Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1898-07-28

opened for the purpose of terminarrus
the war and arriving at terms of peace.
The communication of the Spanish gov
eminent did not suggest any specific
terms OF peace, nor was any reference
made to Cuba, the Philippines, Porto
Rico or other Spanish possessions. The
evident purpose of the Madrid authori.
ties was to first learn whether the
United States would treat on the sub
ject OF peace, and after that to take up
such terms as the two parties might
suggest. Neither was there any sug.
gestion from the Spanish government
that an armistice be established pending
the peace negotiations. 1t seemed
natural, however, from the proposition
that if formal peace negotiations should
be entered upon that pending their con.
clusion cessasion OF hostilities would
occur.
Owing SO he Importance of the COM
municati,4,, the ambassador adopted
the usual diplomatic procedure of read.
ing the communication from the origi.
nal in French, the translation being
submitted by NJ Thiebeaut In the con.
versation which followed the reading
OF the proposition neither the president
nor the ambassador entered into the
question Of the terms of peace The in-
structions Of the ambassador had been
confined to the one essential point of
opening peace negotiations, and it was
evident that the president desired to
consider the proposition at this moment
before giving any definite reply. 1t
was finally determined that the presi-
dent would consult the members of his
cabinet concerning the proposition, and
after a decision had been arrived at, M.
Cambon would then be invited to the
White house for a further conference
and for a final answer from the United
States government.
Naturally the plea of Spain to open
peace negotiations opens up wide field
OF conjecture on what the terms of
peace will be. Thus far there is no
official warrant for saying what terms
Spain will propose, or what terms the
United States will offer or accept. So
far as this country is concerned it is the
general impression that the complete
Spanish evacuation of Cuba and Porto
Rico will be insisted upon as sine qui
non. There is not the same certainty
as to the Philippines, Ladrones and
Carolines, although the belief is grow
ing that the terms of the United States
will include coaling stations in these
groups. On the part of Spain it is be-
neved that she now has reached such q
realization Of her misfortune that she
will readily consent to terms for the
evacuation of Cuba and probably Porto
Rico. The Spanish desire is apparently
very strong for the retention of the
Philippines, although there is little
doubt that coaling stations there and at
other points would be conceded. The
matter Of war indemnity is for future
consideration, although there does not
appear to be disposition among the
officials here to pile up heavy war in
demnity against Spain in her present
helpless condition.
In case peace negotiations are opened
the means by which they will be car
ried on are not determined, nor have
they been officially considered. 1t is
understood that one means likely to be
proposed is to authorize direct negotia.
lions between Spain and this country,
Spain to be represented by Senior Leon
Castillo, the Spanish ambassador at
Paris, and this country by General
Horace Porter, our ambassador at Paris