Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1898-08-11
PEACE NEGOTIATIONS.
Reports That Spain Had Accepted Our
Terms Proved Immature.

Reports That Spain Had Accepted Our
Terms Proved Immature.
Washington: Unofiicially the Presi-
dent was informed that the Spanish
ministry had acceded to the terms of
the United States for cessation of the
war. While this government has
strong reasons for believing that its
terms of peace have been agreed 70 by
the Madrid government, the President
is taking nothing for granted. Ar
engagements for pressing the war to
successful conclusion are going forward
precisely as If no negotiations were in
progress. In event of ST aims accept
ance of the terms proposed by this
country, the first step will probably be
toward an agreement to close active
hostilities, pending the drafting of
treaty of peace along the lines of the
accepted terms.
Later.-An appointment was made
by NJ. Cambon, the French ambassador,
acting for Spain, for a conference with
President Mckinley and Secretary of
State Day to consider communication
from Madrid on the peace question.
After a conference lasting just an hour
Secretary Day emerged from the White
House and announced that the confer
ence was inconclusive; wherefore the
parties to il had agreed to say nothing
publicly as to what had occurred.
From this il is gathered that the cx-
pected answer of the Spanish govern
ment TO the Presidents note upon be-
ing received had turned out to be either
a counter proposition or request for
a fuller statement in detail upon some
of the heads of the Presidents note.
Meantime in consouance with the de-
clared purpose of the President at the
beginning of the overture, this confer
ence is not operating to restrain mill
tary operations in any degree.
The government is now waiting to
hear again from Spain. and this time
il is expected the answer Will be final.
Firmly, but courtcously, the President
has declined the earnest appeal of the
French ambassador to modify the
United States demands. except in slight
and comparatively unimportant re-
spects. One of these was that the com
mission TO be appointed TO settle the
terms of peace shall meet outside of
the United States. aud preferably in
France. The President sees no mate
rial objection to granting this request,
and it is said to be practically settled
that the conferences will be held in
Paris.
The Madrid government, through NJ.
1,I
tons as to the time when Spain would
be expected to evacuate Cuba and the
territory to be ceded the United States,
and as TO what provision would be
made by the United States to protect
the interests of Spanish subject in
these islands, while the evacuation was
in progress. There is one point, how
ever, which the Spanish authorities,
apparently, fail fully to comprehend,
and Secretary Day made a special call
upon the ambassador for the purpose
principally of making perfectly clear
this one point. The point was that
the evacuation of Cuba, Porto Rico and
one of the Ladrone islands, to be Sc
lecteq by the United States, and their
permanent session to this government,
was made a question precedent to all
peace negotiations, and not until these
terms had been fully complied with,
will this government consent to enter
tain any peace propositions whatever.
Madrid: Consultations held between
Premier Sagasta the presidents of the
chambers and other prominent persons,
are of a national character with a
view of ascertaining the opinions of
all parties. The cabinet will follow
the advice of the party leaders and will
leave to the crown the liberty of chos-
ing advisers. All the leaders consulted
have observed the strictest reserve,
with the exception of Senior Romero Y
Robledo, leader of the Weylerite party,
who declares himself for continuing
the war. Owing, in great measure,
to the patriotic efforts of Gen. Pola-
vieja, tacit truce seems now estab-
lished between all factors of internal
disorder in Spain, until the peace
treaty is signed. The feeling of all
classes is that the humiliation result
ing from this disastrous war falls not
upon the Spanish nation, but upon the
dynasty and government. The mo-
ment peace is signed the government
will be made scapegoat. and the peo-
pie will then turn savagely against the
dynasty and make it answerable for
the consequences.
NOTES ON THE WAR SITUATION