Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1898-07-27
AN OFFICIAL STAT EMENT


WASHINGTON, July 2G.-Thc Span
ish government has sued for peace not
indirectly through the great powers Of
Europe. but by q direct appeal to Pres
dent Mckinley. The proposition was
formally submitted to the President ut
o'clock this afternoon by the French
ambassador. NJ. Jules Cambon. Mhu had
received instructions from the for
eiGn office at Paris to deliver 10 ,he
United States government the tender
Of peace formulated by the Spanish
ministry. At the conclusion CT the
conference between the preSiGpn: and
The ambassador the following official
statement Was issued from the White
House:
The French ambassadors on behalf Of
the government Of Spain and 10y irec-
ton OF the Spanish minister Of fure;sl
affairs, presented to the President this
afternoon at the White Roust. i mes
sage from the Spanish government
looking to the termination of hoStliitieS
and the settlement Of terms OF peace''
This was the only official statamen.
made public, bllt Z sufficed 1T q $pG t. at
rest all conjecture and to make clear
and definite that at last Span has
taken the in!ative towards peace. M
though peace runors have been current
almost daily heretofore since the war
began. not one o: them had the shadow
OF foundation, and until the French
ambassador received Instructions from
Paris late last night no overturtss ur any
kind had been received. Shortly befor.
midnight last night Il dispatch to the
French embassy made it known to the
embassy that the ambassador would b.
charged With the important mission on
opening peace negotiations in E"Daii Of
Spain. The complete Instructions, III.
GLIDING an official letter from Duke AL
m"v"d"r Rio, Spanish minister OF for
eiSn alialrS, were received this norm
ms. Therelpon NJ. rhicbau, first Sec
rotary nj the embassy. called III The.
State Department and asked that an
hour be appointed Tor Il call by Am
btSs;i'ior Caiilbnn on the President.
The purpose Of the call was not stated
1t WAS arranged at the White House.
AT :; O'Clock. NJ. cainL", first Nvnl TO
the STATE Departments whore he N.,s
joined by Secretary Day, and the two
then proceeded together to i!lc White
House. The call lasted abou. half an
hour. and after the first fornlilii;t., had
been executed by NJ. Cambnn he talk
became general and quite Informal, The
President. the ambassador and the See
retary OF State discussing the outlook
Tor a conclusion of hoStilitIes
The proposition submitted by the am
baSsador acting for the Spanish gov
eminent Was quite general in terms
and Was contined to the one essential
point of an earnest plea that negotia-
tons 10 be opened for the purpose, Of
terminating the war and arriving at
terms OF peace. The communication of
the Spanish government did not euS-
sest any specific terms of peace, nor
was any reference made To Cuba. he
Philippines Porto Rico or other Span
ish possessions. The eviden; purpose Of
tha Madrid authorities was first
to learn whether the United States
would treat on the subject OF peace
Neither was there any suggestion from
Ma mel,
tee be established pending the peace
negotiations. 1t seemed, however.
from the proposal that formal peace
negotiations be entered upan ana
that pending their conclusion y cessa-
ton OF hostilites would occur. Owing
to tho Importance Of the con4munica-
tlon the ambassador adopted the US
VA! diplomatic procedure Of reading the
communication from the origin in
French, the translation 10 be subnittea
by NJ. Thiebeau. In the conversation
81 hich followed the reading of she prop-
osition neither the President nor Tbs.
ambassador entered upon tins. cues lion
OF terms OF peace. The instructions OF
the ambassador had confined hin, 10
the one essential point of negotiations,
and It was evident that the President
desired TO consider the proposition a1
this moment before giving any definite
reply. It was finally determined that
the president would consult The NOM
bers Of the cabinet concerning the prop
osition and after a decision nld been
arrived at NJ. Cambon would then BE-
invited To the White House for a fur
Their conference and a final answer
from the United States government.
Before the call closed brief Official
memorandum was agreed upon in or
der to set at rest misleading con;ectura
and 70 give the PUBLIC in
1,,N hav