Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1898-08-09
of assembling the cor,es, pu, no uec,.

VI assembling tIIS CoiteSi put uO QeCl~
sion was reached as the ministers desire
to ascertain if the United States consid-
ers the approval of parliament neces-
sary to the definite signing of the treaty
of peace.
Convinced Tint War Is Ended.
Washington, Aug. S.-Although as
yet without official confirmation of the
report that the Spanish government
has decided to accept the terms laid
down by the United States as essential
to the negotiation of treaty of
peace, the officials here are proceed
ing under the conviction that the end
has come and are giving attention to
the steps to be taken next. In view of
the delay in coming to this conclusion
the idea was beginning TO prevail that
the Spanish government was about to
enter plea in abatement, and that
the answer would again be lnconclu-
sive. In this case the president was
disposed to deal firmly with the issue;
TO give notice that our proposals We're
withdrawn and to let it be understood
that when Spain again sued for peace
the conditions would be more severe
than those first laid down. If the
Spanish answer should embody an eff
fort to secure any material change in
the conditions it will meet with
prompt rejection.
Future Steps.
Should the Spanish answer be an
unconditional acceptance of our terms
some negotiation may be necessary to-
agree upon the steps tobe taken to
give effect to the agreement. So far
as can be learned il has not yet been
determined how this shall be done.
There are two ways open. The first is
a military capitulation by the captain
generals of Cuba and Puerto Rico.
which will Immediately place the
American military or naval COM
manders in technical occupation OF.
the islands, and enable them to carry
out in their own way and in their own
time the elnbarkation of the Spanish
armies in the islands. The question as
to whether they shall be permitted to
carry off their arms is not now as
material as it was in the case of the
surrender of Gen. Toral's forces at
Santiago, where occurring in the
midst of the campaign there was
necessity for securing the moral effect
of compelling the Spanish soldiers to
lay down their arms. Spain having
succumbed it might be urged that the
United States might grant conces-
sion on this point to Spanish pride
without fear of having the action at
tributed to fear of the consequences
of refusal. This would not apply,
however, to the volunteers who might
elect to remain in Cuba, as it would not
be prudent to allow SO large body of
men to carry arms without restraint in
the days of reconstruction, when deli
cate and difficult matters of internal
policy are 10 be settled and new meth
DDS applied to the government of the
islands.
The second method by which the pre-
liminary peace agreement might be
formally effected would be by proto-
col to be signed by representative Of
the president, probably Secretary Day
in this case, and by NJ. Cambon in be-
half of the Spanish government. 1t
was by just such an agreement as this,
known as the Cushing protocol, that
war was averted as result of the Vir-
gtnius affair. This course having the
weight of precedent, may be adopted in
this case. It is probable that in the
Philippines the greatest difficulty will
be met in putting the agreement into
effect on account of the attitude of the
insurgents, but Gen. Merritt is now
gaining in strength daily, and probably
will be in position to meet any emer