The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-07-27
Spain Anxious to Know First Whether Terms
of Peace Will Be Discussed.
Favorable Answer 1t is Said Will Be Given by the Cab
inet-Suggestion of an Armistice Rejected Terms
Which NJ. Cambon May Propose.

concerning the proposition, and after a
decision had been arrived at NJ. Cambon
would then be invited to the White House
for a further conference and for a final
Before the call closed a brief official
memoraIdura was agreed on in order to set
at rest misleading conjecture and to give
to the public information on subject which
had advanced beyond the point where diplo-
matte reserve was essential.
SPECIAL CABINET MEETING SOON
when the President will submit the
Spanish proposition, to the Cabinet has not
yet been announced The call of the am
bassador was two hours after the Cabi-
net meeting of to-day had closed, and there
will not be another regular Cabinet meet
ing until Friday. 1t is generally under
stood. however, that a special Cabinet
meeting will be held in order to make
prompt reply to the proposition. Secretary
Long arrived at the White House shortly
after the French ambassador had departed.
and had talk with the President, during
which the Spanish proposal was gone over
briefly Mr.. Long said afterward that IT
was an initial move, but in reply to in
quiries as to whether 1t was likely to bring
a speedy cessation of hostilities he ex-
pressed some doubt, saying that no decision
on the points involved had been reached
thus far.
Naturally the plea of Spain to open peace
negotiations opens a wide field of coniec
ture as to what the terms of peace will be.
Thus far there is no official warrant for
saying what terms Spain will propose or
what terms the United States will offer or
accept So far as this country is concerned.
1t IS the general impression that the COM
plete Spanish evacuation of Cuba and Porto
Rico will be insisted on as a sine qua non
There is not the same certainty as to- the
Philippines, Ladrones and Carolines al
though the belief is growing that the terms
OF the United States will include coaling
stations IN these groups On the part of
Spain. it is believed that she now has
reacned such realization of her misfor-
tune that she will readily consent to terms
Tor the evacuation of Cuba and probah,v
Porto Rico. The Spanish desire is annar-
emily very strong for the retention of tbo
philippines. although there is little douht
tnat coaling stations there and at other
points would be conceded The matter of
war indemnity is for future consideration
although there does not appear to he die
position among the officials here to pile I'm
heavy war indemnity against Spain in her
present helpless condition.
WILL TAKE NO CHANCES.
During the late afternoon ana o...,
the PRESIDENT conferred with most of tha
members of the Cabinet and the snan,sn
proposition was thoroughly canvassed sao-
retaries Day, Alger and Long were ~ ~
"nite House during the afternoon. and in
the evening the President was Joined hv
secretaries Bliss and Wilson and pos.
master General Smith, There was no cSoh,
net meeting. in the ordinary sense. but these
'aiAs with individual members served about
the same purpose as a formal meeting y
was understood the President would he nre-
pared to give an answer within tbe raxt
Iew days. and certainly before the next
regular Cabinet day. on Friday. No inti-
nation came from any official source as n
the probable character of the answer. There
were strong intimations, however that tbaro
would be no acceptance which would imnlv
the stopping of the war when the American
arms were adding victories on victories and
the embarking on vague diplomatic nego
tiation. 1t was felt that this government had
everything to lose in a subtle game of
diplomacy, in which the only certain ele-
ment would be the inaction of our army
and navy. For this reason there was a dis
position in official quarters to know what
terms were in sight before entering upon
general negotiations.
| A prominent administration official said
after talking with the Cabinet officers that
In his opinion the situation was not ma
terially changed by the Spanish proposition,
and that the war would be pressed with un-
ahated vigor until something more tangible
in the way OF peace terms was at hand.
In case the peace negotiations are opened.
the means BY which they win be carried on