Semi-weekly register. (Brookings, Brookings Co., S.D.) 1894-1898, 1898-07-29
Great Britain and France Both
Wished to Represent the
Spaniards.
Dons Completely Humbled and
Powerless to Continue
the War.

quarters Spain's peace proposal through
the French ambassador is the absorb
ing topic, and the answer of the presi.
dent is awaited with keen interest. The
diplomats showed their interest by
calling at the state department and at
the French embassy to learn with more
exactness the details of Spain's pro-
posal. This developed several features
of the proposition which had not been
entirely clear before. In the first place
no foreign government outside Of
France has been consulted by Spain in
this overture for peace, and the present
movement is n OF shared directly or in.
directly by Germany, Austria, Italy,
Russia or Great Britain. It can now
be stated, however, that the formal
proposition submitted has been under
consideration at Madrid for five days
previous, during which time the Brit.
ish as we'll as the French authorities
Were cosnizant Of the Fact
that Spain was about to sue for peace.
This being settled it appears that
good natured but keen rivalry sprang
up between Sir Drummond Wolff, the
British ambassador at Madrid, and
M. Patenotre, the French ambassador,
there as to which government should
have the honor of initiating the move.
ment designed to restore .he peace Of
the world. Spain appears to have pre-.
ferred the intermediation of the French
government and as result the nego.
tiations finally were entrusted to the
French ambassador at Washington.
Another essential point is the exact
proposition made by Spain. The Span.
ish proposition does not mention the
words "terms" and there is no request
or suggestion in it that the president
shall state terms Of peace. The dis.
tinct
Inquiry Made by Spain
is as to whether the United States will
open negotiations toward the settle.
ment Of the war and the arrangement
of peace. Neither does the Spanish
proposition contain any reference to
an "armistice" At the same time it
is framed on the idea that If peace
are entered upon there
will be q suspension Of hostilities pend.
ing an agreement upon the exact terms
Of peace.
The Spanish proposition is clothed
with all the solemnity and formality Of
q government act, despite the cable re-
port from Madrid that the peace pro.
posal is of a ''private" nature. The
instructions to M. Cambon bear the
official signature of Duke Almadovar
de Rio, the Spanish minister Of foreign
affairs, and, besides expressing the de-
sires of the cabinet and government
that the peace negotiations be opened.
they are given the added solemnity Of
and
Earnest Personal Request
by Queen Regent Maria Cristina.
These formalities dismiss :all question
in the minds of officials here as to the
of the Spanish proposition
as expressive of the wishes Of the gov.
ernment Of Spain.
The yellow fever conditions are being
as one reason favorable to
the conclusion Of peace for 1t is being
urged that the material advantages
which the United States will gain by
the war will be heavily
Offset by the inroads OF disease. An.
other point being urged is that the as.
pect Of the war will be even more
glorious, more attribute to the high
aims Of this government IL it deals In
q spirit Of magnanimity with the con.
Quered enemy. Il is said also that
Spain Is completely humblsd and 90
powerless to further continue the war,
that tho United States can secure
through peace ussotisttoaa everything