Richmond planet., 1898-08-13
SPANS PEACE TERMS.
Answer to Presidents Conditions
Presented at Washington. -
CONFERENCE AT WHITE HOUSE.


ion is That the Matter Is stfl open,
and That Another. Reply From Spain
VIII Be Necessary.
Washington. Aug. 10.-More than "a
hours after it had begun to reach
Washington. the Spanish note In an
swer to the presidents peace conditions
was presented at the White House by
the French ambassador. What the ma
ture of the answer was can only be
conjectured at this stage. the secre-
tary of state at the conclusion OF the
conference making the formal state
ment that nothing whatever could be
said upon the subject. The conference
lasted an hour and % minutes. This
prolonged discussion was believed to
indicate that the Spanish answer was
not satisfactory in all respects. though
In just what points it fell short Of
meeting the expectations of the presi-
dent it is impossible to say.
1t was felt by the observers that had
the answer been a complete acceptance
of our terms the result would have been
made public. On the other hand. it
would be a strained inference 10 con-
clude that the answer was unsatisfac-
tory entirely, for I'm that case, accord
ing to the presidents statement here
tofore made. his offer would have been
definitely Withdrawn and the war re-
sumed with greater energy than before.
1t would seem that there could scarcely
be a good reason in this case for with
holding the result of the conference.
On the whole IL is rather to be con-
cluded that a middle result was OBJ
tained, that Spain was found to have
attached certain conditions to her ac-
ceptance OF the presidents terms. but
that the latter was not disposed TO
regard the injection OF the new mat
ter as sufficient in itself to warrant an
immediate termination OF the peace
negotiations. According to this view.
the president has taken exception to
some of the Spanish conditions. but has
allowed a last opportunity for them to
be withdrawn or modified
The Spanish reply is said to be di-
vided into FIVE points or heads, namely:
Cuba, Porto Rico. Ladrone Islands, oc-
cupation of Manila, and appointment
of a commission. which are treated in
the order named. So far as could be
learned no mention is made Of the
Cuban debt. The retention OF arms
and ammunition by the Spanish troops
comes in for indirect reference under
the head Of Cuba
ment 1t is impossible to give the Span
ish position on the several American
conditions. But the following is from
the best information obtainable: In
| treating each subject-Cuba, Porto Ri
| CO, Ladrones. Manila and peace COM
mission-an acceptance in some cases
is understood to relate to conditions
somewhat different to those laid down
by the American government. As to
Cuba, the American terms demanded
the evacuation of the island, without
specifying the future form OF govern
ment. The Spanish reply is said to
accept the principle that Spanish SOW
ereignty over Cuba will terminate, but
| 1t is understood to take up the future
government OF the island. and, because
| OF the extent OF Spanish interests
there, it is said to take the view, either
express or implied. that the United
States should administer the affairs OF
| the island. AS to the time OF eVacu-
ating Cuba, this is detail which the
Spanish reply is said to regard as
among many which can be left to the
commission for final determination.
The American conditions as to Porto
Rico. the Ladrcnes, Manila, etc., are
believed to be accepted, but the topics
are treated at some length. and it will
require the fall text to show how far
the language used may be construed
as an acceptance The provision as to
the commission is assented to. The
commission Is to consist of five COM
missioners on each side, with Paris as
the probable meeting place. The Span
ish reply is said to develop somewhat
the scope of the commission, leaving to
1t not only the determination of the fu-
ture of the Philippines. but also the de-
tails involved in the arrangement OF
a lasting peace.
The outcome of the conference is un-
known, but the best opinion obtain
able is that the matter is still open
that Ambassador Cambon will report
TO Spain the results of his efforts and
the desires of this government, and that
another reply from Spain as to some
details will be necessary to a final con-
clusion- There were just four parties
to the conference-Presiden Mckinley
and Secretary of State Day on one side
and M. Cambon, the French ambassa-
dor. and his first secretary of legation
NJ Theibaut, presenting the case OF
Spain.
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