The Springfield herald., 1898-08-05
MAY GET PEACE SOON
ANSWER SENT TO SPAIN.
She Must Leave tho Western Hcmlsphcre.
but the Fate of the Philippines Is I'm
settIed-Cambon Had Powers of
Minister of Spain.

|
most momentous character occurred at
J the conference ut the White House
| yesterday afternoon between the Pres
ident, Ambassador Cambon of France
! and Secretary Day, carrying the pence
negotiations far beyond the mere sub
mission of terms of peace by the Unit
ed States and reaching the point of Il
| preliminary basis of peace between
| the government OF Spain and the gov
ernment of the United States, needing
only the ratification of the Madrid Cab
| met in what was done to bring the
war TO an end.
This was accomplished on the part of
| Spain when Ambassador Cambon pre-
sented 10 the President credentials he
had received from the Spanish govern
mcnt appointing him envoy eXtraordi-
nary and minister plenipotcntiary with
| complete instruction as to the manner
of acting upon every one of the peace
conditions presented by the United
States, including the disposition of
Cuba. Porto Rico. the Philippines, the
Ladroncs. indemnity. armlstce and all
other questions likely to arise in the
course of the negotiations.
With these credentials authorizing
him to speak as plenipotcntiary for
the government of Spain, and with full
instructions on every point at issue,
Ambassador Cambon. in behalf of
Spain. not only received the peace con-
ditions laid down by the American
Cabinet earlier in the day, but there
upon entered upon their final discus
sion with view TO reaching II final
and complete agreement.
After strong argument, the President
and Secretary Day consented to II
modification of the American terms in
one particular. What that modificn-
ton relates to is not disclosed, but it Is
believed not TO apply to the condition
for the absolute independence of Cuba,
the cession of Porto Rico, or the grant
ing of adequate coaling stations to the
United States in the Pacific, or TO di-
mnish in any vital particular the
terms on which peace will he restored.
The modification brought about practi
cal unanimity between the President
and Ambassador Cambon. as plenipO-
tcntiary for Spain, and the latter has
now transmitted the results of the con
if given. will end the war.
On the main points of the answer
there was no disagreement, and these
propositions We're ratified as they stood
yesterday, namely: Cuba to be freed;
Porto Rico to be ceded TO the United
States: one of the Ladrone islands
probably Guam) TO be cedcd to the
United States aS Il coaling station. and.
as an immediate step. all Spanish mil
itary forces in the West Indies to be
withdrawn. with the formal relinQush-
ment by Spain of her sovereignty over
any POSSESSIONS among those islands.
AS TO the Philippines the Cabinet
agreed upon the following point: That
I,rt thn .,tt
rounding territory, should be retained
in the possession of the United States
at least for such n length of time as is
necessary to devise and put in opera
ton some plan for the future govern
ment of the group.
After that point the main divergence
of opinion began. and all sorts of prop
ositions We're put forward and urged
by individual members as the best
means of dealing with the future of
the islands.
In the very midst of the discussion,
the element that had strongly urged
the necessity of protecting Aguinaldo
in any settlement we should arrange
received n severe check through the re-
ceipt of Il cablegram from Admiral
Dewey, stating that the insurgent chief
has assumed n defiant attitude. and
Admiral Dewey expressed the opinion
that the United States would be obliged
to make war upon them, neccssitating
the requirement of $1,000 troops to sub
due the islands. While this did not
bring about II complete dismissal of the
proposition TO take the insurgents into
account in settling the terms of peace
1t did have the effect to cause an agree
ment upon the proposition to defer nc-
tion upon the question as to the dispo-
sition of the islands until after the 9TH
er phases of the peace negotiations
have been satisfactorily adjusted
meaning by that that the matter goes
over until the Spanish flag has disap-
| peared from the Western Hemisphere
and the American flag is holsted to
| stay over the coaling stations we re-
| quire in Micronesia.
| The discussion lasted two hours and
II quarter before the Cabinet hit upon
| the best course for the United States to
| adopt. 1t was finally decided that
what we desired could be best done by
the appointment of a joint commission,
| limited in its representation to the gov
| crnmentS of Che United States and
| Spain, which commission is to endeav-
| or 10 settle the details of the govern
ment of the Philippines and determine
what treatment shall be accorded the
insurgents, lne lHlItu states army and
navy meanwhile occupying Manila and
| Manila bay. and thus retaining n po-
sition to enforce speedily the verdict
that shall be finally reached by the
| commission.
As the Cabinet meeting adjourned
the members went off to their lunch
cons with pleasant consciousness
that they had succeeded in disposing of
| the very difficult problem.
The profoundly important results de-
veloped today came about most unex-
| pcctcdly. Ambassador Cambon's call
was set for . O'Clock and it was ex-
pectcd to last but few minutes. while
the answer of the United States was
being handed 10 him. But since the
original proposition of Spain was pre-
sented. last Tuesday, NJ. s.,mbon has
prepared himself to speak with author.
ity on the questions which We're to
| arise.
The President himself has preferred
this course, although outside of him.
self and the ambassador few were
| aware that the latter came ready to
treat as the envoy of Spain. The first
| instruction of NJ. Cambon made him
| -.