The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1898-07-30
AKESOVERTORES
Proposes Negotiations, Through a
French Ambassador, Looking to
the Termination of the War.
NO REQUEST MADE FOR AN ARMISTICE.
Makes No Suggestion as to What She IL
Willing to Do to Secure Peace-Meetine
of Dir Called to Consider the Mat
ter and a Prompt Answer the
Ambassador.

AInDdBsduOE
WASHINGTON, July 27.-The Spanish
government has sued for peace, not
indirectly through the great powers of
Europe, but by direct appeal to Presi-
dent Mckinley. The proposition was
formally submitted to the president at
three o'clock yesterday afternoon by
the French ambassador, NJ. Jules Cam
bon, who had received instructions
from the foreign office at Paris to de-
liver to the United States government
the tender of peace formulated by the
Spanish ministry. At the conclusion
of the conference between the presi-
dent and the French ambassador, the
following official statement was issued
from the White House:
The Official Statement.
1.-THE French ambassador, on behalf
of the government of Spain, and by
direction of the Spanish minister of
foreign affairs, presented to the presi-
dent this afternoon at the White House
a message from the Spanish govern.
ment looking to the termination of the
war and the settlement of terms of
peace"
This was the only Official statement
made public, but it sufficed to put at
rest all conjecture, and to make clear
and definite that at last Spain had
taken the initiative toward peace.
Although Peace Rumors Have Been Cur
a1nnct Hoi1u haratnfnrn cinon tho NOV
began, not one of them had the shadow
of foundation, and until the French
ambassador received instructions from
Paris, late Monday night, no overtures
of any kind had been received.
Shortly before midnight Monday
night, a dispatch to the French en-
bassy made it known to the embassy
that the ambassador would be charged
with the important mission of opening
peace negotiations in behalf of Spain.
The Complete Instructions,
including an official letter from Duke
Almadover Rio, Spanish minister of
foreign affairs, were received yester-
day morning. Thereupon NJ. Thi-
beaut, first secretary of the embassy,
called at the state department and
arranged for a call by Ambassador
Cambon on the president.
First Called on Secretary Day.
NJ. Cambon first went to the state de-
partment, where he vas joined by Sec
rotary Day and the two then proceeded
together to the White House. The
call lasted about half an hour, and
after the first formalities had been ex-
ecuted by NJ. Cambon, the talk became
general and quite informal, the pres
ident, the ambassador and the secre-
tary of state discussing the outlook for
a conclusion of hostilities.
The Proposition Submitted General In Its
Terms.
The proposition submitted by the
ambassador acting for the Spanish
government was quite general in
terms, and was confined to the one es-
sential point of an earnest plea that
negotiations be opened for the pur-
pose of terminating the war and arrlv-
ing at terms of peace. The COM
munication of the Spanish govern
ment did not suggest any spe-
SAhS bClLo VI PSuNSY hOA "oo ohy
reference made to Cuba, the Philip
pines, Porto Rico, or other Spanish
possessions. The evident purpose of
the Madrid authorities was to first
learn whether the United States would
treat on the subject of peace, and af-
ter that to take up such terms as the
two parties might suggest. Neither
was there any suggestion from the
Spanish government hat an armistice
be established pending the peace ne
g~otiations.
The Natural Course.
1t seemed natural, however, from
the proposition, that formal peace nego-
tiations be entered upon, that pending
their conclusion a cessation of HOSTILE
ties would occur.
Owing to the Importance of the con-
munication the ambassador adopted
the usual diplomatic procedure OF
reading the communication from the
original in French, the translation be-
ing submitted by NJ. Thiebeaut.
The Question Of Terms of Peace not ON
sidered.
III Tile COuVeTSdIlOu "llCl lOLiO"Cu
the reading of the propositions neither
the president nor the ambassador
entered upon the question of terms of
peace. The instructions of the ambas-
sador had confined him to the one essen
tial point of opening peace negotiations,
and it was evident that the president
desired to consider the proposition at
this moment before giving any definite
reply.
1t was finally determined that the
president would consult the members
of his cabinet concerning the PROPOSE
ton, and after a decision had been ar.
rived at NJ. Cambon would then be in
vited to the White House for a fur
ther conference and for a final answer
from the United States government.
A Brief OmciaI Memorandum was Agreed
Upon,
in order to set at rest misleading con-
lecture and to give to the public infor-
nation on a subject which had adj
vanced beyond the point where diplo-
matte reserve was essential.
When the president will submit the
Spanish proposition to the cabinet has
not yet been announced. The call OF
1,ra har~o affar