The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-08-06
NO ANSWER YET.
Now Two Days Since Spain Has Been
Heard from Officially.

Heard from Omcially.
Special to the indianapolis Journal.
WASHINGTON, Aug. 5.--A sufficient time
will be given the Spanish government to
fully digest the peace terms and their mean
ing. Four or five days will not be consid-
cred unreasonable The President has every
reason to believe that nothing which has
occurred during the last few days in any
way endangers the peace prospects. The
conditions enumerated in the Presidents
original reply have not been changed in any
material respect, but some of ''harshness of
outline may have been slightly softened.
1t may be that the Spanish soldiers leaving
Cuba under the terms of peace which will
be agreed on will be allowed their arms
with them, but the request which Spain
makes to defer the beginning of the de-
portation of troops from Cuba until the
end Of the rainy season may be denied on
the theory that we can more safely and
more quickly do the really necessary sup
plying from this end.
An Associated Press dispatch says: When
the President closed his work to-day he had
not received the reply of Spain nor any in
timation as to how soon the reply might be
expected The French ambassador had not
been heard from throughout the day, and
he, as well as our government officials. was
waiting for Spain to give the final response.
Two days have now passed without a word
officially from Spain, either in the way of
inquiry or response. From this it is clear
that the Spanish Cabinet fully realizes the
time for argument, counter-proposas or
modification has gone by. and that there is
only one simple issue to be met, namely,
whether the American terms will be accept
ed as whole or rejected. There is, indeed,
reason to believe that the Spanish govern
ment has been directly advised that the
stage of negotiations is past, and that only
the matter of an answer, favorable or un-
favorable, remains. That the answer has
not come quickly is no matter of surprise
to the officials here, for they realize the
tremendous responsibility which Premier
Sagasta must assume in making these
peace terms sufficiently palatabie to the
Spanish populace and the political leaders
to permit its acceptance without an internal
convulsion. In his conference with the
President and Secretary Day the French
ambassador has brought out clearly the
great task before Sagasta. 1t seems to be
the general view here that if the premier
and his Ministry were untrammeled an ac-
ceptance would come at once, and chat the
preliminary peace arrangement would now
be closed. But in preparing the Spanish
public. and in guarding against political
agitations hereafter by public men of other
parties, the Madrid officials are taking time
for missionary work not only among them
selves. but among all political and social
elements.
The best Informed persons here fix next
Monday as the time when the United States
government is likely to receive Spain's final
answer. but this is simply conjectural, for
there is not the slightest means of knowing
the tendencies at Madrid. 1t might come
tomorrow. but in the event of it's coming
late in the day. or on Sunday the response
would not be communicated to the govern
ment until Monday There is the same con-
fdent belief among officials that there has
been from the first that Spain's answer will
be reluctant. but not the less conclusive
acceptance. AT the same time it was sug-
gested to-day in some quarters that there
was possibility the disclosures made bv
the American general at Santiago concern
ing the serious condition of our troops
might be straw at which the Spanish Cab
met would grasp This is quite doubtful
however as there is question whether the
statement of the American general ever got
outside the borders of the United States
owing to the strict censorship imposed last
night. Moreover, all the evidence reaching
the officials here indicates that Spain is
weary with the conflict, and is convinced
beyond the slightest question of the hope
lessness of further opposition.