The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1898-08-11
PRESIDENTS REPLY.
SPAIN ACCEPTS TERMS BUT ASKS
QUESTIONABLE RESERVATIONS
ambassador Cambon Delivered tho Doc
ument Late Tuesday Night-was with
the President Two Hours-ofncial In
formation After Cabinet Meeting.

ument Late Tuesday Night-was with
the President Two Hours-oficial In
formation After Cabinet Meeting.
Washington, Aug. 1o.-Ambassador
Cambon. bearing Spains reply to the
American terms for the basis of peace
at 535 yesterday afternoon and remain
ed with the president and Secretary
Day until after o'clock
No official information regarding the
character Of Spa1nTs reply has yet been
given out at either the White House or
the French embassy. 1t is known. how
ever, that previous to his Wis TO the
White House and the formal presenta-
tion of Spain's reply, Ambassador Cam
bon told Secretary Day that he was GER
tain that the reply wonId be satisfac-
tory to the United States.
While nothing definite rs yet known
except by President Mckinley and Sec
retary Day as to the text of Spain's re-
ply. it is understood by members of the
cabinet that Spain has accepted broad
ly the terms proposed by the United
States as the basis of peace negotia-
tions, but has submitted lengthy argu-
visions in the protocol to be drawn UP
and signed by Secretary Day and Am
bassador Cambon which would amount
to substantial changes and limitations
in the terms.
1t is understood that the Spanish
government desires to havt this pro-
tocol provide for the time and manner
of evacuation of Cuba by the Spanish
forces, with the provision that they
shall carry out their arms, and it is
also understood that a provision in the
protocol is wanted referring the ques-
tion of the Cuban debt to the commits
sioners.
After Ambassador Cambon left the
White House Secretary Day, who re-
mained to dine with the president, said
no statement regarding Spain's reply
would be made. From this it is infer
red that the president desires to con-
fer with the cabinet before saying
whether or not the reply is satisfac-
tory.
AT yesterdays cabinet meeting the
general drift of sentiment was toward
standing strictly on the conditions first
laid down by the United States and re-
'Quiring u direct answer, accepting or
rejecting without any consideration Of
incidental questions which Spain's re-
ply might raise.
But, on the other hand, there.was be-
neved to be considerable and influ-
entail element Of the administration de-
sirous of realization of the prospects
OF peace, - long as every vital and
essential condition laid down by this
goNeI.I...-A- -, accepted, even though
the Spanish reply sought to dispose of
other incidental points involved in a
transaction Of this vast magnitude.
So far as the reply itself is concerned,
even tAe best informed government Off
Gals had no information, and there
was little but conjecture as 20 Its con-
tents. Blu: there were several points
apparently established beyond ques-
ton.
First of these was that the reply was
so framed as to be considered by those
who drafted it an acceptance Of all the
conditions LAID down by the United
States.
Second, it was established that this
acceptance was a general chai acteriza-
ton OF the document as a whole. and
that in making the acceptance Spain
had presented elaborate views on each
point involved and on questions which
would naturally arise when the Ameri-
can conditions were carried into exc
cution.
This raised a question as to whether
the reply would be accepted as COM
pletely responsive to the American
terms or as an indirect opening OF ne
gotiations on subordinate points
If the points are purely Incidental and
formal, strong hope is entertained in
official quarters that peace will BIT re-
allied as result of the present negoti-
ations, but il Spain seeks to impose
important conditions, there is a pros
psct of delay. and possibly refusal to
accept the reply as responsive. The
latter condition IS hardly expected how
ever, i'll any quarter.