Rocky Ford enterprise., 1898-07-28
SPAIN SEEKS PEACE.
APPLIES TO PRESIDENT M'kIN-
Lev.
The French Ambassador. NJ. jules Cam.
bon. Asks II This Government VIII
Consider the luestion-TerIns Not Dis.
cuased-

Consider the 0uestion-Tcrms Not Dis
cussetL
Washington, July 26.-The Spanish
government has sued for peace. not in
directly through the great powers of
Europe, but by direct appeal to Presl-
dent Mckinley. The proposition was
formally submitted TO the President nj
3 o'clock this afternoon by the French
ambassador. NJ. Jules Cambon. who
had received instructions from the for
eign office at Paris to deliver to the
United States government the tender OF
peace formulated by the Spanish Cab
met. At the conclusion of the confer
encc between the President and the
French ambassador. the following Otii-
cial statement was issued from the
White House:
'Thc French ambassador, on behalf
of the government of Spain, and by d.
rection OF the Spanish minister of for
eign affairs, presented to the President
this afternoon ut the White House, Il
message from the Spanish government.
looking to the termination of the war
and the settlement of the terms OF
peace"
The proposition submitted by the am
pusSitoT, tnt SlHihish SoN-
ernment. was quite general In terms,
and was confined to the one essential
point of an earnest plea that ncgotia-
tons be opened for the purpose of u
termination of the war and arriving ut
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 Philippines, 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 nftcrward to take
up such terms rs the two parties might
suggest. Neither was there any sug-
gestion from the Spanish government
that an nrmistice be established pend
Ing the peace negotiations. 1t seemed
natural. however. from the proposition
that formal peace negotiations be en-
tered upon; that pending their conclu-
sion n cessation of hostilities would
occur. Owing to the importance of
the communication. the ambassador
adopted the usual diplomatic procedure
of reading the communication from the
original In French. the translation be-
ing submitted by NJ. Thbeaut. In the
conversation which followed the read
ing of the proposition, neither the
President nor the ambassador entered
into the question of terms of peace.
The Instructions of the ambassador
had been confined 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.
1t was finally determined that the
IL 81 ,Inr
of his Cabinet concerning the PROPOSE
ton, and that after n decision had
been arrived at. NJ. CnmbOn would
then be invited to the White House for
n further conference and for final
answer from the United States gov
ernment. Before the call closed n
brief official memorandum was agreed
upon, in order to set Mt rest mislead
ing conjecture and to give to the pub
lie information on a subject which had
advanced beyond the point where dip
lomatic reserve was essential.
When the President will submit the
Spanish proposition to the Cabinet has.
not yet been announced. The call of
the ambassador was two hours after
the Cabinet meeting of to-day had
closed. and there will not be another
regular Cabinet meeting until Friday.
1t is generally understood. however,
that Il special Cabinet meeting will be
held in order to make prompt reply
to the proposition. Secretary Long ar
rived ut the White House shortly after
the French ambassador had departed
and had talk with the President, DUR
ing which the Spanish proposal was
gone over briefly. Mr.. Long said after.
wards that it was an initial move, but
in reply to inquiries as to whether II
was likely to bring speedy cessation
of hostilities he expressed some doubt,
saying that no decision on the points
involved had been reached.
Secretaries Day. Algcr and Long
We're at the White House during tho
afternoon, and in the evening the Pres.
ident was Joined by Secretaries Bliss
and Wilson and Postmaster General
Smith. There was no Cabinet meeting
in the ordinary sense. but these talks
with individual members served about
the same purpose as Il formal meeting
1t was understood the President would
be prepared TO give an answer within
the next few days, and certainly be-
fore the next regular Cabinet day. on
Friday. No intimation came from any
official source as to the probable char
acter of the answer. There were strong
intimations, however. that there would
be no acceptance, which would imply
the stopping of the war when the
American arms We're adding victories
on victories. to embark on n vague dip.
lomatic negotiation. 1t was felt that
this government had everything to lose
in subtle game Of diplomacy. in
which the only certain element would
be the inacton of our army and navy.
For this reason there was Il disposition
in official quarters TO know what terms
We're In sight before entering upon
general negotiations. A prominent ad-
ministration official said, after talk
ing with Cabinet officers, that. in his
opinion. the situation was not mater
tally changed by the Spanish PROPOSE
ton and tlut tn. Mur would be nreSsed