Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1898-08-04
TAKE NOTHING FOR GRANTED
Arrangements For Pressing War to a
Conclusion Going on Precisely as
Though No Negotiations Were
Pending-OfiicialsB Believe That
the End Is Near.

WASHINGTON, Aug. 3.-Shortly before
midnight Secretary Alger, as he left the
White house, after conference with
the president, eaid the administration
had received NO official information that
the Madrid government had accepted
the terms of peace proposed by the
United States. Unofficially the presi-
dent had been informed that the Span
ish ministry had acceded to the terms
of this country for a cessation Of the
war. The unofficial news reached the
president in the form not only of press
dispatches, but of private dispatches
from confidential agents of the United
States government.
reasons for believing that it's terms of
peace have been agreed to by the Mad
rid government, the president is taking
nothing for granted. Arrangements for
pressing the war to successful conclu-
sion are going forward precisely as if no
negotiations for peace We're in progress.
At a conference participated i'll by the
president, Secretary Alger and Adjutant
General Corbin, at the executive man
sion last night. a final decision was
reached as to the constitution CT the
provisional corps of Porto Rico to be
commanded by General Wade. The
| regiments which are to comprise the
corps We're decided upon, and will be
designated in general order to be is
sued probably late today. Secretary
Alger said that the corps might be en-
route to Porto Rico within week.
Notwithstanding these warhke prep
arations, the belief i'll official circles last
night amounted at most to conviction
that active hostilities practically have
been concluded. A prominent official
of the administration said: 1.-The end
is near, in my opinion. The informa-
ton thus far received is unofficial and
meager, but that it is accurate, in the
main, we have no reason to doubt, in
fact, we have reason to believe it is cor.
rect
It is understood that the reason re.
ferred to is contained in the private ad
vices received by the president and from
private dispatches received by repre-
sentatives to foreign governments at
this capitol
In the event of Spain's acceptance Of
the terms proposed by this country, the
first step probably will be towards az
agreement to close active hostilities
pending the drafting of treaty of peace
along the lines Of the accepted terms.
According to precedents ordinarily re
garded, an armistice would be pro
claimed, and in the circumstances thi
would mean the practical close of tht
war.
1t is pointed out, however, that severa
precedents have been set aside by thi
government in the conduct of the wal
and in the treatment of events which
led up to it. One notable instanc,
in which recognized diplomatic prece
dents were swept away, was the per
sonal demand made by Secretary Da,
upon Minister DeLome to know whethe
the Spanish minister was the author O
the letter rejecting upon the president
Another precedent was relegated to tn,
past when the government decided t
return to Spain the prisoners of wa
taken with the surrender of Santiago
Precedents have been disregarded il
other instances by this government. Il
view of this fact, therefore, preceden
may not govern absolutely in the con
; duct OF the peace negotiations.
After the proclamation of an armis
tice, automatically the next step woul,
be the designation by the president O
the commissioners to represent tn
) United States in the conduct of tn
, final negotiations Of peace. The term
proposed by this government provid
for a joint commission to draft peac
. treaty and to solve the difficulty rela
tive to the future government of tn
) Philippines. Again, according to tn
5 best accepted precedents, this join
, commission would meet upon neutra
: ground. 1t has been suggested that tn
| commission may assemble in Paris, bu
! as vet that is the nerest con iectlrl