Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1898-08-04
War and Peace
SPAIN SUES FOR PEACE. GEN.
ERAL MILES ADVANCING
ON SAN JUAN.
ON SAN JUAN .


Whilst Gen. Miles is pushing rapidly
into Porto Rico. and no cessation of
hostilies has taken place anywhere.
Spain through the French am bassador
at Washington, M, Cambon has sued
for peace. The terms Of the United
States have been handed him, and
they are now being discussed by the
Spanish Cabinet. 1t is confidently be
lieved they will be accepted and that
peace will be declared within fort
night. Below we give the principal
matters of interest occurring during
week.
After day of anxious deliberation
and important consultations, the re-
ply of the Uaited States Government
to the Spanish overture for peace,
was On Saturday placed in the hands
of NJ. Cambon the French Ambassa-
dor, to be by him transmitted to the
Government of Spain.
1t was 30 o'clock that afternoon
before the Ambassador received the
answer, and as it makes about LOO
words in all, and must be reduced to
the diplomatic cypher and then trans
mitted by cable, the Madrid authori
ties will not receive it until some time
Sunday.
|, AT half past 10 o'clock Saturday, in
accordance with the agreement reach
ed the day before, the members of the
Cabinet assembled at the White
House, ready to resume their discus
sion at the point where it was inter
rupted when they adjourned. Secre
tory Day had prepared a draft of the
arrangement, based on the expressions
of his colleagues and.it was expected
that only short time would be con-
sumed in going over this and giving it
formal approval. 1t turned out other
wise, however.
Probably over night new factors had
suggested themselves or fresh infuen
ces had been brought to bear, for the
Cabinet was soon engaged in an ami
mated discussion of the Philippine Is
lands settlement. On the other points
of the answer there was no disagree
ment. and these propositions were rat
flied as they stood Fr1day-namely,
Cuba to be freed, Porto Rico to be
ceded to the United States, one of the
Ladrone Islands to be ceded to the
United States as a coaling station,
and, as an Immediate step, all Span
ish forces in the West Indies to be
withdrawn, with the formal relin-
punishment by Spain of her sovereign
ty over any possessions among these
islands. No war indemnity will be
demanded.
AS to the Philippines, the Cabinet
agreed upon the following point: That
Manila bav with the city aud sur
rounding territory should be retained
in the possession of the United States,
at least for such a length of time as is
necessary to devise and put in opera
ton some plan for the future govern
ment of the entire group. After that
point, the main divergence of opinion
began, and all sorts of propositions
were put forward and urged by indi,
vidual members as the best means of
dealing with the future of the islands
In the very midst of the discussion
the necessity of protecting Aguinaldo,
the insurgent chief, in any settlement
we should arrange, received a severe
check through the receipt of cable
gram from Admiral Dewey stating
that the insurgent chief had assumed
defiant attitude, and the Admiral
expressed the opinion that the United
States would be obliged to make war
upon the insurgents, necessitating The
requirement Of $50, 900 troops to sub
due the islands.
While this did not bring about
complete dismissmal of the proposition
to take the insurgents into account
in settling the terms of peace, it did
have the effect of causing an agree
ment o defer action on the question
IS to the disposition of the islands
until the other phases OF the peace ne
gotiations have been satisfactorily ad
Justed, meaning by that that the mat
ter goes over until the last Spanish
flag has disappeared from the Western
Hemisphere, and the American flag is
h0isted to stay over the coaling sta
tiOns we require.
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 a joint com
mi ssion, limited in Its representations
to the governments of the United |
States and Spain, which commission
is to endeavor to settle the details of |
the government of the Philippine Is
8uuS ana determine what treatment
shall be accorded the Insurgents, the
United States navy and army mean
while occupying Manila and Manila
DAY, and thus retaining position to
enforce speedily the verdict that shall
De finally reached by the commission.
Notice was then sent to the French
Am bassador that the President would
De pleased to hand him personally the
'eply of the United States government
at $50 o'clock. 1t was expected that
hat this ceremony would occupy only
! few minutes, and that the Ambassa
lor would take the note and immedi
ately hurry with it to his cypher clerks
md then 80 the telegraph office. The
Ambassador came on time, accompan-
ed by his secretary, but as the min
ltes ran along into hours without the
eappearance of NJ. Cambon, it was
that something had happen
ID to disarrange the original plan for
his meeting. 1t was after stay of
,ver two hours that the Ambassador I
erninated his visit.
While it occurred Secretary Long,
Admiral Sicard of the Naval Warl
Board, and Assistant Secretary Adee
If the State Department., were called
nto consultation.
From reliable quarters, however, it
vas learned that the cOnfaropoa did