The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1898-07-31

" ahAhAtsF"f fa'f NNfF W.
ac,er occurred az the confer
sncc a, the white House this afternoon
between the president, Ambassador Cam
bon Of France. and Secretary Day, carry
lng the peace negotiations FAR beyond a
mere submission Of terms OF peace by the
United states. and reaching the poln, OF
preliminary basis o. peace between the
goyorumyn, Of Spain and the government
Of the United States, needing only the
ratification of ne Madrid cabinet In what
was done today to bring the war to an
end.
This was accomplished on the par, OF
Spain. when Ambassador Cambon pre-
! sonicd 10 the prys.dcn, The credentials he
had received from the spanish govern
mcnt appointing h.m envoy extraordinary
and minister plcnipoieniary wiki complete
Instructions as 90 thc manner OF acting
upon every one ~ the peace conditions
presented by thc United states. including
the disposition al Cuba Porto Rico. the
Philippines. Ladroncs. the Indemnity. an
armls,lcc and all the other questions hke-
~ 10 arise In the course Of the negotia-
tions.
with these credentials authorizing him
TO speak as plenipotcntiary for the gov
ornmcnt OF Spain. and with full mstruc-
ticns on every point at issue. Ambassa-
dor Cambon, In behalf uf Spain. not only
received the peace conditions laid down
by the American cabinet early In the day.
but thcrcupon entered upon their Anal dis
cussion with a view TO reaching a nnh
and complete agreement
After strong argument, the president
and Secretary Day consented TO a modi-
ncatlon of thc American terms In one par
tculOr-what that mobilization relates 70
Is not disclosed, but Il Is believed It does
not apply 20 the condition for the abso-
lutte Independence Of Cuba, the ceSslon OF
Porto Rico or the granting Of adequate
coallng stations 10 the United states IN
the Pacific, or TO dimish In any vital par
tcul0r the terms on which peace will be ]
restored The modification brought about
practical unanimity between the president
and Ambassador Cambon, as the plenlpo- !
Tertiary for Spain, and the latter has
now transmitted the results OF the confer
cnce to Madrid for approval, which, II
given, vii end the war,
The profoundly important results devel-
opcd today came about most unexpected
ly Ambassador Cambons call was Sc.
for o'clock, and Il was expected 20 last
but few minutes, while the answer Of
the United States was being handed to
him. But since tho original proposition OF
Spain was presented last Tuesday. NJ.
Cambon has prepared himself to speak
with authority on the questions which
were TO arise The president himself had
preferred this course, although outside OF
himself and the ambassador, few we're
aware that tho latter came ready to treat
as the envoy Of Spain, The first instruc-
tions to NJ, CNmbon made him merely the
medium OF communicating Spain's first
note but now he appears with all tho
attributes OF the direct diplomatic officer
OF Spain, empowered to act for the gov
ernment within hts very complete in
structions, Secretary Day read the
terms, pausing at the end Of each sent
ence to allow NJ, Thiebault, first secre-
tary OF the French ambassy, to interpret
Il into French, as the ambassadors \
knowledge Of English is limited, Then
began the discussion, point by point. The
president and the ambassador addressed
each other directly, each stoutly main
talning the justice Of his position on the
several points involved. When, at last,
after an eloquent plea by the ambassador
Il was agreed to modify the conditions in
one particular, What the modification is
that has been agreed upon can only be
coniectured, but there Is reason to be-
lleve that It relates either to the time
when actual hostilities will be suspended
or else to The extent OF our interest In the
leaving unchanged the con-
ditlon that Spain will withdraw from
Cuba and Porto Rico grant the United
States coaling stations in the Pacific and
make important concessions in the Phil
ipptnes,
II is now for the Madrid government to
give final approval to what was partially
accomplished today