The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1898-08-03
NEWS FROM BLOCKADED HAVANA
Strange Stories of American Re-
verses and Insurgont Defeats
--Newspaper Courage.

WASHINGTON, D. c.. Aug. 8, 1885,
President. shortly after ten o'clock this
:. Inernng, said that he had received un-
official notification of Spain's agreement
TO our peace terms, and that he is ex-
pecting the Spanish reply will be cora
municated TO. him at any moment
There was eager expectancy at the
White House in<anticipation of the reply
of the Spanish Government to our peace
terms Though no word had come off,
ciaily to the President as to the action
of the Sagasta Government, the President
from other sources was certain that an
agreement had been reached on this pro-
positions and early in the forenoon he
stated to several callers with some satis-
faction that he understood that an agree
ment had been reached and that he ex-
pected the formal answer to reach him at
any hour.
Throughout the early part of the day
the press dispatches as transmitted to
him were carefully read and with sew
eral of his cabinet who called individually
he referred to the certainty he felt of the
early termination of hostilities There
was strong belief that NJ. Cambon, the
French ambassador, will promptly ar
range during the morning to formally and
without delay present to the President
the expected Spanish note.
Officials were not the only ones who
anticipated an early communication of
the reply but numerous newspaper men
were gathered about the White House
awaiting the French Ambassadors call.
AT ! o'clock, however, no word had yet
come from the Embassy but there was
still a current belief that the reply might
be in before the day was brought to a
close. Secretary Alger and Adjutant
General Corbin accompanied Major Gen
eral Wade to the White House during
the day.
While it is stated the call was merely a
personal one. it is understood there was
some consultation regarding the expedi-
ton which General Wade is to command
for the Porto Rican campaign. Secretary
Long and Attorney General Griggs also
spent some time with the President on
departmental details, but stopped long
enough to refer to the prospective Span
ish reply.
The reports from Madrid by way of
London stating that Spain had deter
mined upon an answer to the demands of
the United States, and that the answer
had been sent or was now en- route to
Washington, had the effect Of arousing
the most lively interest in all official
quarters today While the reports are
accepted showing the undoubted ten
dency of the Spanish government for
peace and as likely to be borne out in the
near future by the formal response of
Madrid yet it can be stated positively
that so far the United States government
has received no answer from SPAIN nor
has the French embassy received an an
swer which will be communicated to the
authorities here.
1t is apparent from this that the answer
could not have been sent from Madrid
on Monday as stated in some of the
foreign reports. The misapprehension
doubtless arises from the fact that the
MaGria Cabinet, after receiving the Am
ericaA terms, desired more information
upon some of the points involved. This
led to a cable communication to M. Cam
bon. 1T was not intended as response
to the American terms. and it was in no
sense conclusive upon the subject matter
of the negotiations
There was no need of a call by NJ.
Cannon at the White House or at the
Stale Department This continues to be
the situation up to the present time,
pansely. communication having been re-
ceived relative to the American terms,
but one of such final character as
to stitute an answer for submis-
sio the United States Govern
me st the same time final answer
is ,ected daily and almost hourly,
and although no official intimation
has been given It is possible that ghe de-
cision has been already reached at
Madrid. II has not reached any quarter