The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-08-09
2PA|NS ANSWER SENT.
CabIagram Now in Hands Of
CambOn.
70 Be PRESENTED TO-DAY.
SUSPICION That II Is Not An Un-
qualified Acceptance.

Probable That 1t Will Be in the
Hands of the President Before the
Cabinet Meets-Wide Latitude for
Controversy and Delay Likely to
Result From the Answer If 1t
Proves to Be of the Nature Sus-
Dected-CabIegram Comes in See
tions to the Ambassador.
Washington, Aug. S.-The reply of the
Spanish government to the peace conditions
laid down by the United States was receiv-
ed by the French ambassador, M. Cam
bon. shortly before o'clock this after
noon. The reply came in sections, the dis
patch first received giving only the open
ing passages of the Spanish reply.
a few minutes later another dispatch
brought a second section and these kept
coming uninterruptedly by a procession of
messengers until seven sections of the
Spanish reply had been received at ten
minutes of 4, when the last part was still
to arrive.
In the meantime the cipher experts were
at work, and at 4:SO o'clock they were
abreast of all that portion Of the reply re-
ceived up 10 that time and there was a
lul of some time pending the arrival of
the concluding portions.
j was thought a terrific rain storm which
swept over Washington about O'Clock
might have occasioned the delay of the
remainder Pending the receipt of the COM
pete reply, no steps were taken to fix a
time for conference with the President.
thg n
some Of the features of the reply, and also
upon the explicit instructions concerning
the delivery of the answer which usually
accompany a document of this solemn
character.
Pending the official delivery of the an
swer, speculation was rife as to its con-
tents. There was little or no further doubt
lhat the length of the reply left, meant
mat Spain had not given simple and di-
rect affirmative to the American condi-
IONS 1t was evident if the reply was an
acceptance, II was accompanied by extend
eu discussion, and probably by conditions.
Inis caused considerable apprehensl,n
IN Official circles here. fer while it was felt
last week that Spain would surely Weld
III every particular, it began to be fet
mat possibly there might be another pe-
Eiod OF discussion, and possibly an indirect
aUenpt to open up diplomatic EXCHANGE
OiL the nature of the terms The prevailing
Nie" however, was that the reply was on
us race an acceptance, although not such
one as precluded all possibility of further
discussion.
AN vital points were believed to be con-
ceueo-the abandonment of Cuba. Porto
I''co and the Ladrones, and the establish
"'ehI OF a commission to pass upon oues-
LIONS feating 10 the Philippines.
!" me carrying out of the programme it
was DeheVed that Spain would seek to Sc
cure an understanding on many incidental
points involved, some of them of consider
"0le Importance. For instance. some
Nouol was raised as to whether Spain's
acceptance would be operative until refer
red TO ana ratified by the Spanish Cortes
anu 1t was understood that the reply might
O'.i a'lenuon 10 this condition. The same
O0ud''ion it was pointed out. exists as to
'"e United States, for a peace treaty re-
quIIts the ratification of the Senate TO lo-
COME operative
U ease Spain's answer discusses these
ii-,i'eitai points, there promises 10 be wide
'u-e Tor controversy and delay. unless
tb.. l5iNtHI ana cabinet decline 10 enter
ue Aed of discussion
4aie in the afternoon the President re-
SH an indirect animation that the
'-"'SH reply had come to the French
{1-'"sa5. A cabinet officer who was with
~ '.t' at me time, said, on leaving: ''Tna
tlon that has come from Madrid
tnG s'e action of the Spanish cabinet
'he Spanish have accepted our
90 4N general way but leave several
T1Sa'oas open that we did nor inclnda In
oa.lins ins submitted. The communication
caI, '"ese terms was explicit speci6-
- sla'hS such points as would be omen
m '' -lei negotiations. We Will stand on
rem. e'Hcludlng portion of the Spanish
II Wa. -a Iecelved during the evening. but
O. Hot until late hour that If was
TN0''"efed ~ as whole and gone over nv,
cl t'iDa9sador. No effort was made 70
""Lcdle the United States govern
D.,. '5-uIsht beyond a note TO SECRETARY
bte, ''''lSihs nm that the document had
teri. 'IJtcl'od, but not disclosing its con
da.q.,., - PROBABLE that The reply will be
met r,..1,t me PRESIDENT before the cab
A-s been fixed '4io"sh no hour
oa.,, 5'e is complete reticence in oil
t1aro "s to the text of the reply. buf
oas..sD1 reason to believe it is not an nm.
terms H. acceptance of the Amprican
c,t..ls. 'uI IS framed on the theory Of ac-
ba. The essentials ana trusti5g ~ 20 a',
a. tti. conciliatory spirit on the nart
,,t.r, government to moderate to sor1.
e.-,,,',. leatures which the Spanish go
T9a seems 10 regard as unessentiaIs
ssro1. Cl.li u,,llniistration has not vet given
the pe,co aSL alton TO the personnel of
tisl,o ti' no one not in accord with tbo seSe.u Pros
ol tbe Ib,itesent view as to the digpositioo
''NiIpinss viii be appointed, ana