The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1898-08-04

WASHINGTON, Aug. 1.-THE persons
best informed as TO the probabilities de.
clared yesterday that the answer of the
Spanish government to the terms of
peace outlined by the government of
the United States was not expected be.
fore tomorrow. This opinion is based
upon knowledge of the time when the
United States communication was re.
ceived in Madrid, which was not until
an early hour Sunday morning, the
time required TO decipher it, the neces.
sity for an extended consideration of
the matter by the Spanish cabinet and
also the necessity for carefully framing
the rejoinder. 1t is not meant by this
statement to question in any manner
the full plenipotentiary powers of NJ.
Cambon, the French ambassador, in
dealing with the subject. On the con.
trary they are in latitude wider than
those usually conferred in such cases.
But his position is somewhat similar
to that Of the president himself, who is
obliged 70 secure the sanction of the
United States senate to any treaty of
peace that he may prepare, for the am.
bassador must submit to the Madrid
cabinet tor it's approval any agreement
that he may enter into. But in the
drafting of such an agreement he is
fully authorized TO proceed In his dis.
cretion and to guard against any posi-.
biiity Of reputation of his action he
has been given the minutest definition
of the concessions that will be made by
the Spanish government on every point
thrt by any possibility could be expected
to arise in the course of the negotia.
tions. 1t was not known to our govern.
ment that NJ. Cambon had such powers
when he appeared Saturday afternoon
at the White House to receive the
American answer, but once the presi.
dent was satisfied that he was compe.
tent to deal in an authorized manner
with our government, the production
of his credentials was hailed with salts.
faction as tending to hasten the reach.
ing OF an agreement without loss of
time and in the most direct manner,
for technically the United States is
now treating with Spain without the
Intervention Of any third power 1t
may be said also that NJ, Cambon is
Proceeding with straightforwardness
towards his object, and that there is no
fear Of devious diplomacy, being intro
duCed into the Negotiations, t'cetr'UaV~71
There is much speculation as 10 the
nature Of the amendment in the an.
swer OF the United States that the am.
bassadOr succeeded in inducing Presi.
dent Mckinley TO make after the docu.
ment had.bcen SO carefully constructed
by his cabinet. All that can be know.
lngly stated is that it relates to that
part OF the answer which deals with
the future Of the Philippines. 1t is
known that the Spanish efforts were
concentrated upon the retention of the
islands, and the Madrid cabinet was
willing TO make almost any sacrifice in
ITS power TO secure that end Whether
OF not the ambassador prevailed in this
is not known, but there Is reason to be-
lieve that the success he attained was
limited, and that the United States
proposes to retain some foothold little
more important than a simple coaling
station in the islands. Had our de-.
mand been limited to coaliug station
there would have been no doubt of its
acceptance, and it is even probable that
the concession might have been made
OF considerable tract of land for a
naval station and supporting zone.
But it is believed that there was
strenuous Objection to the cession of
of the group, and particularly to
the reference to commission Of the
question Of the future government of
the islands for the Spanish government
is desirous that its full sovereignty shall
remain unaffected and without Ques-
tion. 1t is assumed that it was this
point which was the subject of amend.
ment at the hands of the president
Saturday, though what form that
change took is still unknown. AS some
mention has been made in the public
discussions Of the possibility of the ac-
QUESTION Of one of the Caroline islands,
IL may be stated authoritatively that the
matter has not been considered by the
cabinet up to this time.