The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1898-08-04
OFF TIE PERCH
Direct Appeal for Peace
Is Made by the !
Spaniards.
THE TERMS NOT MENTIONED
Proposition Submitted by the French
Observation-Disclosures May Be Es-
tablishod-No Reference Made In Re-
gard to Cuba or Porto Rico.

Proposition Submitted by the French
bassador-Armistlce May Be Es-
tablishod-No Reference Made in Re-
gard to Cuba or Porto Rico.
Washington, July 28.-The Spanish
government has sued for peace. not in
directly. through the great powers of
Europe, but by direct appeal to Presi-
dent Mckinley.
The proposition was formally submit
ted to the president at 8 O'Clock this
afternoon, by the French ambassador,
M. Jules Cambon, who has received in
structions from the foreign Office at
Paris to deliver to the United States
government the tender of peace formu-
lated by the Spanish cabinet. At the
conclusion of the conference between
the president and the French ambas-
sador, the following official statement
was issued from the White House:
1.-THE French ambassador, on behalf
of the government of Spain, and by
direction of the Spanish minister of
foreign affairs presented to the presi-
dent this afternoon, at the White
House. message from the Spanish
government looking to the termina-
ton of the war and the settlement of
terms OF peace.
This was the only official statement
made public, but it suffices u put at
rest all conjecture and to make it clear
and definite that at last Spain had
taken the initiative toward peace. Al.
though peace rumors have been current
almost daily since the war began, not
one Of them had the shadow of founda-
tion. and until the French ambassador
received instructions from Paris, late
last night, no overtures of any kind
had been received.
The proposition submitted by the
ambassador acting for the Spanish gov
eminent was quite general in terms.
and was confined to the one essential
point of an earnest plea that negotia-
tions be opened for the purpose of ter
minating the war and arriving at
terms of peace The communication of
the Spanish government did not sug-
gest any specific terms of peace, nor
was any reference made to Cuba, the
Philippines, Porto Rico or other Span
ish possessions. The evident purpose
of the Madrid authorities was to first
learn whether the United States would
treat on the subject of peace, and after
ward to take up such terms as the two
parties might suggest.
Neither was there any suggestion
from the Spanish government that an
armistice be established pending the
peace negotiations. 1t seemed natural,
however, from the proposition, that
formal peace negotiations be entered
upon, that pending their conclusion
cessation of hostilities would occur.
Owing to the importance of the COM
munication, the ambassador adopted
the usual diplomatic procedure of read
ing the communication from the Or
iglnal in French, the translation being
submitted by M. Thibeault.
In the conversation which followed
the reading of the proposition, neither
the president nor the ambassador en-
tered into the question of terms Of
peace. The instructions Of the ambas-
.sador had been confined to the one
essential point of opening peace nego-
tiations, and it was evident that the
president desired to consider the propO-
sition at this moment before giving
any definite reply.
It was finally determined that the
president would consult the members
of his cabinet concerning the PROPOSE
ton, and that after decision had been
arrived at NJ. Cambon would then be
invited to the White House for fur
ther conference and for final answer
from the United States government.
Before the call closed brief official
memorandum was agreed upon In or
der to set at rest misleading conjectures
and to give to the public information
On subject which had advanced be-
yond the point where diplomatic re-
serve was essential.
Spanish Flag Gone Forever.
London, July 28.-The London morn
ing papers agree that 1t will be impos-
sible for Spain to pay indemnity. and
that it is impossible that the United
States will demand money o0mpensa-
tion. They all concede that the Span
ish flag has gone forever from Cuba and
Porto Rico.
Governor Culbertson's Protest.