The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-08-03
spondent of the Times, telegraphing

SpOHOeHI OI the lines, LeleSfdpn1nS
Tuesday, says:
''The ru1nors that President McKin-
ley insisted on getting a definite reply
not later than tomorrow seems to be
confirmed by the unusual rapid1ty of
official proceedings here. Generally,
when the Spanish government has to
take an important decision, a long Sc
ries Of cabinet councils is devoted to
what is called in semi-official phraseol-
ogy Exchanging impressions eu-
phonism for talking at large, bringing
recalcitrant members into line and
postponing a decision until the NOR
row. -.,--,-.-.,.
"It was expected, therefore. in the
most important question, war or peace
that those preliminary operations
would require many days. In reality
If not entirely dispensed with, they
were got through in single sitting and
and the whole procedure of examining
the American demands, deciding on q
course Of action and preparing a for
NAL reply was accomplished, if we may
trust the Madrid press, in less than
twenty-five hours.
I'M. Cambon's note was received Sum-
day evening and communicated imme-
diately to the queen regent by Duke
Almodovar de Rio, the foreign minis
ter, who subsequently paid Senior Sa-
gasta a midnight visit. At o'clock
Monday morning the premier telephon-
ed his colleagues to assemble in coun-
Gil at 10 o'clock. When the council
rose at midday the main questions had
been decided in principle, but full re-
ply could not be prepared, because one
or two points in the American note re-
quired explanation and a supplement
tary note had been received from M
Cambon containing a new condition
The existence Of this new condition
was admitted by Senor Sagasta to a
press representative, but the premier
declined to say whether it aggravated
or softened the conditions previously
communicated.
"At O'Clock Duke Alnodovar de Rio
had an audience with the queen regent,
and at O'Clock the cabinet had Sec
ond sitting. Before rising the minis
ters had, 1t is said, completed their
formal reply, and some authorities af-
firm that it was telegraphed to Wash
ington during the night, but this state
ment requires confirmation.
LAS to the precise nature Of the de-
mands and the contents of the note in
reply, the ministers refuse to give inor-
nation. So the current rumors on the
subject cannot be regarded as more
than surmises; but indications are not
wanting that President McKinIey's
proposals have been considered in a.
conciliatory spirit, with a view Of ar
rlving, If possible, at an immediate pa
ciflc solution. All recent oracular dec
larations by official personages point
in this direction. The latest of these
declarations is the explanation given
for maintaining such unusual reticence
namely the danger of compromising the
success Of the negotiations and the de-
sire to give proof of sincere wish to
arrive at a perfect understanding.
Here and at Washington the orig
inal assumption was that M. Cambon
was to act merely as a transmittIng
| agency, but now he is frequently
| spoken of as if he were sort of me-
| diator between the two powers, using
| his good offices in favor of Spain.
Whether this proceeds simply from a
| popular misrepresentation of the pro-
| cedure ctually adopted and a natural
| desire to obtain some extraneous diplo-
matte support. or whether it indicated
| real change Of procedure so far as
| M. Campon is concernedS the events Of
the next few days will probably show.
AT the present moment disinterested
diplomatic support cannot fail to be
welcomed. The harvest prospects are
SO good throughout the peninsula that
the government has decided to cancel
| the decree prohibiting the export of
grain and impose merely moderate
| export duty