The daily morning journal and courier., 1898-08-04
Operations Not Restrained.

Washington, Aug. 3.--After a confer ence on the peace question lasting for just an hour this afternoon between the president and M. Cambon, the French ambassador, the latter acting as the representative of Spain, Secretary Day emerged from the White house and announced that to-day's conference was inconclusive, wherefore the parties to it had agreed to say nothing pub licly as to what had occurred. The secretary did not appear to be discour- aged as he made this statement though he admitted that no time had been set for another conference.
 From this it is gathered that the long expected answer of the Spanish gov ernment to the presidents note upon being received had turned out to be, as was expected either counter proposi- tion or a request for fuller statement in detail upon some of the heads of the presidents note. Up to the middle of the afternoon it was stated by all par ties concerned that the Spanish answer had not been received; that the only note that had come to hand was one from the cabinet to M. Cambon, asking for information upon some points that were not clear to the Spanish mind However, just after 8 o'clock the secre- tary of the French embassy called at the state department and arranged with Secretary Day for a meeting be- tween the president and the ampassa- dor as soon as possible.
 The meeting was set for 3:45 o'clock and Secretary Day was at the White house in season, but was obliged to wait about ten minutes for the French ambassador. As already stated, after conferring for an hour the parties sepa- rated, having been unable to reach a conclusion as to the acceptance by Spain of the peace conditions laid down by the president and binding them selves to the observance of the strict est secrecy as to the proceedings until further progress had been made Thus it is practically assured in advance that any attempt to state what oc- cured at to-days meeting at the White house will be nothing more than pure guess work.
 
 declared purpose of the president at the beginning of the overtures, this confer ence Is not operating to restrain miri- tary operations in any degree. Orders went out to-day for a conference of leaders of the regiments to accompany General Wade to Porto Rico and with in twenty-four hours some of the troops for this expedition will be boarding the transports at Newport News. It is felt that even should an armistice be declared before these troops see ac- tive service at the front, 1t will be ben- eficial for them to make the trip, for otherwise there Is danger of the troops becoming demoralized through waiting to go to the front. Secretary Alger has himself conducted an inquiry in- to the conditions that led to the fear full experiences of the wounded soldiers who returned to the United States on the Concho and he has taken the nec- essary steps to prevent repetition of the bad management in that case. Thus there may be some delay in get ting the troops away with General Wade in view of the determination to have everything in shipshape before the men are on board and as the trans portaton department was taken by surprise by the suddenly announced de- cision of the secretary of war to start this expedition, some days must elapse before the necessary transports can be gathered at the ports of transportation
 Shafters daily health report failed to show any improvement in the health of the army corps.