The herald., 1898-08-03

A prominent official Of the administration
said:
1.-The end is near in my opinion. The in
formation thus far received is unofficial
and meager, but that 1t is accurate in the
main we have no reason to doubt. In fact,
we have reason to believe 1t is correct"
1t is understood the reason referred to Is
contained In the private advices received
by the president and from private dis
patches received by the representatives Of
foreign governments in this capital
Ambassador Cambon, who is conducting
the negotiations for the Spanish govern
ment, has not communicated, so far as
could be ascertained. with the president to-
night, and 1t is probable that the official re-
Spouse to the terms proposed by the United
States has as yet not reached the French
ambassador. Upon its receipt 1t will be
transmitted to the president without delay.
In the event Of spain's acceptance of the
terms proposed by this country, the first
report probably will be towards an agree
ment to close active hostilties pending the
drafting Of treaty Of peace along the lines
of the accepted terms. According to prece-
dents ordinarily regarded. an armistice will
be proclaimed, and In the circumstances
this would mean the practical close Of the
war.
Precedents Set Aside
It Is pointed out, however, that several
precedents have been set aside by this gov
eminent in the. conduct of the war and in
the treatment of events which led up to It.
One notable irlan in which the recog-
uized diplomatic precedents were swept
away was the personal demand made by
Secretary Day upon Minister De LONE to
know whether the Spanish minister was the
author of the letter rejecting upon the
president. Another precedent was rele-
gated to the past when the government de-
cided to return to Spain the prisoners of
war taken with the surrender of Santiago.
Precedents have been disregarded in other
instances, by this government. In view OF
this fact, therefore, precedent may not gov
ern absolutely in the conduct of the peace
negotiations.
A Peace Commission
After the proclamation of an armistice,
diplomatica the next step would be the
designation by the president of the co n.
missioners to represent the United States
fl the conduct of the final negotiations of
peace. The terms proposed by this govern
ment provide for a joint commission to
draft peace treaty and to solve the diff
Guilty relative to the future government of
the Philippines. Again, according to the
best accepted precedents, this joint COM
mission would meet upon neutral ground
1t has been suggested that the commission
may assemble in Paris. but as yet that is
the merest conjecture. The commission
might meet in either of the belligerent
countries.
Pending the conclusion of the work Of the
commission, the probabilities are that the
armies Of both Spain and the United States
will be kept in the field, their relative posi-
lions remaining unchanged during the dip
lomatic negotiations. Here, again, how
ever, every precedent may be put aside by
the United States, but it is regarded that
this country will not withdraw any of the
troops from the field until a determination
shall have been reached of all questions in
issue before the commissioners.
We Meant Business
LONDON, Aug. 3.-The Madrid corre-
spondent of the Times. telegraphing on
Tuesday. says:
The rumors that President Mckinley in
sisted upon getting definite reply not later
than tomorrow seem to be confirmed by
the unusual rapidity Of official procedure
here. Generally, when the Spanish govern