The daily morning journal and courier., 1898-08-08
PEACE TALK IN WASHINGTON.
Spain's Answer Expected To-day-Pre-
 pairing for the Next Steps.


 pairing for the Next Steps.
 Washington, Aug. 7.-Although as yet
 without official confirmation of the re-
 port from Paris that the Spanish gov
 ernment has decided to accept the terms laid down by the United States as essential to the negotiations of treaty of peace, the officials are pro- ceeding under the conviction that the end has come and are giving attention to the steps to be taken next. In view of the delay in coming to this conclu- sion the idea was beginning to prevail that the Spanish government was about to enter a plea in abatement and the answer would again be inconclusive. In this case the president was disposed to deal firmly with the issue and to give notice that our proposals were with
 drawn and to let it be understood that when Spain again sued for peace the conditions would be more severe than those heretofore laid down.
 If the Spanish answer should embody an effort to secure any material change
 in the conditions it will meet with prompt rejection Some reference has been made in the dispatches of British newspapers to desire on the part of the Spanish government to include in the preliminary agreement clause ex-
 empting it from liability for the Cuban debt. The formal statement of the United States note given out from the White house made no reference to this subject, and it cannot be known as yet whether or not the first text included this or not.
 Based upon press reports of the prog ress being made at Madrid towards re- turning the answer of Spain, it was calculated by the department officials that the formal note could not be deliv- cred to the president before tomorrow and that was also the belief of the French ambassador. From the length
 of time consumed in it's preparation the
 note was believed to be long, thus en- tailing the consumption of much time in forwarding it first to Paris, reducing
 it to cipher there, transmitting it over
 the cable and then retranslating it at the French embassy.
 In the case of the last note the at-
 taches of the embassy worked nearly
 
 tion to the Spanish government, though the conference with the president clos- ed before o'clock in the afternoon with the ambassador in possession of the United States note. Should the Spanish answer be an unconditional ac- ceptance of our terms some negotiation
 may be necessary to agree upon the steps to be taken to give effect to the agreement. So far as can be learned it has not yet been determined how this shall be done. There are two ways open. The first is military capitula- tion by the captain generals of Cuba and Porto Rico, which will immediately place the American military or naval commanders in technical occupation of the islands and enable them to carry
 out in their own way and in their own time, the embarkation of the Spanish ! armies in the islands.
 The question as to whether they shall | be permitted to carry off their arms is not now as material as it was in the case of the surrender of General Torars | forces at Santiago, where, occurring in the midst of the campaign, there was | necessity for securing the moral effect of compelling the Spanish soldiers to | lay down their arms Spain having succumbed it might be urged that the | United States might grant a concession on this point to Spanish pride. This
 would not apply, however, to the volun- | teers who might elect to remain in Cu- ba, as it would not be prudent to allow | so large body of men to carry arms | without restraint in the days of recon struction, when delicate and difficult matters of internal policy are to be set | tied and new methods applied to the government of the islands.
 The second method by which the pre- | liminary peace agreement might be for malIy effected would be by a protocol I to be signed by representative of the | president-probably Secretary Day in | this case-and by M. Cambon in behalf | of the Spanish government. It was by | just such an agreement as this, known | as the Cushing procotol, that war with ] Spain was averted as result of the l Virginius affair This course, having 1 the weight of precedent, may be adopt | ed in this case. It is probable that in l the Philippines the greatest difficulty | will be met in putting the agreement | into effect on account of the attitude of the insurgents, but General Merritt | is now gaining in strength daily and l probably will be in position to meet at i any time an emergency.
 | The COrtes.
 i Paris, Aug. 7.-The Madrid correspon- |