Evening star., 1898-08-02

lease of political prisoners at San
tiago.
The forces invading Porto Rico
have advanced sixteen miles north
east OF Ponce to the town of Goa
mo, on the road to San Juan. No
resistance by the Spaniards.
The following statement was given out at
the White House at the conclusion of to-
days cabinet meeting regarding the note
delivered to NJ. Cambon by President Nc
KinIey last Saturday and cabled to Spain
the same day:
In order to remove any msapprehension
in regard to the negotiations as TO peace
between the United States and Spain, it is
deemed proper to say that the terms offered
by the United States to Spain in the note
handed TO the French ambassador on Sat-
urday last are in substance as follows:
The President does not now put forward
any claim for pecuniary Indemnity, but re-
quires the REIMBURSEMENT of all claim of
sovereignty over or title to the Island of
Cuba, as well as the immediate evacuation
by Spain of the island.
THE cessiCn to the United States and i'm
mediate evacuat ton of Porto Rico and other
Islands under Spanish sovereignty in the
West Indies and the like cession of an
island in the Ladrones.
THE United States will occupy and hold
the city. bay and harbor of Manila, pending
the conclusion of a treaty of peace which
shall determine the control, disposition and
government of the Philippines.
If these terms are accepted by Spain In
g iscin
ers will be named by the United States to
meet commissioners on the part of Spain
for the purpose of concluding a treaty of
peace on the basis above indicated"
Nothing Heard From Spain.
Up to the time the cabinet met today no
word had come from Spain, either directly
sponse to the demand of the United States
Notice was taken of the statement from
Madrid that further explanation had been
asked by the Spanish government, but this
has not been delivered so far to either the
State Department or the French embassy.
The allusiOn further explanations" how
ever, is regarded a rather hopeful sign
as tending to show a disposition on the
part of the Spanish government to close
early with our terms; for 1T is said lhat
the expectation was that the Spanish re-
joinder would take the form of a counter
proposal, the effect of which would be to
cad to a diplomatic sparring that may be
expected to consume some time.
Statement Confirmed.
1t was admitted by members of the ad-
ministration that the terms of peace laid
down by the United States had been stated
with accuracy in The Star, and, realizing
the futility Of further conceaIment, some
official character was 10 be given to the
press statements by formal declaration
from the White House. Some such step
had been in contemplation for several days
past in Difference to pressing requests not
only from the newspapers, but from a num-
Der Of public men, who felt that the people
should be taken more thoroughly into the
confidence of the administration 1t was
represented. on the other hand. that the
negotiations might be seriously jeopardized
by the nl-effect in Spain of a publication
Of the humiliating terms imposed. How
ever, as has been stated. the full and ac-
curate newspaper publications descriptive
Of the peace conditions made it unneces-
sary TO maintain secrecy longer, and when
the cabinet met 1t was with the under
touching the matter, though not including
the text of the peace terms. should be
made public.
Private Claims Against Spain.
1t is understood to be the present inten-
ton of the administration to assume ia-
hiiity for all the indebted claims preferred
By American citizens against Spain on ac-
count of injury 20 personal property in
Cuba Some par, of this liability may later
be imposed upon he government of Cuba,
when that shall have been established
That would include such cas-, as can be
directly charged up against the insur,, snts
where they have destroyed the property Of
American citizens in the course of their
operations This assumption by the VIC
torious nation, of liability for private
claims, is not new in the agreement of
peace conditions, but,- on the contrary, is
FATHER in the line Of the usual practice. At
the conclusion of the Mexican war the
United States assumed all such CLAIMS In
behalf of American citizens, and establish
Ell special tribunal for their adjudica ton
and payment The same course was pur-
sued in 1913 in effeetIng a settlement of the
Florida troubles with Spain. though the
decisions announced by the special tribunal
were souXe of litigation and negotiation,
clear down TO the present time
The amount of these claims against Spain
in behaf OF American citizens who suffer
ed in Cuba Vas S15.Oo0.OOO at the date OF
the destruction OF the Maine 1t is esti-
mated that this total has been increased to
S2o.oo0.o 90 since that time, and no doubt is
entertained that there are many other
claims OF large amounts that have not yet
Leen presented. or course. 1t is rot possi
Bile. at this stage, 10 Indicate what proper