The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-08-03

Arrangements for pressing the war to
precisely as If no negotiations for peace
were in progress. At conference partici-
pated in by the President, Secretary Alger
and Adjutant General Corbin at the execu-
tive mansion tonight final decision was
reached as to the constitution of the pro-
visional corps for Porto Rico to be COM
manded by General Wade. The regiments
which are to comprise the corps were de-
cided upon and will be designated in gen.
eral order to be issued probably tomorrow
Secretary Alger said that the corps might
be en- route to Porto Rico within a week.
Notwithstanding these warlike prepara-
tions, the belief in official circles tonight
amounts almost to a conviction that active
hostihties practically have been concluded
A prominent official of the administration
said tonight: The end is near, in my opin-
ion. The information thus far received is
unofficial and meager, but that 1t is accu-
rate in the main we have no reason to
AOuDIs LII ldGty WC nave I6dSOn W UcllGV6
it is correct
1t is understood that the reason" re-
ferred to is contained in the private advices
received by the President and from pri-
vate dispatches received by representatives
of foreign governments at this capital.
AN ARMISTICE PROBABLE.
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 not probable that the official
response to the terms proposed by the
United States has yet reached the French
ambassador. Upon it's receipt it will be
transmitted to the President without delay.
In the event of Spain's acceptance of the
| terms proposed by this country, the first
| step. probably, will be towards an agree
ment to close active hostlities, pending the
drafting of treaty of peace along the lines
of the accepted terms.
According to precedents ordinarily regard
| ed an armistice would be proclaimed, and
| in the circumstances, this would mean the
| practical close of the war. 1t is pointed
out. however, that several precedents have
been set aside by this government in the
| conduct of the war and in the treatment of
events which led up to it. One notable in
| stance in which recognized diplomatic pre-
cedents were swept away was the personal
| demand made by Secretary Day upon Min
ister De LONE to know whether the Span
| ish minister was the author OF the letter re-
cedent was relegated to the past when the
| government decided to return to Spain the
| prisoners of war taken with the surrender
| of Santiago. Precedents have been disre-
garded in other instances by this govern
ment. In view of this fact, therefore, pre-
cedent may not govern absolutely in the
! conduct of the peace negotiations
| After the proclamation of an armistice.
| automatically. the next step would be the
designation by the President of the commits
| sioners to represent the United States in the
| conduct of the final negotiations of peace.
| The terms proposed by this government
| provide for a joint commission to draft
| peace treaty and to solve the difficulty rel
ative to the future government of the
| Philippines. Again, according to the best
| accepted precedents this joint commission
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 bellgerent 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-
tions remaining unchanged during the dip
lomatic negotiations. Here again, how
ever, precedent may be put aside by the
United States; but it is regarded as likely
that this country will not withdraw any of
the troops from the field until a determi-
nation shall have been reached of all dues-
tions in issue before the commissioners.
TERMS OFFERED SPAIN.
Official Statement of the Peace Condi-
tiOns as Given to CambOn.
| WASHINGTON. Aug. 2-Although this