The record-union., 1898-08-10
SPAIN'S REPLY
TO The PEACE
CONDITIONS.
Presented at White House
Yesterday Afternoon.
Nothing Given Out as to Nature
Of the Answer,
But Believed Not TO Be Satisfactory
in All Respects,
Another Reply From Spain as to Some De-
tails Thought to be Necessary Be-
fore a Final Conclusion
Is Reached,
But Believed Not to Be Satisfactory
in All Respects.

WASHINGTON, Aug. 9.-More tnan
twenty-four hours after it had begun
to reach Washington, the Spanish note
in answer to the Presidents peace con-
dition was presented at the White
Hous1 by the French Embassador.
What the nature of the answer was can
only be conjectured at this stage, the
Secretary of State at the conclusion OF
the conference making the formal state
ment that nothing whatever could be
said on the subject.
The conference lasted an hour ana
twenty five minutes. This prolonged
discussion was believed to indicate that
the Spanish answer was not satisfac-
tory in all respects, though in just what
points it fell short of meeting the ex-
pectations of the President it is impos-
sible to say. 1t was felt by the op-
servers that had the answer been
complete acceptance Of our terms the
result would have been made public. on
the other hand, it would be strained
inference to conclude that the answer
was unsatisfactory entirely, for in that
case, according to the Presidents state
ment heretofore made, this offer would
have been definitely withdrawn, and the
war resumed with greater energy tsssr
before. 1t would seem that there
could scarcely be good reason in this
case for Withholding the result of the
conference
On the whole, it is rather to be con-
cluded that a middle result was OBJ
tanned; that Spain was found to have
attached certain conditions TO her ac-
ceptance of the Presidents terms, but
that the latter was not disposed to re-
gard the interjection of the new mat
ter as sufficient in itself to warrant an
Immediate termination of the peace ne
gotiations. According to this view, the
President has taken exception to some
of the Spanish conditions, but has al
lowed a last opportunity for them to be
withdrawn or modified.
The reply Of the Spanish Government
Is understood to be a document en-
bracing about 1,200 words. 1t bears
the signature of the Spanish Minister
of Foreign Affairs. The copy deliv-
cred to the President was in English,
the translation from Spanish to French
having been made at Paris, and that
from French to English having been
made here prior to the presentation of
the answer at the White House. This
obviated delays. and gave the President
and Secretary Day an English text at
the outset of the conference with the
Embassador.
The Spanish reply is said TO be d.
vided into five points or heads. namely:
Cuba, Porto Rico, Ladrone Islands. oc-
cupation of Manila and appointment of
a commission, which are treated in the
order named SO far as could be
learned. no mention is made of the Gu
ban debt. The retention of arms and
ammunition by the Spanish troops
comes in for indirect reference under
the head of Cuba.
In the absence of an official state
ment it is impossible to give the Span
ish position on the several American
conditions. But from the best infor-
nation obtainable, in treating each
subject-Cuba, Porto Rico, Ladrones,
Manila and the Peace Commission-an
acceptance in some cases is understood
to relate TO conditions somewhat diff
ferent to those laid down by the Amer
lean Government. AS to Cuba, the
American terms demanded the evacu-
alton of the island without specifying
the future form of government. The
Spanish reply is said TO accept the prin-
ciple that Spanish sovereignty over Gu
ba will terminate but il is understood
70 take up the future government of
the island. and. because of the extent
of the Spanish interests there, is said
70 take the view, either expressed or
implied. that the United States should
administer the affairs of the island.
As to the time of evacuating Cuba,
this is a detail which the Spanish re-
nIy is said to regard as among many
which can be left to the commission
for final determination.
The American conditions as TO Porto
Rico. the Ladrones, Manila, etc, are
believed to be accepted. but the topics
are treated at some length, and ii will
REQUIRE the full text to show how far
the language used may be construed
as an acceptance.
The provision as to the commission
is assented to. The commission is TO
consist of five Commissioners on each
side. with Paris as the probable meet
ing place. The Spanish reply is said
to develop somewhat the scope of the
commission. leaving to it not only the
determination of the future of the Phil
ippines. but also the details in the ar