Sistersville oil review. [volume] (Sistersville, W. Va.) 1896-1901, 1898-08-10
In Conference Yesterday After.
noon,
which Was lncOnclusive-All Parties
Pledged TO the StrIctest Secrecy Re.
sarding the Points That Were Under
Discussion.


M. Cambon, the French ambassa-
dor, the latter acting as tie repre-
sentative of Spain, Secretary Day
merged from the white house ard
announced that today's conference
was inconclusive; wherefore the
parties to it had agreed to say
nothing publicly as to what had &C.
Cured.
The secretary did not appear to
be discouraged Jas he made this
statement, though he admitted that
no time had been set for another
conference. From this it is gath
cred that the long expected answer
Of the Spanish government to the
Presidents note upon being re-
ceived had turned out to be just as
it was expected, either counter
proposition or request for fuller
statement in detail upon some OF
the heads of the Presidents note.
Up TO the middle of the afternoon
it was stated by all parties concern
ed that the Spanish answer had not
been received, that the only formal
note that had come.to hand was
one from the Madrid cabinet to NJ.
Cambon, asking for information up
on some points that were not clear
to the Spanish mind. However,
just after 3 o'clock, the secretary of
the French embassy, M. Thiebaut,
called at the state department and
arranged with Secretary Day for a
meeting between the President and
ambassador as soon as possible.
The meeting was set for 3:45
o'clock, and Secretary Day was at
the white house in season, but was
obliged to wait about ten minutes
for the French ambassador. AS
already stated, after comforting for
an hour, the parties separated, hav.
ing been unable to reach a con-
clusion as to the acceptance by
Spain of the peace conditions laid
down by the President, and bind
ing themselves to the sttictest
secrecy as to the proceedings until
further progress has been made.
Thus it is practically assured in ad
vance that any attempt to state
what occurred at today's meeting
at the white house will be nothing
more than pure guess work.
Meantime, in consonance with
the declared purpose of the Presi-
dent at the beginning of the over
ture, this conference is not operat-
ing to restrain military operations
in any degree. Orders went out
today for a conference Of leaders of
the regiments to accompany Cen
eral Wade to Porto Rise, and within
twenty-four hours some of the
troops for this expedition will be
boarding transports for Newport
News. 1t is felt that even should
an armistice be declared before these
troops see active service at the
front, it will be beneficial for them
to have made the trip, for other
wise there was danger of the NOR.
ais OF the troops being destroyed
through their craving to get away
from the big concentration camps,
and at least see the shores of Cuba
or Porto Rico. Prohting by its last
experience, Gen. Wade's expedi-
ton is going to be the most COM
plete in details of any that have yet
left our shores, and the soldiers will
be protected in their health and
comfort to utmost degree
Secretary Alger has himself con-
Quoted an inquiry into the condi-
tons that led up to the fearful ex.
periences of the wounded soldiers
who returned to the United States
on the Concho, and he has taken
the necessary steps to prevent a
repetition of the bad management
exhibited in that case. Thus, there
may be some delay in getting the
troops away with General Wade in
view of the determination to have
everything ship shape before the
men are Oh board, and as the trans.
portation department was taken
somewhat by surprise by the sud.
denly announced decision Of the
secretary of war to start this expe-
dition some days must elapse be-
fore the necessary transports can
be gathered at the ports of trans
portation.