The Meeker herald., 1898-08-06
MAY GET PEACE SOON
ANSWER SENT TO SPAIN.
She Must Leave the Western Hsnispssre,
bst the Fate of the Phnippa.ss Il Un-
settled-CsInbon Had Fowses Of =
Aiaister of spain

Washington. July 31.-Events of q
most momentOus character occurred at
the conference at the White House
yesterday afternoon between the Pres
ident, Ambassador CambOn Of France
and Secretary Day. carrying the peace
negotiations far beyond the mere sub
mission of terms of peace by the Unit
ed States and reaching the point OF i
preliminary basis OF peace between
the government of Spain and the gov
ernment OF the United States, needing
only the ratification of the Madrid Cab
met in what was done to bring the
war to an end.
This was accomplished on the mart of
Spain when Ambassador CambOn pre-
sented 10 the President credentials he
had received from the Spanish govern
ment appointing him envoy extraordl-
nary and minister plenipotentiary with
complete instruction ns to the manner
of acting upon every one OF the peace
conditions presented by the United
States, including the disposition of
Cuba. Porto Rico. the Philippines, the
Ladroncs, indemnity. armistice and all
other questions likely to arise in the
course of the negotiations.
With these credentials authorizing
him to speak as plenipotentiary for
the government of Spain, and with full
Instructions on every point at issue.
Ambassador Cambon, in behalf of
Spain, not only received the peace con
ditiOns laid down by the American
Cabinet earlier in the day. but there
upon entered upon their final discus
sion with Il view TO reaching final
and complete agreement.
AfI,r strnn.r ruurnant tl,r ~,
and Secretary Day consented to a
modification of the American terms in
one particular. Whaf that moditica-
tion relates to is not disclosed, but 1t is
believed not to apply to the condition
for the absolute independence of Cuba,
the cession OF Porto Rico. or the grant
ing of adequate coalilg stations to the
United States in the Pacific. or to di-
rninish in any vital particular the
terms on which peace will be restored.
The modification brought about pracii-
cal unaninly between the President
aud Ambassador Cambon, as plenipo-
'cntlary for Spain, and the latter has
now transmitted the results of the con-
ference TO Madrid for approval, which,
If given, will end the war.
ON The main points OF the answer
there was no disagreement, and these
propositions We're ratified as they stood
yesterday, namely: Cuba to be freed;
Porto Rico TO be ccded to the United
states: one of the I.adrone islands
,pf"hnbly Guam) 10 be ceded TO the
United States as a cOaiing station and,
rs an immediate step. all Spanish mil
itary forces in the West Indies 10 he
Withdrawn, with the formal rclinluish-
ment by Spain of her sovereignty over
any POSSESSIONS among those islands
As to the Philippines, the Cabinet
agreed upon the following point: That
Manila bay, with the city and sur
rounding territory, should be retained
In the possession Of the United States
at least for such n length of time as is
necessary TO devise and put In opera
ton some plan for the future govern
inent of the group
After that point the main divergence
of opinion began. and all sorts of prop
ositions We're put forward and urged
by individual members as the best
means of dealing with the future of
the islands.
In the very midst Of The discussion,
the element that had strongly urged
the necessity of protecting Aguinaldo
in any settlement we should arrange
received a severe check through the re-
ceipt of cablegram from Admiral
Dewey, stating that the insurgent chief
has assumed a defiant attitude. and
Admiral Dewey expressed the opinion
that the United States would be Obliged
TO make war upon them. necessitating
the requirement of $1,000 troops to sub
due the Islands. While this did not
bring about n complete dismissal of the
proposition TO take the insurgents into
account in settling the terms of pence.
1t did have the effect to cause an agree
ment upon the proposition to defer nc
tlon upon the question as to the dispo-
sition of the Islands until after the 9th.
er phases of the peace negotiations
nave been satisfactorily adjusted.
meaning by that that the matter goes
over until the Spanish flag has disap-
peared from the Western Hemisphere
and the American flag is hoisted to
stay over the coaling stations we re-
quire in Micronesia.
The discussion lasted two hours and
a quarter before the Cabinet hit upon
the best course for the United States to
adopt. 1t was finally decided that
what we desired could be best done by.
the appointment of n joint commission.
limited in Its representation to the gov.
erhments of the United States and
Spain, Which commission is to eudeay
or TO settle the details of the govern
inent of the Philippines and determine
what treatment shall be accorded the
Insurgents, the United States army and
navy meanwhile occupying Manila and
Manila bay, and thus retaining a DO
stion to enforce speedily the verdict
that shall be finally reached by the
commission.
As the Cabinet meeting adjourned
the members went OFF to their lunch
cons with pleasant consciousnese
mat they had succeeded in disposlng Of
the very difficult problem.
The profoundly Important results de-
veloped to-day came about most unex-
pectetily. Ambassador Cambon's cali
was set for 2 o'clock and IT was ex-
nccted to last but few minutes. while
the answer OF the United States was
hpiup honS1aH IN, hI,,, d..