Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-08-03
NOTHING OFFICIAL.
Spain Hasn't Notified Us Of
Her Acceptance.
The President However from Private
Sources Receives the Good News.
Preparations Tor Porto Rican Expedition Are
Being Steadily Carried Forward.

Washington. Aug 2-Shortly before
midnight, Secretary Alger, as he left
the White House, after a conference
with the President said the admins
tration had received no official infor-
nation that the Madrid government
had accepted the terms of the peace
proposition of the United States.
Unoficially the President has been
| informed that the Spanish ministry
| has accepted the terms of this country
cial advices have reached the President
| rot only in the form of the press dis
patches, but also Of private dispatches
| from confidential agents of the United
| States government.
| While this government has strong
| reasons for believing that its terms of
| peace have been agreed TO by the Ma
drid government, the President is TAX
| ing nothing for granted Arrange
ments for pressing the war to a sue
cessful conclusion are going forward
precisely as il no negotiations for peace
We're in progress.
At conference participated in by
he President. Secretary Alger and Ad-
| iutant General Corbin, at the Executive
| Mansion, tonight, a final decision was
reached rs to the constitutional or pro-
| visional corps for Porto Rico 10 he
| commanded by Gen. Wade. The rcgi-
ments which are to comprise the CORPS
were decided upon and will be designa-
| ted in general order to be issued,
probably tomorrow. Secretary Alger
| aid that the corps might he en- route
to Porto Rico within a week. Not
withstandins those warllke prepaya-
lions, the belief in official circles, to-
| night, amounts almost to a conviction
that hostnities have been concluded.
\ prominent official said, tonight;
The erl is near. in my opinion. The
info rmation thus far received is unoiIi-
,ial and meagrc. but that it is accurate,
the main. we have no reason to
louht. In fact. we have reason to be-
| eve it is correct"
1t is understood that the reason 70:
| the Information referred to is contained
n the private advices received by the
| President ard private dispatches re-
ceived by representatives of foreign
| governments.
Ambassador Camb0n, who is conduct =
ing the negotiations for the Spanish
government has not communicated, so
far as could be ascertained with the
President. tonight, and it is not prob
terms proposed by the United States
has yet reached the French ambassa-
dor.
Upon its receipt it will be transmit
ted to the President, without delay.
In the event of SPANS acceptance of
the terms proposed by this country.
the first step probably will he towards
an agreement to close active hostilities
pending the drafting of a treaty of
peace along the lines of the accepted
terms. According to precedents ordi-
narily regarded, an almistice would be
Il proclaimed, and in the circumstances
| this would mean the practical close OF
| the war.
1t il pointed out. however, that sew
| raj preccdents have been set aside by
| this government in the conduct Of the
| war in the treatment of events which
| ed up to il. One notable instance in
| Gents were swept away was the per
| ,nnal demand made by Secretary Day
| upon Minister De LONE to know
whether the Spanish minister was the
| luthor of the letter rejecting upon the
| President
Another precedent was relegated TO
| he Fast when the government decided
q return to Spain the prisoners taken
| with the surrender of Santiago. Prece-
| Tents have been disregarded in other
instances by this government. In view
| II this fact, therefore, precedents may
lot govern absolutely in the conduct
| If the peace negotiations.
After the proclamation of an armis-
ice, diplomats ally the next step would
| ne the designation by the President of
the commissioners to represent the
United States in the conduct of final
negotiations of peace. The terms pro-
posed by this government provide for
| joint commission to draft peace
| treaty and to solve the difficulty rela-
| tive to the future government of the
Philippines. Again. according to the
| best accepted precedents, this joint
commission would meet upon neutral
| grounds.
Pending the conclusion of the work
of the commission, the probability is
that the armies of both Spain and the
| tod St,ta ha L-cJ, in la flo