Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1898-07-28
DIPLOMATS ARE INTERESTED.
Rivalry Between France and England To
BE the Olive Branch Bearer.

Rivalry Between France and England To
BE the Olive Branch Bearer.
Washington, July 2s.-In diplomatic
quarters Spain's peace proposal through
| the French ambassador is the absorbing
topic, and the answer Of the president
is awaited with keen interest No for
eign government outside of France has
been consulted by Srain in this overture
for peace, and the present movement is
not shared, directly or indirectly. by
Germany, Austria, Italy. Russia or
Great Britain. 1t can now be stated.
however, that the formal proposition
submitted Tuesday had been under con
sideration at Madrid for five days
previous to Tuesday, during which time
the British as well as the French au-
thorities We're cogniZant of the fact
that Spain was about 10 sue for peace
This being settled it appears that a
good natured but keen rivalry sprang
up between Sir Drummond Wolff, the
British ambassador at Madrid. and NJ.
Patenotre, the French ambassador
there, as to which government should
have the honor of Initiating the move
ment designed to restore the peace of
the world. Owing to the cordiaIty ex-
istng between the governments OF Great
felt at first that Sir Drummond We,ff
would be commissioned to approach the
United States, acting at Washington
through Sir Julian Pauncefote But
Spain appears to have preferred the
intermediation Of the French govern
| ment. and as a result the negotiations
finally were entrusted to the French
| ambassador at Washington
Another essential point is the exact
| proposition made by Spain. There has
been some misapprehenson over this.
owing to the publication Of an alleged
text OF the proposition, and other re-
ports asserting that Spain asked Pres
| ident Mckinley to state terms of peace.
AS a matter of fact the Spanish propo-
sition does rot mention the word
terms" and there is no request or
suggestion in it that the president shall
| state terms of peace. The distinct in
quiry made by Spain is as to whether
the United States will open negotiations
toward the settlement OF the war and
the arrangement or peace.
Neither does the Spanish prop 1sition
contain any reference to "armistiee. -
At the same time it is framed on the
| idea that il peace negotiations are en-
tered upon there will be a suspension
| Of hostilities pending an agreement up
| on the exact terms of peace AS to the
| manner OF conducting the peace nego-
tiations several plans are said to be
open. besides that Of having General
| Porter and Senor Castillo, the United
States and Spanish ambassador at
Paris, respectively, conduct them. One
| plan is to have Spain name peace
plsnipotentiaries who will come directly
| to Washington and conduct negotia-
| tions.
Another tentative plan is to have
Spain name NJ. Cambon as the Spanish
plenipotentiary to Washington, thus
comforting on him authority to treat
| directly with the president and carry
the negotiations forward to a conclu-
sion. 1t is probable that this plan will
be more acceptable to the United States.
as it would keep the negotiations at
Washington. Since the conference be-
tween the president and NJ. Cambon
both the French government and the
Spanish government have been fully
apprised of the action taken at Wash
| ington and il is not improbable that
| Spain within the next two or three
days will take another important step
forward by voluntarily suggesting wha
| terms of peace she will regard as con-
sistent. These, of course, will be initia-
tory. and will be designed as a sort Of
opening wedge toward bringing the tive
governments together on the final peace
| conditions