The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-07-27
SPAIN SUES TO PEACE
Continued from First Page.

Continued from First Page.
hour be appointed for a call by Am
bassador 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.
NJ. Cambon first went to the state de-
partment, where he was joined by Sec
rotary day, and the two then pro-
ceeded together to the White house.
The call lasted about half an hour.
and, after the first formalities had
been executed by NJ. Cambon, the talk
became general and quite informal, the
president the ambassador and the
secretary of state discussing the out
look fer a conclusion of hostilities. The
proposition submitted by the ambassa-
dor. acting for the Spanish government,
was quite general in terms, and was
confined to the one essential point of an
earnest pisa that negotiations be open
ed for the purpose of terminating the
war and arriving at terms of peace.
The communication of the Spanish
government did not suggest any spe-
Cific terms of peace, nor was any ref
erenCe made to Cuba, the Philippines,
Porto Rico or other Spanish possess
sions. The evident purpose of the Mad
rid authorities was to first learn wheth-
er the United States would treat on
the subject Of peace. and after that
to take up such terms as the two par
ties might suggest. Neither was there
any suggestion from the Spanish gov
eminent that an armistice be estab-
lished pending the peace negotiations.
1t seemed natural. however. from the
proposition that formal peace negotia-
tions be entered upon that pending
their conclusion a cessation of hostil-
tiles would occur.
Owing to the Importance of the COM
mun!cation, the ambassador adopted
the usual diplomatic procedure of
reading the communication from the
original, in French, the translation be-
ing submitted by NJ. Thiebeaut. In the
conversation which followed the read
ing Of the proposition neither the pres
ident nor the ambassador entered upon
the question of the terms Of peace. The
instructions 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 proposition at this mo-
ment before giving any definite reply.
1t was finally determined that the pres
1dent would consult the members of
his cabinet concerning the proposition,
and after a decision had been arrived
at VI. CambOn would then be invited
TO the White house for a further con-
ference and for final answer from
the United States government. Before
the call closed a brief official mem
orandum was agreed upon, in order to
set at rest misleading conjecture and
to give to the public information on
a subject which had advanced beyond
the point where diplomatic reserve was
essential.
When the president will submit the
Spanish proposition to the cabinet has
not yet been decided. The call of the
ambassador was two hours after the
cabinet meeting Of today had closed,
and there will not be another regular
cabinet meeting until Friday. 1t is gen.
orally understood that a special cabinet
meeting will be held in order to make
prompt reply to the proposition.
Secretary Long arrived at the White
house shortly after the French ambas-
sador had departed and had a talk with
the president. during which the Span
fsh proposal was gone over briefly Mr.
Long said afterwards that it was an
initial move, but in reply to inquiries
as TO whether it was likely to bring
about a speedy cessation Of hostilities,
he expressed some doubt, saying that
no decision on the points involved had
been reached thus far.
Naturally the plea Of Spain to open
peace negotiations opens up wide field
of conjecture on what the terms of
peace Will be. Thus far there is no Off
cial warrant for saying what terms
Spain will propose, or what terms the
United States will offer or accept So
far as this country is concerned it is
the general impression that the COM
plete Spanish evacuation of Cuba and
Porto Rico will be insisted upon as a
sine qua non. There is not the same
certainty as to the Philippines, Lad
rCnes and Carolines, although the Lelief
IS growing that the terms of the Unit
ed States will include coaling stations
in these groups. On the part of Spain
1t is believed that she has now reached
such a realization of her misfortune
that she will readily consent to the