New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-08-03
The Daily and Sunday Tribune for onf-
of-foan readers. 81 month. Changes OF
address gree no trouble.
THE TERMS OF PEACE.

The terms of peace offered by the President
70 Spain In response to NJ. Cambon's tentative
inou,ries have been so fully discounted IN ruinor
and speculaton that the official announcement
Of them comes to-day as n confirmation rather
than os n revelation There Is nothing in the
Abatement which has not been widely expected,
and nothing to cause surprise. The President
has not attempted 10 set forth all the details
of the desired settlement. He has merely
announced TO Spain the prime essentials TO
peace. even 10 the opening of negotiations for
peace. and mas left all else to be adjusted In the
usual courses of diplomacy. His positive re-
oujremepts are these: That Spain shall relin-
nuish all claims Of sovereignty over Cuba and IN
mediotely evacuate that island. cede Porto RICO
absolutely to the United States, similarly cede
one OF the Marianne Islands. and surrender to
the United States the city and bay Of Manila
pending the conclusion Of treaty of peace.
which shall prescribe the final disposition Of the
Philippines All other matters are to be re-
ferred to q commission composed Of representa-
lives of the Spanish and American Govern
ments. which shall negotiate the final treaty OF
nance Such Is the offer With its require
,nents no possible fault is to be found. That
concerning Cuba is mere fulflment of one OF
Porto Rico is dictated by ordinary prudence, by
The custom Of nations and by the manifest de
sire of the Porto Ricans themselves Nor Is
,horc IN either Of the others anything in the
least degree unusual in international practice
T'pon what is not required In the President
offer but is left In allegiance for subsequent ne
got!ations. chief controversial interest VIII cen
IRE The debts which Spain has arbitrarily
N1,,tAc
Crba's case 10 some $500. O0O, 600, and the many
millions Of dollars claimed as indemnity by
Americans whose properly In Cuba has been
Destroyed, are important matters FOR consihera-
ton. The whole question Of the future control
Of the Philippines Is also RENTED to the commits
sion The President has. in brief. kept his posi-
tive requirements within the narrowest possible
limits and confined them TO points admitting of
little or no dispute. and has left for future nego
tiation everything that could possibly, consist
emily with justice and honor. thus be left. Thus
he opens az widely as possible the doc to peace
nj which NJ Cambon has knocked In SPANS be-
half. and makes MS easy and as little humiat-
inc as possible SPANS passage through it. That
IA the part Of generous humanity.
With Spain accepting these terms hostilities
will ipso facto be suspended. for Cuba, Porto
p,co and Manila. the present scenes Of conflict
will be surrendered into our hands, ana from at
Ieest the first two the Spanish forces will be
withdrawn. 1t Is to be assumed that the COM
mission will then be Immediately appointed, and
will meet and do It's work with all possible en-
ped;;ion. What It's conclusions will be may not
vet be foreshadowed. But from the vantage
ground Of accomplished and acknowledged VIC
tory the United States should certainly be able
to negotiate a treaty which. whether or not IL
may leave us. In Gives phrase, amazed ut our
own moderation, will secure to the fullest ex-
tent the objects for which the war has been
Gagged. and satisfy the requirements OF justice