Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-07-27
WITH THE DIPLOMATS
Spain's Peace Proposal the Absorbing
Topic.
FRANCE ALONE WAS CONSULTED
FormaI instructions Given to AM
bassador Cambon.
PLANS FOR NEGOTIATIONS
PLANS FOR NEGOTIATIONS

| est interest not only Dy M CaTnDOH, Dul
| by all the foreign representatives. They
| showed their interest early today by call
ing at the State Department and at the
| French embassy to learn with more exact
ness the details of Spain's proposal. This
| developed several features of the PROPOSE
ton which had not before been entirely
! clear In the first place, no foreign gov
| ernment outside of France has been con-
suited by Spain in this overture for peace,
and the present movement is not shared,
directly or indirectly, by Germany, Aus
| tria, Italy, Russia or Great Britain. 1t
| can now be stated, however, that the for
NAL proposition submitted yesterday has
| been under consideration at Madrid for five
days prior to yesterday, during which time
| the British well as the French authori-
| ties were cognizant of the fact that Spain
| was about to sue for peace. This being
| settled, it appears that a good-natured,
| but not the less keen, rivalry sprang up
| between Sir Drummond Wolff, the Brit
ish ambassador at Madrid, and NJ. Pa
! tenotre. the French Ambassador there as
| to which government should have the hon
! or of initiating the movement designed to
| restore the peace of the world. Owing to
| the cordiality existing between the gov
| ernments of Great Britain and the United
| States it was at first felt that Sir Drum
| mond Wolff would be commissioned to ap-
| preach the United States, acting at Wash
ington through Sir Julian Pauncefote: but
Spain appears to have preferred the inter
| mediation of the French government and
as result the negotiations were finally
intrusted to the French ambassador at
Washington.
Spain's Proposition.
Another essential point is the exact prop
osition made by Spain. There has been
some miSaDprehension over this owing TO
| the publication of an alleged text of the
proposition, and other reports asserting
that Spain asked President Mckinley to
| state terms OF peace. AS matter of fact
| the Spanish proposition does not mention
| the word terms, ana there is no request
| or suggestion III it that the President shall
| state terms of peace. The distinct inquiry
| made by Spain is as to whatner the United
States viii open negotiations toward the
settlement Of the war and The arrangement
| of peace. 1t is based on the theory that
| If the President answers in the affirmative
| then the negotiations for terms will be
opened between the commissioners or par
ties who are clothed with the responsibility
| or bringing about settlement. Neither
uoes the Spanish proposition contain any
reference TO arm!Stlce.' At the same
| time, it is framed on the idea that If peace
negotiations are entered upon there will
be a suspension of hostilities pending an
agreement upon the exact terms of peace.
In this connection there appears to be a
distinction made between the word ar
mistice" and Suspension of hostilities,-'
for, while it is said the former is not ask
ed or expected, it seems to be taken for
granted that a suspension of hostiIities will
be essential for carrying forward the peace
| negotiations.
instructions to Cambon.
The Spanish proposition is clothed with
all the solemnity and formality of a gov
ernment act, despite the cable report from
Madrid that the peace proposal is OF a
private" nature. The instructions to Am
bassador Cambon bear the official sigma
ture of the Spanish minister of foreign af-
fairs, and. besides expressing the desires of
the cabinet and government that the peace
negotiations be opened, they are given the
added solemnity of approval and earnest
personal request by Queen Regent Maria
Cilstina. The Instructions bear the date
OF Madrid, June 70. These formalities dis
miss all question i'll the minds of officials
here as to the regularity OF the Spanish
proposition as expressive of the wishes of
the government of Spain. Aside from this
Ambassador Cambon is too much of a vet
eran IN diplomacy to have embarked On
any private oVertures toward peace.
Various Plans Suggested
AS to the manner of conducting the peace
negotiations, several plans are said to be
open besides that OF having Gen Porter
and Sencr Castillo, the United States and
Spanish ambassador at Paris, respectively,
C nduct them. One plan Is to have Spain
name peace plenipotentiaries, who will
come directly to Washington ard conduct
negotiations. This, however is said to be
somewhat inexpedieut, it would take
nine days for the Spanish plenipotentaries
to reach Washington, and there is dispo-
siticn to avoid delay. Another tentative
plan is to have Spain name Ambassador
Canbon as the Spanish plenipotentiary at
Washington, thus comforting on him au-
tho rity to treat directly with the President
ana carry forward the negotiations to a
conclusion. 1t is probable that this plan
will be more acceptable to the United
States, as 1t would keep the negotiations
at Wasl ington and also give them an
Ggre eeable personal character. The authori-
ties her. have the highest regard for the
ability and sincerity of the French repre-
sentative here. These plans, however, viii
not be settled until after the Pre- esident gives
his answ er to the first inquiry made by
Spain as to the willingness OF the United
States to enter upon general negotiations
for peace.
Spain Must Make the First ORer.
Since the conference between the Presi-
dent and NJ cambon norh the French gov
ernment and the Spanish government have
Washington. Being thus apprised that the
peace movement is now under way; it is
not improbable that Spain WILL within the
next two or three days, take another i'm
portant step forward, by voluntarily sug-
gesting what terms of peace she win re-
gard as consistent. These, of course, will
be initiatory. and win be designed as a
sort of opening wedge toward bringing the
two governments together on the final
peace conditions. From the standpoint OF
the United States, 1t is for Spain to make