The Big Stone Gap post. [volume] (Big Stone Gap, Wise County, Va.) 1892-1928, 1898-08-04
PEACE OR WAR?
All Eyes Are Turned To Madrid for the
Answer to this Question.
t 10 Thought That the Terms OF Peace
VIII lie Considered by the sagasta
Cabinet Tuesday. and n De-
cislon Arrived At

l.. "AsHINGToN, Aug. ALI eyes ar,
> turned toward Madrid for it is realized
that upon the Spanish cabinet depend
ed the restoration of peace. 1t wa.
announced here in a quarter that re
-, moved the information from any ques
p, ton OF accuracy that the decision OF
the Spanish government was not to be
=, submitted before Tuesday at the car.
hest. In the absence of any new
phase in the negotiations here Mon.
day, speculation naturally turned
backward toward the remarkable
meeting at the white house Sunday
and great interest was mani.
tested in every particular respecting
that event A disposition was shown
IN some quarters to question the au.
thority of the French ambassador to
act as he did, representing Spain. But
1t can be again stated that regardless
OF any technical point such as the ab.
sence of signed, sealed and delivered
mail credentials, which of course
could not reach here in the little time
at hand, that the president regarded
ii. Cambon as fully qualified to act as
representative Of the Spanish gov.
ernment in the negotiations. sub.
Ject of course as are almost all
ministers or ambassadors in these
days, TO the reference of the work ac-
complished by them TO the government
they represent for final approval. NJ
Cambon made il so clear that he had
been fully instructed on every point |
likely to rise IN the negotiations that
the president was satisfied that by ac. |
cepting him as the representative |
OF Spain in this matter a |
vast saving of time would be
affected, and point of the ut
most importance, that the negotia-
tons would be technically conducted
without the interpostion of any neu-
tral government However, any ques-
ton that might have arisen as TO the
powers Of the French ambassador was
set at rest by a short, guarded and
concise statement issued Monday from
the embassy itself Then discussion
turned on the nature of the
change made at the instance Of
VI. CambOn in the list Of American
demands. 1t was contended in some
quarters that no change had been
made, in others that an important
modification had developed. As
matter of fact, as to the importance of
this change, there is n difference of
opinion between the parties, the adj
ministration looking upon il as incon-
scquential while NJ. Cambon attaches {
importance to it, /
However as this may be- as the aG.
believes that the change
is not essential and that it certainly u
does not affect the principle of tho
document. it might be well to recapi. <
tulate briefly just what the demands II
Of the United States were. As to Cuba. d
II Is demanded that Spain is 10 release II
her government possession and con !"
troll. 1t will be noticed that nothing II
IS said OF Cuban independence and u
that the acceptance of this position d
leaves the United States free to deal
with the island as it may deem best.
Porto Rico, with the small islands II
adjacent and embraced within its B
is TO be ceded uncon- tc
Iitionally to the United States CO
One OF the Ladrone islands likewise o,
S to be ceded 10 the United States "a n,
coaling station. T.
These three conditions being grant A
d by Spain, are h be taken as part kr
ayment in lieu of the full indemnity. I,
'hat further payment shall be re- Ia
uired is 10 be determined by com al
lission having authority to act for ",
ne president, subject 10 his approval. stl
Whether Spain shall retain possession ev
the Philippines as whole or
4 part, is left to that commission to
etermine. The reason for deferring
ne decision as TO the future of the a.
lands in this fashion is because the 80
iministratioD is not yet satified it.
If; it is not clear at this moment =" -
hat sound policy should dictate in -
le matter. Po
Mean while and until the commission ."
rs satisfactorily disposed of the fu. i'
re of the islands the United States is .''
exercise military government over wv
anila harbor and bay. The commits "e'
On will be actually peace commits
On and will prepare the treaty
hich will terminate formally the war Po
th Srain. However q suspension OF saI
stilities may be sooner declared wa
len the Spanish government shall Dit
fnitely accept the conditions above en-
d down and renounce its authority po
er Cuba and Porto Rico. sta
Madrid, Aug. 2-The cabinet conn Pc
sat Monday afternoon, and again Al
: four hours Monday evening, dis. Ju
ssing the peace terms WI