The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-07-22
Negotiations to Be Instituted
in Paris
By the Spanish Ambassador
Through Gen. Porter.
TO BE. KEPT SECRET
Spanish Minister Makes the
Statement
That an Honorable Peace Will
Soon Be Concluded.

Paris JuIv 22-The Matin today pub
fishes a paragraph saying that while
notbing definite is known, it is rumored
that Senior Leon Y Castillo, the Spanish
ambassador to Paris, has been instruct
ed to approach Gen. Horace Porter
United States ambassador to France,
with the view of opening secret peace
negotiations.
Up to 3 o'clock this afternoon, there
had not been any meeting between
senor Castillo and Gen. Porter, although
it is said possibly such a meeting may
develop from the situation
Any negotiations, however will be
kept absolutely secret until they have
reached a stage when they will assume
an official character
Honorable Peace.
Madrid. July 22-The minister of
public instruction, Senior Gamazo, is
authority for the statement that peace
honorable to the Spanish army will
shortly be concluded.
Doubted in London.
London. July 22-The statement
made by Senor Gamazo, the Spanish
minister of public instruction, to the eff
feet that peace, honorable to the Span
ish army will shortly be concluded is
regarded in London more as an indica-
ton of personal opinion, or hope,
than as rejecting any general decision
of the cabinet. Nothing showing any
move in the direction of peace has been
received here from any quarter likely
to be we'll informed on the subject. The
Spanish ambassador, Count Rascon,
who was questioned on the subject,
said: I'VE have no news from Mad
rid and we have no reason to believe
any such decided step has been taken
as SenOr Gamazo's statement would
Indicate"
At 1 o'clock this afternoon, prom
inent official of the British foreign Of
fee said to a representative of the AS
sociated Press:
I'VE have absolutely nothing con-
firmatOry of Senor Gamazo's alleged
statement. We wish we had, and we
hope it is true, but so far as we are ad-
vised the signs do not seem prOpitiOus
for early peace.
Relative to the idea that England
will be prominently connected with the
future peace negotiations, absolutely
nothing has occurred thus far upon
WHIcn to base the idea. As a general
principle in these affairs, the interfer-
ence of a neutral is a mistake, unless
invited by both belIigerents"
1t is known that the Spanish ambas- |
sadors have been sounding the other
ambassadors at all the courts of Eur
Ope with the object of inducing concert
ed representations at Washington to
stop the war and there is reason to he |
HeVe that Great Britain is no longer !
alone in demurring at this and pointing
out the uSeleSsneSS of such a course.
ON the other hand it is said that rep
resentatlons to stop the war have been |
made at Madrid but judging from the |
results, they have not been sufficiently |
strong to induce Spain to come to her /
senses. 1t is recognized by all except !
Spain, that the United States will re- 4
fuse to listen TO suggestions upon the
part of the concerted powers. |
In this matter" one of the ambas- |
sad0FS said to representative of the |
Associated Press, Spain knows the ir- |
reduclble minimum upon which the |
United States will discuss peace. What |
Is she waiting fOr2 Spain seems to for |
get that the United States can stop the /
war the moment she likes, now that she
mas no Spanish fleet to reckon with she
can take Porto Rico and the Canary Is
lands at leisure and finally deal with !
cuba in the cool weather. Then Spain /
Will consider the American terms less
ridiculous than now
Porter Not Approached.
Paris. July 22-Gen. Porter. the
american ambassador said to an
Associated Press reporter TODAY: seYOr
can aeny IN the most emphatic manner
IhaI any peace negotiations have been
opened up to the present moment. 1 |
Sahnot conceive What originated the
Mathis statement