Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1898-08-11
THE SPANISH REPLY.
It Fails to Meet the Expectations Of
the American Administration.
MANY CONDITIONS TO ACCEPTANCE.
The Outcome Ut the Cabinet Conference Ut
Washington Unknown. but the Belief
IL That Another Reply from Spain
Will he Necessary.

10 That Another Reply from Spain
Will BE Necessary.
Washington, Aug. lO.-More than Q
hours after it had begun to reach
Washington the Spanish note in an
swer to the presidents peace condi
tons was presented at the white house
by the French ambassador. What the
nature OF the answer was can only be
conjectured at this stage, the secretary
Of state at the conclusion Of the con
ference making the formal statement
that nothing whatever could be sale
on the subject The conference lasted
an hour and 25 minutes This
prolonged discussion was believed tc
indicate that the Spanish answer was
not satisfactory in all respects, though
in just what points it fell short OF
meeting the expectations Of the presi.
dent 1t is impossible to say. 1t was
felt by the observers that, had the
answer been complete acceptance OF
our terms, the result would have been
made public. On the other hand it
would be a strained inference to con.
clude that the answer was unsatisfac.
tory entirely, for, in that case, accord.
ing to the presidents statement here.
tofore made, his offer would have
been definitely withdrawn and the
war resumed with greater energy than
before. 1t would seem that there
could scarcely be good reason in this
case for withholding the result Of the
conference.
On the whole it Is rather to be con-
cluded that middle result was oh.
tanned; that Spain was found to have
attached certain conditions to her ac-
ceptance Of the presidents terms, but
that the latter was not disposed to re-
gard the intersection Of the new mat
ter as sufficient in itself to warrant an
immediate termination of the peace
negotiations. According to this view
the president has taken exception to
some Of the Spanish conditions, but
has allowed a last opportunity for
them to be withdrawn or modi fed.
The reply Of the Spanish govern.
ment is understood to be q document
embracing about l, 200 words. 1t is said
to be divided into five points, or heads,
namely: Cuba, Porto Rico, Ladrone is
lands, occupation Of Manila and ap-
pointment Of commission, which are
treated In the order named. So far as
could be learned no mention Is made
Of the Cuban debt The retention Of
arms and ammunition by the Spanish
troops comes in for indirect reference
under the head Of Cuba. In the alb
sence Of an official statement 1t is i'm.
possible to give the Spanish position
on the several American conditions
but from the best information obtain
able, in treating each subject-Cuba,
Porto Rico, Ladrones, Manila and
peace commission-an acceptance in
some cases is understood to relate to
conditions somewhat di fferent to those
laid down by the American govern
ment.
As to Cuba, the American terms de-
manded the evacuation Of the island
without specifying the future form of
government. The Spanish reply Is
said to accept the principle that Span.
ish sovereignty over Cuba will termi.
nate, but 1t is understood to take up
the future government of the island
and, because of the Spanish interests
there, is said to take the view, either
expressed or implied, that the United
States should administer the affairs of
the island. As to the time of evacu-
ating Cuba, this is a detail which the
Spanish reply is said to regard as
among many which can be left to the
commission for final determination.
The American conditions as to Porto
Rico, the Ladrones, Manila, ETC., are
believed to be accepted, but the topics
are treated at some length, but it will
require the full text to show how far
the language used may be constructed
as an acceptance. The provision as to
the commission is assented to- The
commission is to consist OF five COM
missoners on each side, with Paris as
the probable meeting place. The
Spanish reply Is said to develop some.
what the scope Of the commission,
leaving to it not only the determine
ton of the future Of the Philippines,
but also the details involved in the ar
rangement of lasting peace.
The outcome Of the conference Is un-
known, but the best opinion obtain.
able is that the matter Is still open.
that Ambassador Cambon will report
to Spain the results Of his efforts and
the desires Of this government, and
that another reply from Spain as to
some details will be necessary to a
final conclusion. There were just four
parties to the conference, President
Mckinley and Secretary Day on the
one side, and NJ Cambon, the French
ambassador, and his first secretary Of
legation, M. Thiebaut, presenting the
case OF Spain.
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