Evening journal., 1898-07-27
SUING
FOR
PEACE
Spain Opens NegOti-
atiOns In Wash
ingtOn.
CAMBON HER AGENT
French ambassador Submits
Peace Proposals.
NO DEFINITE TERMS.
Conditions Of Peace to Be Brought
Up Later.
CABINET MEETING LAST NIGHT.
NO DEFINITE TERMS.
Conditions of Peace to Be Brought
Up Later.
CABINET MEETING LAST NIGHT
The President and His Advisers Discuss
the Queens PrOpOsaIs-Unlted States
WIN Probably Demand Cuban
Independence, the Cession of
Porto Rico and "A COaIing
Station In Philippines.

Station In Philippines.
WASHINGTON, July 27.-The Span
ish government has sued for peace, not
Indirectly through the great powers Of
Europe, but by a direct appeal To Pres
ident Mckinley. The proposition was
formally submitted to the president at
o'clock yesterday afternoon by the
French ambassador, NJ. Jules Cambon,
who had received Instructions from the
foreign Office at Paris to deliver to the
United States government the tender Of
peace formulated by the Spanish minis
ter. At the conclusion Of the confer
ence between the president and the
French ambassador the following Off
cial statement was issued from the
White House:
THE French ambassador. on behalf
of the government Of Spain and by d.
rection of the Spanish minister OF for
eign affairs, presented to the president
this afternoon at the White o., use a
message from the Spanish government
looking to the termination Of the war
and the settlement Of terms Of peace"
This was the only official statement
made public. but It sufficed TO put at
rest all conjectures and to make clear
en- the initiative toward peace. Al
though peace rumors have been current
almost daily heretofore since the war
began not one OF them had the shadow
of foundation, and until the French
ambassador received Instructions from
Paris late Monday night no overtures
OF any kind had been received. Shortly
before midnight Monday dispatch to
the French embassy made II known
that the ambassador would be charged
with the important mission OF opening
peace negotiations in behalf of Spain.
The complete instructions, including an
official letter from Duke Almodovar
del Rio, Spanish minister of foreign
affairs, was received yesterday morn
ing. Thereupon NJ. Thiebeaut. first sec
retary Of the embassy, called at the
state department and asked that an
hour be appointed for a call by Embas-
sador CambOn on the president. The
purpose of the call was not stated. II
was arranged at the White House that
the call should be made at 3 o'clock p
m. Cambon first went to the state de-
partment. where he was Joined by Sec
retary Day and the two then pro-
ceeded together to the White House.
The call lasted about half an hour
and after the first formalities had been
executed by NJ. Cambon the talk became
general and quite informal. the presi-
dent the ambassador and the secretary
OF state discussing the outlook for a
conclusion Of hostilities.
The proposition submitted by the en-
bassador acting for the Spanish govern
ment was quite general in terms and
was confined TO the one essential point
of an earnest plea that negotiations be
opened for the purpose of terminating
the war and arriving at terms of peace
The communication of the Spanish gov
ernment did not suggest any specific
terms Of peace, nor was there any refer
ence made to Cuba, the Philippines
Porto Rico or other Spanish posses
sions The evident purpose of the Mad.
rid authorities was first to learn wheth-
or the United states would treat on the
subiect of peace and after that to take
m such terms as the two parties might
suggest. Neither was there any sug'
gestion from the Spanish government
that an armistice be established pend
inc the Deace negotiations. II seemed
natural. however from the proposition
that formal peace negotiations be en-
tered upon that pending their conclu
sion a cessation Of hostillties would oc
cur.
Owing to the importance OF the com
munication the ambassador adopted th'
usual diplomatic procedure of readinl
the communication from the original II
French. the translation being submitted
by NJ. Thiebeaut. In the conversation
which followed the reading OF the prop
osition neither the president nor IN
ambassador entered upon the question
of the terms Of peace. The instruction
of the ambassador had confined him L
the one essential point of opening peac
negotiations, and il was evident tina
the president desired to consider tn
proposition before giving any deilnit
reply. 1t was finally determined tina
the president would consult the mem
bers of his cabinet concerning the prop
osition. and after a decision had bee
arrived at NJ. Cambon would then b
invited to the White House for furthe
conference and for a final answer froi
the United States government. BefoT
the call closed a brief ct the memorar
dunn was agreed upon IN order 70 set