The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1898-08-03
SPAIN WANTSPEACE.
She Opens Negotiations Looking
to that End.
WHAT THE TERMS MAY BE.
Spain to Give Up Cuba and Porto
Rico and Pay Us an lndem-
nity in Money.

rection of the Spanish minister Of for
elgn affairs, presented to the President
Wednesday afternoon at the White
House message from the Spanish gov
ernment looking to the termination of
the war and the settlement Of terms Of
peace.
SPANS communication presented by
Ambassador Cambon is general in terms
and does not make any distinct propo
sitions as to Cuba, the Philippines or
any other possession. 1t is simply a
request that peace negotiations be open
ed. No armistice is proposed. After
Ambassador Cambon submitted the pro-
posal general talk followed between
him, the President, Secretary Day and
NJ. Thiebaut.
The proposition submitted by the
ambassador acting for the Spanish gov
ernment was quite general in terms.
and was confined to the one essential
point of an earnest plea that negotia
tions be opened for the purpose Of ter
minating the war and arriving at terms
of peace. The communication Of the
Spanish government did not suggest
any specific terms of peace, nor was
any reference made to Cuba, the Phil
ippines, Porto Rico or other Spanish
possessions. The evident purpose Of
the Madrid authorities was to first learn
whether the United States would treat
on the subject Of peace, and after that
to take up such terms as the two parties
might suggest. Neither was there any
suggestion from the Spanish govern
ment that an armistice be established
pending the peace negotiations. 1t
seemed natural, however, from the pro-
position that formal peace negotiations
be entered upon, that pending their
conclusion cessation of hostilities
would occur
Owing to the Importance Of the com
munication, the ambassador adopted
the usual diplomatic procedure of read
ing the communication from the origi-
nal, in French, the translation being
submitted by NJ. Thiebaut In the
conversation which followed the read
ing of the proposition neither the Pres
ident nor the ambassador entered upon
the question of the terms of peace. The
instructions of the ambassador had con-
fined him to the one essential point OF
opening peace negotiations, and 1t was
evident that the President desired to
consider the proposition at this moment
before giving any definite reply.
The initiation Of overtures for peace
has had the effect Of suspending in q
large measure, for the time being at
least, interest in the military and naval
situation. Naturally, the first point Of
inquiry was the exact shape taken by
the Spanish presentation. Curiosity on
this point remained ungratifed, and
must probably so continue for some
days to come, the President having de-
cided that nothing more definite than
the statement issued from the White
House shall be given to the public at
this time. The move is a prudential
one. and the President has even gone
so far as to suggest to the Madrid au-
thorities the expediency of keeping the
text of the Spanish overture from pub
lication at this time. The next point Of
interest was the character and extent
of the demand likely to be made by the
United States as the condition Of peace.
It is felt that the statement Of terms
of peace, both from Spain and the Uni
ted States, may be some days off, as
there will doubtless be considerable
diplomatic fencing at the outset before
the actual point of stating terms is
reached. A good deal of this, for in
stance, may result from the attempt to
define the methods Of approach to the
object sought, whether through com
mission or through the direct exchange
of notes. There will be much discus
sion in all likelihood also regarding an
armistice, for it is the distinct purpose
of the Spanish authorities to secure a
suspension of hostilities pending the
negotiations for peace. 1t may be that
the application Will be granted, but, II
so, it will be only under the most ef.
fective safeguards to prevent loss OF
any advantage to the United States,
and upon binding pledges that certain
well defined objects are to be conceded
to us
The President discussed this complex
subject with various members of the
cabinet as they called in the course OF
ordinary business. 1t is virtually ad-
mitted by leading members Of the ad-
minjstration that upon only cue point
in peace negotiations is there likely to
be serious friction, and that relates to
the future Of the Philippines. As to
Cuba and Porto Rico, our government
feels that there is q reasonable. certain
" of encountering little opposition to
our demands. The Spanish government
might insist upon the proposition
thrown out by the vatican, namely, that
the United States shall annex Cuba, the
ostensible purpose being to secure tull
protection for the Spanish element lett
in the island, but while this would be a
vexaious point, it would yield to ad-
juStment.
AS to the Philippines, there is full
expectation Of greater difficulties to be
surmounted. There is reason to believe
that these difficulties, like the Cuban
settlement, will be rather internal than
international in their character, at least
from the outset. The President is firm
" of the opinion that the United States
has no use for the island as a perma-
uent possession. The gravcst problems
Of government would result We're the at
tempt to be made to annex them, owing
to the heterogeneous ill-favored charac,
ter of the large population Of the
islands, while any effort TO unite with
the powers in a joint administration
might be fairly expected to result as
unsatisfactory as the tripartlte arrange
ment between the United States, Great
Britain and Germany for the govern