The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1898-07-17
!! TRANCE ] DENIES IT
A9 MADE NO ovERrUREs FOR
= PEACE FOB SPAIN
Gall Of Her Minister on Mckinley Had
Nothing to Do With the War
ouestion-On Business

Nothing to Do With the War
ouestion-0n Business
MADRID, July 1G. ga. m.-Several of the
newspapers of this city say the Spanish
government opened peace negotiations to-
day through the French Ambassador at
Washington, M. Cambon, with the govern
mont Of the United States.
Il Ii said In connection with the Spanish
suggestion In leaving the government Of
Cuba to be decided by a piebescite of its
Inhabitants, that Spain would unreservedly
accept the decision given In such case.
II. Cambon's Call
WASHINGTON July 16.-In view Of the
renewed reports that the French Ambassa-
dor at Washington, M. Cambon. had opened
peace NEGOTIATIONS or inquiries relative to
possible terms of peace, IT can be stated
positively after inquiry at the French EN-
hassy that no negotiations or inquiries OF
any character relative to the peace have
feen made yet officially or unofficially,
direct or Indirect BY the French Ambassa-
dor. The reports grew out OF M. Cambon's
call at the White House on July 18th. The
suppose Of this call and the entire CONVEX
sation which passed between the President
and. the Ambassador is fully known, and 1t
can be stated positively that 1t contained
no reference to the present conflict between
Spain and the United States or to the pros
pect OF its being brought to close. 1t re-
lated to a subject wholly outside the war,
pr Its close by peace or otherwise, and the
question ofswar did not come up even Incl
1entaily. The loss of the steamship La
Beurgogne, for which the President ex-
pressed the deepest regret as well as his
satisfaction that the inquest had mitigated
the early reports OF the occurrence. was
discussed. The main question discussed
however, related wholly to the United
States and France without the remotest
reference to SPAIN and it Is hoped will bear
fruit In certain expressions Of good will
between this country and the French re-
public.
Notwithstanding the well-established
character Of this conference between the
President and the French Ambassador, 1t
has served as q text for reports that Mr.
Cambon was sounding the government on
The terms Of peace. This has been asserted
20 positiyely that even some officials have
accepted It as accurate, and as an indica-
tion that the peace movement had at last
assumed tangible form. The report has
even been accepted at Madrid, after being
cabled to the Impartial.
The French Ambassador here was not
authorized by his government to make
overtures for peace and in the absence Of
such instructions he would not assume such
q delicate duty. Furthermore. he has not
taken any such steps with or without In
A. NJ a
white House, the French government was
appraised by cable fully as to what occurred
and this report conveyed not the slightest
reference to Spanish affairs. the progress
of the war or the possibilities of peace.
!, The Associated Press Is able to make this
abatement with full information of the ma
ture of the conference between President
Mckinley and Ambassador Cambon.
The appearance Of every representative
Of the European powers at the State De-
partment is seized upon by the many watch
ers there as evidence that they are bear
ers Of peace overtures.
Thus, when the German Secretary of
the Embassy. Baron Spec Won Sternberg.
came to the department today his visit
Immediately gave rise to the story that he
had come charged with such a mission.
This, however. met with very prompt de-
NAL by everybody concerned and 1t was
added, as well. that the visit had no refer
ence to the Philippines.
< The statement attributed to Senior Sa-
gssta that Spain had been making extra
of5ioial inquiries to learn what terms the
United States might accept as a basis for
peace failed of confirmation to this ex-
tent;
That up to this moment the State De-
partment has not been approached on the
subject, directly or indirectly. Perhaps
the Spanish Premier may have some means
Of obtaining the information he desired
that. Is not known to our officials here, but
however that may be. the statement still
remains good that the United States gov
eminent has not even unof1cially stated
the terms It would accept as a basis for
peace negotiations. OF course these mat
tiers have been discussed between govern
ment ofncials without relations to any
Spanish inquiries, and 1t is also true that
the President would like very well to accu-
fately gauge the American people in this
matter.
without assuming to speak for him in a
matter Of this character, It is gathered from
high members this morning that the Pres
ident himself is disposed to be moderate
in his demands. and while securing all
that the United States is fairly entitled
to exact from nation in Spain's dis
tressed condition, he Is not disposed to
embark in a world-conquering enterprise
and insist upon the retention Of remote
territories that would be unserv1ceable to
US. In other words, unless there Is an over
whelming demand on the part Of the Ameri-
can people for the adoption OF such a
course, 1t is not believed that the Presi-
abandon all her colonial possessions. While
the question Is tentative, It is felt that as
minimum demand he would be content with
the acquisition of Porto Rico, an admission
Of the independence of Cuba, a coaline sta
ton on the Philippines with provisions for
some kind Of protectorate over the island
and moderate indemnity.
It il Judged that the Spanish government
has pretty fairly imbibed some such idea
~ this, and that the utterances Of Premier
eagasta and the cautious declarations in
pro-spanish papers are simply intended to
gradually bring the Spanish populace into
state of mind where they would be will
ing to submit quietly to the importation of
some such terms of peace. 1t Is realized
that at present the conditions in Spain are
not ripe and some time-it cannot be es-
tlmated now-will be required to cultivate
public sentiment In Spain to the proper
point.