The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-07-17

through the French ambasssdo al Wash
ington, n. Cambon. with the government
ot the United States.
It is said in connection with the Spanish
suggestion OF leaving the question of the
future government OF Cuba TO be decided
by plebiscite Of its inhabitants. that
Spain would unreseryedly accept the de-
eision given in such a case.
Washington, July 15.-fn view Of the re-
newed reports that the French ambassa-
dor at Washington, VI Ca 7bon, had open
ed peace negotiations or inquiries relative
| to possible terms of peace, IL can be stat
ed authoratively, after inquiry at the
French embassy. that no negotiations or
/ Inquiries of any character relative 20
! peace have been made as yet. officially
or unofhcially. direct OF indirect. by the
| French ambassador. The reports grew out
OF NJ Cambon's call at the White House
on July Il The purpose OF this call and
tbs entire conversation which passed be-
tween the president and the ambassador
is fully known and can be stated positive
ly that it contained no reference TO the
present conflict between Spain and the
United States, or o the prospect OF its
| being brought TO a close. II related to a
subjec; wholly outside the war or its
Close, by peace or otherwise, and the ques-
ton of the war did not come up even in
cidentally. The only incidental question
referred to was the loss Of the French
steamship Bourgogne. for which the pres
ident expressed the deepest regret, as well
as his satisfaction that the inquest had
nlitigaIed the early reports of the disaster.
The main question, however. did relate
TO the United States and France, without
the remotest bearing on SPAIN and in due
time this resolution will bear fruit in GER
tain expressions of good will between this
country and the French Republic.
Notwithstanding the well established
character of this conference between the
president and the French ambassador, II
has served as a text that NJ. Cambon was
sounding the president on terms OF peace.
This has bean sounded so forcibly that
even some officials have accepted IL as
accurate and result that some peace
movement had at last assumed tangible |
worm. The French AMBASSADOR here was |
not authorized by mis- government 10 make |
oyertures for peace, and in the absence |
of such instructions, he has not taken any |
such steps. with or without instructions. |
AS result OF his call at the White House |
the French government was appraised by |
cable fully as TO what occurred and this |
report conveyed not the slightest refer |
ence TO Spanish affairs. the progress of |
the war or the possibilities of peace. The |
Associated Press is able 20 make this /
statement with full information as to the /
n of mt hafu
ldsut Mckinley and Ambassador Cambon. |
The appearance of every representative |
of the European powers a the state de-
partmnt is seized upon by tn many watch
ers there as evidence that cs1ey are bearers
of peace overtures. Thus when the Ger
manu- secretary Of Embassy, Baron Spec
Won sternburg. came TO the department
today. his visit Immediately gave rise TO
the story that ne had come charged with
such mission. This. however. met with
very prompt denial from everybody con-
cerned. and 1t was added, as we'll that
the visit had no reference 20 the Philip
pines.
The statement attributed 10 Premier
Sa gasta that Spain had been making ex-
tra-official inquiries to learn what terms
the United States might accept as a
basis for peace. failed of confirmation to
this extent, that up 20 this moment the
stgte department had not been spproa CHI
ed On he s1otec directly OF indirectly.
Perhaps the Spanish premier may have
some means of obtaining che information
ne desires that is nof known 10 our on
Gals mere. out however that may be. she
stu remains good that tho
I
lnofficially Indicated the terms it would
accept as a basis for peace negotiations
Of course these matters have been dis
,ussed between government officials with
)ut relation to any Spanish inquiries and |
/ is also true that the president would
Ike very we'll to accurately guage The
majority of the Republican people in this
matter. Without assuming 20 speak for |
him in q matter of this Importance IL IS
gathered from high members OF the ad-
that the president himself Is
disposed 10 be moderate IN his demands
nd while securing all that the United
States fairly entitled 20 exact from
Ia ton in SPANS distressed condition. he
3 not disposed 70 embark in a world
enterprise and insist upon the
ste1tion Of remote territories that would
- unserviceable 10 Us. In other words
MESS there is an overwhelming desire
n the part OF the American people for
h adoption OF such a course - is not
believed that the president as a huslity
would insist that Spain abandon al Of
ler colonial possessions. While the prop
isitiOn s tentative. It Is felt that a. =
minimum demand he VIII be content with
ne acquisition q Porto Rico. an ad1als-
Ion 81 the independence q Cuba. a
ealing station IN the Philippines w1th
PROVISION for some kind Of 4 p-otec;o-ate
yer the island and a moderate l1dem-
lily. II IS Judged that the Spanish gov
Fnue1t has pretty fairly i-sblbsG some
sch idea IS this and that the ut;erzuces
( Premier SaEas<a ard ihs cautious dec
sratl0ns IN the pro-SpsBisn nSEspz pers
Re SIMPLY intended to gradually bring
he Spanish PopEiacs into . state q mind
F5srs they VII - willing 70 submit qui-
iiy 70 the imposition - some such terms
}. peace II IS realized thai At p-essn;
ae coaGuozk 70 Spzza are rot -7pe zae
tat sou1e tLase-1oT much csruo: D -
sznba-ed now-w1g - required % csl-i-
ate pgbl!e sentiment n SPAN 20 the
roper Poiat