Evening star., 1898-07-15
FOR AN EARLY PEACE
The President Gives Voice to His
Hope.
EFFECT OF THE DECREE At MADRID
No Oyertures Have Yet Been Re-
ceived.
PREPARING FOR TROUBLE

Responding to congratulations on the
success of the Santiago campaign today
President Mckinley said: II hope for early
peace now" In the course of several other
interviews he gave voice to the same senti-
ment, not expressing his entire belief. but
a strong hope to this end. The press dis
patch from Madrid announcing the royal
decree suspending individual rights was
quickly communicated to the President and
was read at the cabinet meeting. AS at
Madrid, it was taken to mean the immi-
nence of an early move of the Spanish
government for a cessation of hostilties.
1t was received with this Interpretation
with great satisfaction, but in the absence
Of q definite official assignment Of motive
the administration, while strongly hoping
for it, is not entirely confident of SO satis-
factory an outcome
One member of the cabinet today ex-
pressed his opinion that the PRONUNCIATION
OF the decree at this time might ordinarily
be considered an indication that the end
was not far off. Yet he called attention
to the frequent misconstruction of steps
taken by Spain, constantly misleading her
own people as well as the rest of the
world. At the same time he took hope
full view of the outlook and believed that
entering wedge in peace negotiations.
No Overtures for Peace.
There have been no overtures for peace
received by any United States embassy or
legation abroad or by the Department of
State at Washington"
That statement was made today by a
member Of the cabinet, who is thoroughly
familiar with the conditions as they now
exist. He made this statement as he was
about to go to the cabinet meeting, and it
was called forth by various newspaper re-
ports that ranged all the way from a state
ment that a basis of a treaty of peace had
already been reached to the more guarded
declaration that the Spanish government
has conveyed in an unofficial manner to the
United States government an intimation of
some of the concessions it is prepared to
make to secure peace.
Unquesttonably the prospects for the
speedy institution of peace negotiations
have frightened decidedly since the col
lapse of the Spanish resistance at Santiago
The moral effect of that victory for the
American arms is beginning to be felt in
the direction of peace just as was antlci-
pated. Probably with the characteristic
American disposition to look to the future
before the work of the present is accom-
plished. there has been some talk of the
terms that might serve as a basis for
treaty of peace.
But 1t can be positively stated that this
has been nothing more than talk it has
rot taken even semi-official form. If the
cabinet has discussed it up to this moment
the fact has not been divulged from any
responsible source. Now and then one of
the governments agents in Europe COM
municates some message summing up
European gossip, and naturally in view of
the earnest desire for the speedy restora-
ton of peace entertained by the European
powers this gossip tends to bear out the
belief that peace negotiations are at hand.
The Presidents Position.
The President hopes so. He has made
no concealment of his earnest desire for
speedy termination of the war. as was clear
ly shown in the adoption by him of the
rather unusual course of making that ap-
pear in his last proclamation. But such
position on his part is entirely reconcilable
with an earnest purpose to prosecute the
war until Its original purposes have been
attained. Before that time any overtures
for peace must come from Spain and they
have not come far.
The news from Madrid this morning that
Spain has been practically placed under
martial law. is, as has been stated, regarded
as most hopeful sign. 1t is construed to
mean a purpose on the part of the Spanish
government to bind up in advance the tur-
bu1ent elements in Spain that might be
expected to take advantage of the public
discomfort caused by the heavy sacrifices
the government must make to obtain peace,
in order to cause a revolution and over
throw the monarchy.
1t is realized here by the officials that
every day will bring forth fresh crop of
peace rumors, very few with any founda-
ton; but their very circulation and the
credence gained by them is regarded as
an encouraging sign of general belief that
the Spanish cause Is near It's end, and such
belief frequently brings about the very
state of affairs 1t describes.
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