The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-07-27

WASHINGTON. July 2e-The Spanish
government has sued for peace, not indi-
rectly through the great powers of Europe,
but by direct appeal to President McKin-
ley. The proposition was formally SUBJ
mitted to the President at O. oclock this af-
terncon by the French ambassador. NJ.
Jules Cambon, who had received instruc-
tions from the Foreign Office at Paris to de-
liver to the United States government the
tender Of peace formulated by the Spanish
Ministry. At the conclusion of the confer
ence between the President and the French
ambassador, the following official statement
was issued from the White House:
1.-THE French ambassador, on be-
half of the government of Spain,
and by direction of the Spanish
minister of foreign affairs, pre-
sented to the President this after
noon, at the White House, mes
sage from the Spanish government
looking to the termination of the
war and the settlement of terms of
peace
This was the only official statement made
public, but It sufnced to put at rest all con-
lecture. and to make clear and definite that
at last Spain had taken the initiative to-
ward peace Although peace rumors have
been current almost daily heretofore since
the war began, not one of them had the
shadow of foundation, and. until the French
ambassador received instructions from
Paris late last night no overtures Of any
kind had been received. Shortly before last
midnight. a dispatch to the French embassy
made it known to the embassy that the am
bassador would be charged with the i'm
portant mission of opening peace negotia-
tions in behalf of Spain.
The complete instructions. including an
official letter from Duke Almadovar de Rio
Spanish minister of foreign affairs. were
received this morning. Thereupon Thie-
beaut. first secretary of the embassy
called at the State Department and asked
that an hour be appointed for call by
Ambassador Cambon on the President. The
purpose of the call was not stated. 1t was
arranged at the White House that the call
should be made at o'clock. M. Cambon
first went to the State Department, where
lie was joined by Secretary Day. and the
two then proceeded together to the White
House. The call lasted about half an hour
and after the first formalities had been
awarntad h1r CSaY,ohor he talk haoo y,a
general and quite informal. The President
the ambassador and the secretary of state
discussing the outlook for conclusion of
hostilities.
MERELY AN EARNEST PLEA.
The proposition submitted by the ambas-
sador, acting for the Spanish government.
was quite general in terms. and was con-
fined 10 the one essential point of an earn
est plea that negotiations be opened for
the purpose of terminating the war and
arriving at terms of peace. The commune
cation of the Spanish government did not
suggest any specific terms of peace, nor
was any reference made to Cuba, the Philip
pines, Porto Rico. or other Spanish pos
sessions. The evident purpose of the Mad
rid authorities was to first learn whether
The United States would treat on the sub
Iect Of peace. and after that to take up
such terms as the two parties might sug-
gest. Neither was there any suggestion
from the Spanish government that an arm
Istice be established pending the peace
negotiations. 1t seemed natural, however.
from the proposition. that formal peace
negotiations be entered upon, that pending
their conclusion a cessation of hostiIities
would occur,
Owing to the Importance OF the communi-
cation the ambassador adopted the usual
diplomatic procedure of reading the COM
nsunication from the original in French, the
translation being submitted by NJ THE
beaut. In the conversation which followed
the reading Of the proposition neither the
President nor the ambassador entered upon
the question OF terms OF peace. The in
structions of the ambassador had confined
him to the one essential point Of opening
peace negotiations and it was evident that
the President desired to consider the propo-
sition before giving any definite reply. 1t
was finally determined that the President
would consult the members Of his Cabinet