The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1898-08-19
REPLY FROM SPAIN
Practically Agrees to Accept
Our Terms of Peace.
Spaniards Will Give Up Cuba
and Other POssessiOns-An-
other Week May End HOstil-
tiles Between U. S. and Spain.

tiles Between U. S. and Spain.
Washington, D.. C.-Special-More
than twenty-four hours after it la
begun to reach Washington, the Span
ish note in answer to the presidents
peace conditions was presented at the
White house by the French ambassa-
dor.
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
statement that nothing whatever could
be said on the subject.
The conference lasted an hour M
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 i1npos-
sible to say.
1t was felt by the observers that a
the answer been a complete acceptance
of our terms the result would nave
been made public. On the ether hand,
it would be strained Inference to con-
clude that the answer was unsatisfac-
tory entirely, for in that case, accord
ing to the presidents statement hereto
fore made, his offer would have been
definitely withdrawn and the war re-
sumed with greater energy than be-
fore.
1t would seem that there could hard
ly be a good reason in this case for
withholding the result Of the confer
ence. On the whole, it is rather to be
concluded 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 matter
as sufficient in itself to warrant an i'm.
mediate termination of the peace ne
gotiations.
According to this view, the president
has taken exception to some Of the
Spanish conditions, but has allowed a
last opportunity for them to be with
drawn or modified.
IS IN FIVE PARTS.
The Spanish reply is said to be di-
vided n five points or heads, namely,
Cuba, Porto Rico, Ladrone islands, oc-
cupation of Manila n appointment of
a commission, which are treated in the
order named.
Co fo~ &c owl ~ lo---o
ton is made of the Cuban 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 several American con-
ditions. But from the b:st Informal
ton obtainable in treating each SUBJ
ject, Cuba, Porto Rico, Ladrones, Ma,
Mia and peace commission, an accept
ance in some cases is understood to
relate to conditions somewhat different
to those laid down by the American
government. AS to Cuba, the Amer
lean terms demanded the evacuation
Of the island without specifying the fu-
ture form of government.
GIVES UP CUBA.
The Spanish reply is said to accept
the principle that Spanish sovereignty
over Cuba will terminate, but it is un-
derstood to take up the future govern
ment of the island, n because Of the
extent of Spanish interests, is said to
take the view, either expressed or i'm
piled, that the United States should
administer the affairs of the island.
AS to h time Of evacuating Cuba,
this is a detail which the Spanish reply
is said to regard 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 it 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 con-
sist of five commissioners on each side.
with Paris as the probable meeting
place. The Spanish reply is said to
develop somewhat the scope Of the COM
mission, leaving to it not only the de-
termination of the future of the Philip
pines, but also the details in the ar
rangement Of a lasting peace.
ONLY FOUR PRESENT.
The outcome of the conference is un.
known, but the best opinion obtainable