Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1898-08-04
CAN SEE END OF THE WAR.
French Minister Made Envoy of
Spain to Make Peace.
TERMS PROPOSED BY THE U. S,
Porto Rico to be Coded to the u. S.-Cuba
to be Free-Uncle Sam to Take Manila
and Surrounding Territory - Future
OF PHILIPPINES to be Settled Later.

Spouse to the Spanish overture for
peace made through Nj. Cambon, the
French ambassador, showed consider
able difference of opinion as to the
position the United States should take
regarding the Philippine islands. On
the other issues unanimity developed.
There was TO be independence de-
manded for Cuba; Porto Rico was to be
ceded to the United States; coaling
stations were to be acquired at Guam,
in the Ladrone islands, and one in the
Caroline islands.
AS to the Philippines, the cabinet
finally agreed upon the following;
That Manila bay, with the city and
surrounding territory, should be re-
tanned in the possession of the United
States as an American port and coaling
station. If Spain is to be allowed to
retain the Philippines, which the
United States has not occupied, 1t must
be under an agreement that neither
the islands, as a whole, nor any part
of them, shall be coded by Spain to any
other power but the United States, ex-
cept with the consent of this country.
The trade of the Philippines must be
freed from restrictions of the Spanish
colonial system. The policy of open
door, must be established for Ameri-
can products. The port and coaling
station which the United States takes
must be protected from any trade re-
l.. IN ha
it has been, the central port of this
island system. SPANS colonial adj
ministration must be improved and the
United States must be able to make its
reform effective and permanent. No
part of the region which has risen
against Spain on our approach and no
man concerned in the rising shall suffer
after the close of the war. The United
States must be left in position to pre-
vent the terrible cruelty which has dis
graced the Spanish administration in
the past. Once established at Manila,
the United States cannot permit I'M
checked atrocities of the past in the,
islands about.
Incident to the cession of Porto Rico.
and the recognition of Cuban inde<
pendence by Spain was the decision
| that every vestige Of Spanish govern
ment and authority in the Caribbean
and West Indian waters must be re-
moved, effecting a material acquisition
| of numerous islands over which the
Spanish flag flies, one of the most inn
portant of which is the Isle of Pines
| Furthermore, this sweeping change OF
authority from Spain to the United
States in our nearby waters is to be
effective also as quit claim of all in
debtedness assumed by the Spanish
government and charged by her to
those islands, so far as the United
States is concerned and all commercial
treaties now existing between the
Spanish government and her posses
sions there and outside powers are eX-
tinguished
When the cabinet had reached its
conclusions the French ambassador
was summoned to the White House to
receive the reply of the L. ;. govern
ment to SPANS overture. 1t was eX-
pected that this ceremony would oc-
|
bassador came on time, accompanied
bv his secretary, NJ. Thiebaut, and was
met by the President and Secretary OF
State Day, but as the minutes ran
along into hours without the reap
pearance of NJ. Cambon, it was imme-
diately surmised that something had
happened to disarrange the original
plans for this meeting. 1t was after
a stay of over two hours that the
French ambassador terminated his
visit. While it continued Secretary
Long and Admiral Sicard, of the naval
board. and Assistant Adee, of the stat,
department, were called into consulta
ton.
Events of the most momentous char
acter occurred at the conference carry
ing the peace negotiations far beyond
the mere submission of terms of peac,
by the United States, and reaching thu
point of a preliminary basis of peac,
between the government of Spain anC
the government of the United States
needing only the ratification of tn
Madrid cabinet in what was done t
, bring the war to an end. This was &C
complished on the part of Spain whel
Ambassador Cambon presented to tn
| President credentials he had receive,
from the Spanish government appoint
ing him envoy extraordinary and plen
ipotentiary, with complete instruction
I as to the manner of acting upon ever
5 one of the peace conditions presente
l by the United States.
D 1t is now for the Madrid govern
4 ment to give final approval t
|. what was partially accomplished, 70
: there is no need of extende
conferences or correspondence. Al
: that was accomplished when NJ
Cambon acted as plenipotentiary
n From the fact that he acted under in
, structions the prospect would seem {
e be hopeful for SPANS ratifying wha
n has been done. But it is for Spai
|. herself to determine the issue of peac
or war as now presented TO her.
; Miss Jessie Schley, daughter {