The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1898-08-10

him to secure credentials from the Presi-
dent in order to secure the authority to
sign for the United States any protocol. or
memorandum that will serve as basis
for the cessation Of hostilities and the be-
ginning of the work of the peace commits
sion.
AS far as can be gathered our Govern
ment is not particularly concerned at the
insistence of the Spanish Government up-
on the reference Of the peace agreement
in It's preset stage to the cortes. Our Gov
ernment in dealing with another recog-
nizes only She executive branch and
holds that wholly responsible for all of
its acts or promises, and It is probable
that our Government would not concern
itself as to what further internal steps
would be necessary to satisfy the stick
lers for constitutional observance in
Spain
If it should appear later that the Cortes
would undertake to undo the work so far
accomplished between the two govern
ments, of course the Government OF
Spain would be held responsible for that
result. but as it is presumable that the
United States military forces by that
time would be in possession Of Cuba,
Porto Rico and Manila it is not perceiv-
able that internal commotion in Spain
need give us any further concern.
The formal agreement which is to bind
the United States and Spain to enter up
on negotiations of treaty Of peace was
prepared by Mr.. Adee, second assistant
secretary of state, the points to be IN
cluded having been previously agreed up
on between the President, Secretary Day
and M. Cambon Some difficulty was
found in the task it was deemed essential
to cover every point with such felicity Of
expression as to leave no possible chance
for misunderstanding between the par
ties hereafter While this important dip
lomatic function by Mr.. Adee was in pro-
gress. Secretary Day relieved the situa-
ton by making his statement as fol-
lows
I'VE have agreed upon protocol en-
bodying proposed terms for the negotia-
tion of a treaty of peace, including the
evacuation of Cuba and Porto Rico and
it is expected that this protocol will be
executed"
This was the first admission that the
two governments at last had practically
come together on the bases of peace. 1t
was intimated that what remained to be
accomplished was purely formal in char
acter and no doubt was entertained that
the signatures required would be attach
ed in due time What that due
time was was not explained, but
it was fully understood that it meant only
such delay as would be required
for the careful preparation of the docu-
ments to be signed and for the reception
by the French Ambassador of express au-
thority to sign this particular paper in
behalf of the Spanish Government. AT lis
o clock, after having been for two hours
in the State Department the Ambassador
and his secretary returned to the EN-
bassy for luncheon, declining positively
to see anyone or make any statement
whatever connected with the negotiations.
Within a few minutes Secretary Day
left the State Department and went to the
White House where he had conference
with the President and reported the
status of affairs.
The formal signatures to the protocol
win not be affixed today. This is definite.