The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1898-08-03
The French Minister M. Cambon is
Clothed With Power to Act
For Spain.
An Agreement Reached That Will
Speedily Cause Cessation
Of Hostilities.
Our Terms Are Agreed to With
Only Some Unimportant
Notifications.

Washington, July 31.-Events of the
most momentous character occurred at
the conference at the White House
yesterday between the president, Am
bassador Cam bon, of France, and Sec
rotary Day, carrying the peace nego-
tations far beyond the mere submits
sion of terms of peace by the United
States and reaching the point of pre-
liminary basis of peace between the
government of Spain and the govern
ment of the United States, needing
only the ratification of the Madrid
cabinet in what was done yesterday to
bring the war to an end.
This was ;ccom plished on the part
OF Spain when Am bassador Cam bon
presented to the president credentials
he had received from the Spanish gov
eminent appointing him envoy extra
ordinary and plenipotentiary with
complete instructions as to the manner
OF acting upon every one of the peace
conditions presented by the United
States, including the disposition of
Cuba, Porto Rico, the Philippines. the
Ladrones, indemnity, armistice, and
all other questions likely to arise in
the course of the negotiations.
With these credentials authorizing
him to speak, as plenipotentiary, for
the government of Spain and full in
structions on evely point at issue Am
bassador Cam bon, in behalf of Spain,
not only received the peace conditions
laid down by the American cabinet
earlier in the day, but their full dis
cussion with a view to reaching a final
and complete agreement.
The meeting was held in the presi-
dents library and both in the subjects
discussed and the impressive manner
in which the argument proceeded, it
was conference destined to become
memorable.
After strong argument, the president
and Secretary Day consented to a mod
i6cation of the of the American terms
in one place. What the modification
relates to is not disclosed, but it is not
to apply to the conditions of the abso-
lutte independence of Cuba, the cession
of Porto Rico, or the granting of ade-
States in the Pacific, or to diminish in
any vital particular the terms on which
peace will be restored.
The modification has brought about
practical unaninity between the pres
ident and Am bassador Cambon, as
plenipotenti ary for Spain, and the lat
ter has now transmitted the result of
the con ference to Madrid for approval,
which, if given, will END the war.
What the modification is that has
been agreed upon can only be conjec-
tured, but it there is reason to believe
that it either relates to the time when
the actual hostilities will be suspended
or else to the extent of our interest in
the Philippines, leaving unchanged the
condition that Spain shall withdraw
from Cuba and Porto Rico, grant the
United States coaling stations in the
Pacific and make important conces-
sions in the Philippines.
1t is now for the Madrid government
to give final approval to what was par
TALLY accomplished yesterday. 1t is
even possible that this approval may
come very speedily, for there is no
need of extended conferences or CORE
spondence.