The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-08-01
WAITING FOR SPAlN'S REPLY.
RESPONSE NOT EXPECTED BEFORE
TOMORROW.

Spanish Cabinet Must Give Terms
Extended Confederation and Care
fully Frame the Reply-Nnturc of
the Presidents Concession on the
Philippine Question Not AIade Pub
lie Retention of Manila quite
Likely Part of His Demand-Flf-
teen Regiments to Go to Porto
Rico.
Washington, July S1.-The persons best
informed as to the PROBABILITIES declare
thar the answer Of the Spanish govern
ment TO the terms of peace outlined BY
the government of the United States Is
not to be expected before Tuesday.
This opinion is based upon a knowledge
of the time when the United States conf
munication was received in Madrid, which
was not until an carly hour this morning,
the time required TO decipher it, the ne
cesslty for an extended consideration of
the matter by The Spanish cabinet, and
also the necessity for carefully framing
the rejoinder.
1t is not meant by this statement TO
question in any manner the fun plenipO-
tentiaIy powers of NJ. Cambon, the French
ambassador, in dealing with the subject.
On the contrary, they are in latitude wider
than those usually conferred in such
cases.
But his position is somewhat similar to
that of the President himself, who is oblig
ed to secure the sanction of the United
states Sc ate TO any treaty of peace that
he may | epare, for the ambassador must
submit to the Madrid cabinet for its ap
proval any agreement that he may enter
into.
But in the drafting of such an agreement
he is fully authorized to proceed in his
discretion, and TO guard against any pos
sibility OF reputation of his action he has
been given the minutest definition of the
concessions that win be made by the Span
ish government on every point that by
| any possibility could be expected to arise
in the course of the negotiations,
Ii was not known TO our government
| that Nj. Cambon had such powers when
| he appeared yesterday afternoon at the
White House to receive the American an
swer, but although the President was sat
| isfied that he was competent to deal in
| an authorized manner with our govern
ment, the production of his credentials
| was hailed with satisfaction, as tending
| to hasten the reaching Of an agreement
without loss of time and in the most direct
manner, for technically the United States
is now treating with Spain without the
| Intervention of any third power.
1t may be said also that M. Cambon is
proceeding with straightforwardness to-
ward his object, and that there Is no fear
of devious diplomacy being introduced in
to the negotiations.
There is much speculation as to the ma
! ture of the amendment in the answer of
/ the United States that the ambassador
succeeded in inducing President Mckinley
! to make after the document had been
SO carefully constructed by his cabinet.
! All that can be knowingly stated is that
! ii relates to that part of the answer
! which deals with the future of the Philip
| pines. 1t is known that the Spanish ef-
/ forts were concentrated upon the reten-
! tion of the Islands, and the Madrid cabinet
! was willing to make almost any sacrifice
| in its power to secure that end.
Whether or not the ambassador pre-
| vailed in this is not known, but there is
reason to believe that the success he at
| tanned was limited and that the United
States proposes 10 retain some foothold
| little more important than a simple coal
ing station in the Islands. Had our de-
mand been limited to a coaling station,
there would have been no doubt of its ac-
ceptance, and it is even probable that the
4 concession might have been made OF con-
siderable tract of land for a naval station
and a supporting zone.
But it is believed that there was siren
uous objection to the cession of the city
of Manila, the metropolis of the group,
and particularly TO the reference to a COM
mission of the question of the future gov
ernment of the islands, for the Spanish
government is desirous that its fun SOW
ereignty shall remain unaffected and with
out question. 1t Is assumed that IL was
this point which was the subject of amend
ment at the hands of the President yes
terday, though what form that change
took is stll unknown.
As some mention has been made in the
III -f 3 tfafI 80
acquisition of one of the Caroline Islands,
it may be stated authoritatively that the
matter has not been considered by the
cabinet up to this time.
The progress made In the negotiations
has given rise in some quarters to an ex-
pectation that hostties are to be sus-
pended very soon This win depend en-
tirely upon the attitude of the Spanish
government and the nature of It's answer
10 our demands.
1t has been made clear to the French
ambassador that hostllit!es will not be sus-
pended except upon the assurance of full
acceptance of our conditions, and he has
undoubtedly informed the Spanish cabi-
net that it depends upon Spain when the
war shall cease.
Meanwhile, as an earnest that our gov
ernment has not interrupted the execution
of its campaigns, an order was issued from
the war department to-day for the dispatch
of an entire army division to reinforce
Gems Mites and Brooke in Porto Rico
This win be known as The provisional di-
vision. and VIII be commanded by Mai
Gen. Wade, at present in command at
Camp Thomas, Chickamauga He is or
dered to turn over that command to Mai
Gen Breckenridge, inspector general Of the
army, and to report to Secretary Alger in
Washington for instructions before depart
ing for Porto Rico bringing with him his
adjutaut general and his aides. The pro-
.g-..
regiments, and Cen Wade will select them.
not from the troopers under his old COM
mand alone but with particular reference
10 an equitable representation in the Porto
Rican campaign of all Of the states Of the
Union.
Secretary Alger feels that his department
has been subjected to some unjust criti-
csm upon the selection of troops for act
i've service, and pronOunces as without
foundation the allegation that politics have
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