The state herald., 1898-08-05
MAY GET PEACE SOON
ANSWER SENT TO SPAIN.
She Must Leave tho Western Hemiaphere,
but tho Fate of the Philippines Is I'm
settled-Cambon Had Powers of q
Minister of Spain.

the conference ut the White House
yesterday afternoon between the Pres
ident, Ambassador Cambon of France
and Secretary Day, carrying the peace
negotiations far beyond the mere sub
mission Of terms of peace by the Unit
ed States and reaching the point of II
preliminary basis of peace between
the government of Spain and the gov
ernment of the United States, needing
only the ratification of the Madrid Cab
inet in what was done to bring the
war 10 IN end.
This was accomplished on the part of
Spain when Ambassador CambOn pre-
sented TO the President credentials he
had received from the Spanish govern
ment appointing him envoy extraordi-
nary and minister plenipotentiary with
complete instruction 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
Lndrones, 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 with full
Instructions on every point at issue,
Ambassador Cambon. In behalf of
Spain. not only received the peace con-
ditions laid down by the American
Cabinet earlier in the day, but there
upon entered upon their final discus
sion with view to reaching final
and complete agreement.
After strong argument, the President
nn1 Saprnfnrv hnu to n
modification Of the American terms in
one particular What that modifica-
tion relates to Is not disclosed, but 1t is
believed not TO apply to the condition
for the absolute independence OF Cuba,
the cesslon of Porto Rico. or the grant
ing of adequate cOaling stations to the
United States in the Pacific. or to di-
minish in any vital particular the
terms on which peace will be restored.
The modification brought about prncti-
cal unanimity between the President
and Ambassador Cambon, as plenipo-
tentiary for Spain. and the latter has
now transmitted the results OF the con-
ference to Madrid for approval. which,
II given. will end the war.
On the main points OF the answer
there was no disagreement, and these
propositions were ratified as they stood
yesterday, namely: Cuba to be freed; :;
Porto Rico to be ceded to the United
States; one Of the Ladrone islands
lprobably Guam to be ceded to the
United States as coaling station. and,
as nm immediate step. all Spanish mil
itary forces In the West Indies to be
Withdrawn, with the formal relinquish-
ment by Spain of her sovereignty over
any POSSESSIONS among those islands.
AS TO the Philippines, the Cabinet
agreed upon the following point: That
Manila bay, with the city and sur
rounding territory, should be retained
In the possession Of the United States
at least for such length OF time as Is
necessary TO devise and put In opera
ton some plan for the future govern
mcnt OF the group.
After that point the main divergence
OF opinion began, and all sorts OF prop
ositions were put forward and urged
by individual members as the best
means Of dealing with the future OF
the islands.
In the very midst OF the discussion.
the element that had strongly urged
the necessity OF protecting Aguinaldo
IN any settlement we should arrange
received severe check through the re-
celpt OF cablegram from Admiral
Dewey, stating that the insurgent chief
has assumed defiant attitude, and
Admiral Dewey expressed the opinion
that the United States would he Obliged
TO make war upon them, neccssItatipg
the requirement Of 1900 troops 10 sub.
due the Islands. While this did NOT
bring about complete dismissal of the
proposition to take the insurgents into
account In settling the terms OF peace.
II did have the effect TO cause an agree.
mcnt upon the proposition to defer nc.
ton upon the question as TO the dispo-
sition OF the Islands until after the 9th.
er phases Of the peace negotiations
nave been satisfactorily adjusted.
meaning by that that the matter goes
over until the Spanish nag has disap-
peared from the Western Hemisphere
and the American flag is holsted TO
stay over the coaling stations we rc.
quire In Micronesia.
The discussion lasted two hours and
quarter before the Cabinet hit upon
the best course for the United States TO
adopt. II was finally decided thai
what we desired could be best done by
the appointment Of Joint commission.
limited In Its representation to the gov.
ernmcnts OF the United States and
spain, which commission is TO endeay.
or TO settle the details OF the govern.
ment OF the Philippines and determine
whnf treatment shall bc accorded the
Insurgents, the United States army and
navy meanwhile occupying Manila and
Manila bay. and thus retaining n no.
sltion TO enforce speedily the yerdIc,
That shall be finally reached by The
commission.
As the Cabinet meeting adjourned
the members went OF to their lunch.
cons with pleasant consciousness.
that they hnd succeeded In disposIpy on
the very difficult problem.
The profoundly Important result. de.
vcloped to-day came about most unox.
pectcdly. Ambassador Cambon's chi,
was set for . o'clock and IL wns cy'
pccied TO last but n few minutes. willis
the answer Of the United States wns
being handed TO him. But since tbo
oriHipnl proposition OF Spain wns nrc.
scnicsl. last Tuesday, NJ. G,mbon I'm.
prepared himself 10 speak with author.
i,y ON the questions which We're IA
arise.
Tho President himself has preferred
this course. although outside of him.
~'lf and the ambassador few w.rc
aware that the latter came ready to
treat ~ the envoy ~ Spain. IN. mrs,
instruction of N. Cnmbon mad. him
merely medium of communicating
spnln's first note. but now b. nppcnrc.
with nll the attributes OF n dlrrc, din
lomn'ic officer of Spain. empowered /,