02
WE STILL AWAIT SPAIN.
Nothing Further Can Be Done About Peace
Until We Hear from Sagasta.

o'. 1HohldS, u. W. l., July ol.-ICOpy-
right, 1898, by the Associated Press J.
The American troops have reached
Coame. about sixty miles northeast of
Ponce on the road TO San Juan. Thus
far they have met with no resistance.
Madrid. Aug. 2.-The cabinet council
sat yesterday morning and again for
four hours yesterday afternoon dis
,ussing the peace terms. A dispatch
was then sent to Washington for fur
ther explanation of some difficult points.
Senior Sagasta. TIE premier, confirms
the report that some "modifications OF
the original terms have been obtained. 4"
Washington. Aug. All eyes turned
yesterday toward Madrid. for II was
realized that upon the Spanish cabinet
depended the restoration of peace. 1t
had been announced here in a quarter
that removed the information from any
question of accuracy THAI the decision
Of the Spanish government was not to
be subEaiited before today at the ear
liest. 4 disposition was shown in some
quarters to question the authority of
the French amba ssador 10 act as he did
representing Spain. at the White House
conference Saturday. But II can he
again stated-regardless of any tech
nical point such as the absence of
signed. sealed and delivered mail Gre
Centa!s, which of course could not
reach here in the little time at hand
the president regarded NJ Cambon as
fully qualified to act as a representative
of the Spanish government in the nego-
tiations
Another Question Dor the wiseacres,
Any question that might have arisen
az to the powers of the French ambas-
sac6T was set at rest by short.
guarded end concise statement issuad
yesterday from the embassy itself and
ciseresion now has turned on the nat
ura or the change made at the instance
OF II. Cambon in the list o. American de-
mGnds. 1t was contended in some quar-
ters that no change had been made, in
othaTs that an important modification
had developed. As matter of fact. as
70 the Importance Of this change there
Is difference Of opinion between the
parties, the administration looking upon
1t as hconsedueEtfal, while NJ. Cambon
attaches importance to il. Tho admins
tration believes that the change is not
essential. and that It certainly does not
affecf the principle OF the document.
1t might be well here to recapitulate
briefly Just what the demands of the
unNed States were. AS to Cuba It ia
demanded that Spain is to release her
goverMaent. possession and control. It
WHl be Noticed that nothing is sa4d II
Onsap kaesSsneeqace end that the ae-
cePtan"e Of this position lea~ss the
United Staiea free to dsai with the Isl
and as il may deem best. Porto Rico
with the small islands adjacent and en-
braced within her jurisdiction, is to be
ceded Internationally to the United
States One Of the Ladrone islands like
wise is to he ceded to the United States
as coeling station. These three con-
citions being granted by Spain are to be
taken as part payment in lieu OF the
fuN indemnity.
Commission and It's Purpose.
What further payment shall be 70
quired is to bs determined by commits
sion having authority TO act for the
president. subject to hls approval.
Whether Spain shall retain possession
os the Philippines as whole or in part
Ia LEFT TO that commission to determine.
Meanwhile and until the commission
has satisfactorily disposed of the future
OF the islands the United States is to ex-
ercise military government over Ma
nlla harbor and bay. A suspension of
hostilities may be declared when the
Spanish government shall definitely ac-
cept the conditions above laid down and
renounce its authority over Cuba and
Porto Rico.