The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-08-12

pCOC
United States was received by
French ambassador, NJ. Cambon, snort
ly before 3 o'clock this afternoon. The
reply came in sections, the dispatch
first received giving only the opening
passages of the Spanish reply. A few
minutes later another dispatch brought
a second section and these kept COM
ing uninterruptedly by a procession Of
messenger until seven sections of the
Spanish reply had been received at
$50 o'clock, when the last part was
still to arrive. In the meantime the
cipher experts were at work and at
4:3O o'clock they were abreast of all
that portion of the reply received up
to hat time and there was a lull of
some time, pending the arrival Of the
concluding portions. 1t was thought
q terrific rain storm which swept over
Washington about 4 o'clock might
have occasioned the delay of the re-
mainder. Pending the receipts of the
complete reply, no steps were taken
to fix a time for a conference with the
president, as the time for hat de-
pended largely upon some of the fea-
lures of the reply, and also upon the
explicit Instructions concerning tn, de-
livery of the answer whtch usually lc-
companies a of this solemn
character. Neither at the White house
nor at the state department was there
any official knowledge that the reply
had reached Washington, and the usu-
al office hours closed with no appoint
ment made for a conference. TheSe
was felt to be little likelihood, even
though the ambassador received the
complete reply and instructions, that
there would be a night conference at
the White house for the purpose of
presenting the document.
The concluding portion of the Span
ish reply was received during the eve
ming, but it was not until a late hour
thai it was deciphered as a whole and
gone over by the ambassador. No eff
fort was made to communicate to the
United States government tonight be-
yOnd a note to Secretary Day advising
him that the document had been re-
ceived, but not disclosing it's contents.
1t is probable that the reply will be
delivered to the president before the
cabinet meeting, although no hour has
been fixed. There is complete reticence
in all quarters as to the text of the
reply, but there is reason to believe 1t
is not an unqualified acceptance Of the
American terms, but is framed on the
theory of accepting the essentials and
trusting to a hOped-fOr conciliatOry
spirit on the part of this government
to moderate to some extent the fea-
lures which the Spanish government
seems to regard as unessentials.
SPECULATION AS TO TERMS OF
THE ANSWER.
Pending the official delivery of the
answer, speculation was rife as to it's
contents. There was little or no fur
Their doubt hat the length of the re-
ply meant that Spain had not given
a simple and direct affirmative to the
American conditions. 1t was evident
that if the reply was an acceptance.
it was accompanied by extended dis
cussion and probably by conditions.
This caused considerable apprehension
in official circles here, for while it
was felt last week that Spain would
surely yield in every particular, it be-
gan to be felt that possibly there
might be another period of discussion,
n possibly an indirect attempt to
open up a diplomatic exchange on the
nature of the terms. The prevailing
view, however, was that the reply was
on it's face an acceptance, although
not such a one as precluded all posi-
bility of further discussion. All vital
points were believed to be conceded
the abandonment of Cuba, Porto Rico,
and the LadrOnes, and, the establish
ment of a commission to pass upon
questions relating to the Philippines.
In the carrying out of this programme
it was believed that Spain would seek
to ecure an understanding on many
incidental points involved, some of
them of considerable Importance. Tor
instance, some doubt was raised as to
whether SPANS acceptance would be
operative until referred to and ratified
by the Spanish %cortes, and it was un-
destood that the reply might call at
tention to this condition. The same
condition, it was pointed out, exists
as to the United States, for a peace
treaty requires the ratification Of the
senate to become operative. In case
SPANS answer discussed these Incl
dental points there promised to be
wide latitude for controversy and de-
lay unless the president and bin
declined to enter the field of discussion.
SPAIN ACCEPTS IN A GENERAL
Later in the afternoon the president
received an indirect intimatiOn that
the Spanish reply a come to the
French embassay. A cabinet officer
who was with him at this time said on
leaving:
1.-The information that has come from
Madrid about the action of the Span
ish cabinet indicates the Spanish have
accepted our terms in a general way,
but leaves several questions open that
we did not include in the terms sub
mitted. The communication offering
those terms was explicit, specifically
stating such points as would be left
open to further negotiations. We will
stand on those terms"
THE PEACE COMMISSIONERS.
The administration has not yet Civ.
en- serious consideration to the per.
sonnet of the peace commission, but i
can be stated hat nc one not in &C
cord with the presidents present view
as to the disposition Of the Philip.
pines will be appointed, and Mr.. Nc
Kinley avors keeping at least Manils
harbor and bay and sufficient terri.
tory around it for it's support and pro
lection, if not the whole of Luzon is,
land. AS to members of the cabine'
as members of the commission, there