Evening star., 1898-08-10
AT THE WHITE HOUSE
Spain's Reply Not Satisfactory to the
President.
PROTOCOL is NOT YET SIGNED
What a High Official Says Of the
Present Status.
PROMPT ACTION EXPECTED

Spain's reply to the terms of peace offer
I'd by this country is not entirely satisfac-
tory TO President Mckinley, to whom the
reply was presented late yesterday after
noon by NJ. Cambon. Further negotiations
have been in progress today. These ne
gotiations will determine whether there
will be immediate peace or whether the
war will continue
1t is believed by cabinet officials today
that the final and definite action will
be had by tomorrow or by Friday
morning. at which time the cabinet will
hold its regular session and pass upon the
developments between now and then. An
informal cabinet gathering was held at the
White House last night. after the departure
# u Cambon. who was with the President
1ntI after I o'clock. Those present were
Secretaries Day. Alger and Bliss, Postmas-
ter General Smith and Attorney General
CIriggs. The President told these cabinet
officers of the contents of the Spanish re-
ply. which was signed by the Spanish min
.ster for foreign affairs on behalf of the
cabinet of Spain. In the same breath the
President spoke of the urgent necessity
nat not a word should become public of
ne status of affairs.
The President appeared to be unusually
l-nxiOus that no word of direct or indirect
character should go out the subject.
That explains the veil of secrecy which was
thrown over everything during today.
Character of the Reply.
1t is known that had the Spanish reply
been frank acceptance of American terms
the President would have made the note
public He would probably have given to
the country both the terms of the United
States and the reply of Spain The with
holding of the note, together with the Presi-
dents personal request that there should
be talk. was early this morning
sidered' evidence that the situation is
strained. Later in the day a representa-
tive of The Star obtained information from
& high source that the negotiations had
not been finished and that NJ. Cambon
would again see the President.
The best information obtainable is that
spain half-heartedly accepted the Ameri-
an terms, but hedged the acceptance with
-Gnditions of several kinds. practically
-ssaking the acceptance void. One of these
-onditions is thought to have been that
he Cuban debt should be left to a peace
commission The President will have moth
lrg Of this kind as it is his Interchangeable
determination that this country vii! have
-othtng to do with the Cuban debt. 1t
must be understood as a basis for peace
negotiations that Spain is alone responsible
for this debt.
What other conditions were injected in
Tie note is not known.
When VI. Cambon received the Spanish
reply Monday he saw, it is believed. that
the note would not be satisfactory. He en-
deavored 10 have Spain make changes be-
fore ne saw the President. In that way NJ
Cambon spent a good deal of valuable time
between Monday night and $50 O'Clock
yesterday afternoon, when he visited the 4
White House In response to VI. Cambon's
attempt to have Spain recede from cumber-
some suggestions. the Spanish government
evidently instructed him to take chances
and to present the note as it stood He did
20, with the result that he had expected.
Drawing Up the Protocol.
Inasmuch as the ncte to be sent TODAY
will rot permit of equivocation. cabinet Of
HctaIs believe. as stated, that it will be
known by Friday whether peace is a GER
fainty. Then will follow the signing of
protocol, Of which there is so much talk
n high government official said that he
cid not hold the idea that the paper which
was drawn up the State Department
today was a protocol. That document. ne
said, will be one of such Importance as 10
take more than day for preparation 1t
VIII also, ne stated, be submitted to the
cabinet before going to Spain. for it is the
document which will practically end the
war and upon which each country stands
or ialis- When protocol is signed by the
representatives of each country IL is hind
-hg. This is on the assumption that Ambas
saooF Cambon has not authority to act
without first submitting the protocol or its
terms TO Spain II he has such authority
L would not be necessary TO again commu-
Eicate with Madrid.
IN the meantime it is believed by the ad
ninistration that everything will turn out
al right, and that protocol will be signed
Voluntarily by Spain at the proper time.
Differences Expected to pisapuear
y prominent man who saw the President
this afternoon said that he thought the
present differences will soon be settled.
He was under the impression that Spain
would give way under the unswerving at
titude Of the President
No special cabinet meeting was called for
To-Day for the reason that the President
hopes TO have everything in shape to pre-
sent Friday. A meeting was also unnec-
essary for the reason that the cabinets
former agreement still held and the Presi-
dent desired TO do nothing but politely re-
fuse requests Spain had made contrary to
tnat agreement. The negotiations today
mLnutely follow the determination reached
nearly two weeks ago.
The Presidents Admission
President Mckinley. in a personal inter-
view early this afternoon, admitted that
he answer Of Spain was not entirely salts
factory. and that the Spanish government.
through NJ. Cambon had been given to un-
cerstand that the terms originally offered
- this government would be adhered
To- He said that these terms were specific
and would not be altered. The President
added that he was expecting definite re-
ply within day or two