The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1898-07-28
X X I RRA!! R !!
DIPLOMATIC LIES.
No Bad Faith in Our Govern
rnent Pushing the Porto
Rico Invasion.
FUTILE BACKDOOR GOSSIP
Ambassador Cambon's Note
the First Genuine Peace
Proposal.
The LAW OF ARMISTlCES
Military Operations Cease Only
When They Are For-
mally Agreed
Upon.
SICKNESS IN SHAFTER'S ARMY
Typhoid Fever Prevalent as Well
as yellow Jaok--EReots
Of the Climate.
SICKNESS IN SHlFlER'S ARMY
Typhoid Fever Prevalent as Well
as Yellow Jack--ERscts
of the Climate.

WASHINGTON, July 2S, 1S9S.-lt can De
stated on the authority of the State De
partment and the foreign embassies here
that there were no overtures in behalf OF
Spain for peace or a cessation of HOSTILE
ties until the French Ambassador last
Tuesday afternoon presented his note to
the President. This statement is made
with full knowledge OF European denials
ana must be accepted as that Of the gov
ernment of the United States
Therefore, all of the talk about bad
faith shown by our Government in press
ing the Porto Riean campaign during the
last few days. is absolutely without foun-
dation, and our Government has done
q nothing that can subject it to criticism
on IBIS score. In addition to the repre-
sentSyes of the United States Govern
ment %he persons qualified to speak for
the Go1arnment Of Spain, in this country,
make am exactly similar statement, and
the alleged charges OF bad faith against
the United States. attributed to Premier
Sagasta, are discredited as inventions TO
prejudice the successful progress of the
present peace movement.
1t could not be contemplated for a mo-
ment that any mere personal exchange of
views between persons in Europe could be
construed an overture for peace, and
although there may have been some of
this "baekdoor gossip as it is denomi-
mated at the State Department, it can
be again affirmed that the United States
Government has not been a party to it.
Moreover, so far as Ambassador Cambon
is concerned, it can be stated positively
that he made no overtures. direct or in
direct. official or unofficial. relating to
or to ,7o Of ma mir +0
three o'clock last Tuesday afternoon.
Even supposing there had been peace
oyertures. which there had not BEEN
military authorities regard Premier Sa-
gasta's S alleged statement that peace over
lures operate TO stay the course of mill
tary operations as little short of amazing,
and directly contrary not only to the
military law of the United States but to
the whole recognized principles OF inter-
national law
In general. the international law writ
ers agree that military operations stop
only when a truce or an armistice is ac-
tually concluded, and that this truce or
armistiee. must be in writing. Until then
Nthe mere preliminary overture toward
suspension Of hostilities is not regarded
as any warrant for stopping the war
This is expressed in the United States
Instructions for the government of armies
in the field as follows;-
Article 147. Belligerents sometimes
include an armistice while their peni-
potentiaries are met to discuss the
conditions of treaty of peace; but
penipotentiaries may meet without
preliminary armistiee: in the latter
case the war is carried without
any abatement.
Another sections of the regulations is as
follows:-
Article 142. An armistice is not a
partial or temporary peace. it is only
the suspension Of military operations
to the extent agreed upon by the par
ties
The military authorities, as well as the
specific regulations of the United States,
hold that there is no suspension of hos
tiIties prior to the agreement to suspend
military operations. Even then, the agree
ment is binding on military commanders
only from the time they receive actual
notice of it. In the meantime military
commanders have the right to push for
ward and hold such territory as they oc-
cupy.
The need for limiting this cessation OF
hostilities is obvious, for until a signed
agreement is made there is no knowledge
present case an arnistice might include
or exclude the Philippines or Porto Rico
as the two parties might agree. but until
they agree there will be no obligation to
ebafe military operations in any field of
operations.
After the signing Of the armistice pre-
liminary TO peace, status quo is estab-
Hshed. and all military operations come to
a halt at the points designated, and at
points not designated the military oper-
ations proceed. In the present case If
the truce is general. General Shafter,
General Miles and Admiral Dewey would
simply retain the possessions they now oc-
clpy and arnoral obligation would be inn
posed not TO strengthen these positions or
10 make secret preparations for a more
effective continuance Of the war here
after.
Tho military authorities agree that the
only qualification for this rule is that re-
inforcements may be sent farwrd and
that defensive. but not offensive, opera