Daily new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1897-1906, 1898-08-11

WASHINGTON, Aug. 1.-THE prelimi-
nary negotiations looking toward the
confirmation of peace advanced long
step yesterday when the secretary of
state and the French ambassador agreed
upon the terms upon which future nego-
tiations for treaty are to be conducted
and reduced these to the form of pro-
tocol. This protocol it is true is yet to
be signed and Is TO be submitted to the
Spanish government before the formal
signatures are affixed, but the admin
istration's view az to the progress made
yesterday was set out in Secretary Days
sentence: ut is expected that this pro-
tocol will be executed. There is always
the possibility in dealing with the
Spanish government that it may re-
cede at the last moment from an inn
Piled agreement, but it is scarcely prob
able that it would be willing to involve
the French ambassador in the diff
culties that would follow what to the
world would seem to be reputation
of his benevolent efforts in behalf of
Spain.
There must be delay before the next
step can be taken and the protocol made
binding upon both the United States
and Spain by the attachment of the sig
natures of the plenipotentiaries, Secre-
tary Day for the United States and NJ.
Cambon for Spain The delay will be
largely attributable to physical causes.
The protocol is long; it must be trans
lated and turned back and forth into
code and simple language no less than
five times before it reaches Madrid
through the French foreign office.
AS to the character of the protocol, it
can be stated on authority that the
terms are i'll all practical points those
set out in the abstract of the presidents
conditions, published from the White
House week ago. From this fact it is
deducted that the extra conditions or
qualifications sought to be imposed by
the Spanish government were aban-
doned, at least in large part by the
French ambassador. This deduction is
supported by the circumstances that
early yesterday morning and before the
conference between Secretary Day and
M. Cambon, which resulted in the
agreement, there was prevalent i'm
preston, based upon the utterances of
public men who had talked with the
president, that the Spanish answer was
unsatisfactory and that the negotiations
iOOACt 90 IL bllOJ All91lU tClIulllJ6 SUI
denly.
As this situation changed so suddenly
after the conference, it may be fairly
assumed that the ambassador aban-
doned the conditions which the presi-
dent was reputed to have regarded as
unsatisfactory. 1t is believed that the
protocol carries within itself provision
for the cessation of hostilities. Gu this
point the naval contingent is urgent
that our government adopt the Napo-
leonic policy of refusing to enter into
an armistice without acquiring some
substantial pledge to secure the con-
summation of peace. What they par
ticularlY desire is that our government
shall demand as condition of the ces-
sation Of hostllities the surrender to the
United States military forces of MORO
castle at the entrance of Havana har-
Dor and some such points of vantage at
the other important ports i'll the terri
tory soon to fall under orr control.
The peace negotiations are now be-
heved TO be advanced to a point where
the president has felt warranted in
turning his attention to the selection of
the commissioners to be charged by the
United States with the drafting of a
treaty of peace
So far as can be gathered but one
name has been positively determined
upon, namely, that of Secretary Day,
who will head the commission Be-
You'd that point there is no certainty,
although some prominent names have
been brought forward. Mr. Woodford,
our late minister to Spain, has been SO
mentioned, though as he is credited
with entertaining a desire to return to
Madrid IN the capacity of United States
minister after the war the two ambi-
tions might conflict, peace commits
sioner not always being welcome as
minister resident, particularly where
he has been a party to forcing an OBJ
noxlous peace upon the country to
which he is to be accredited. One of
the names 10 finds universal approval
among persons versed in diplomacy is
that of Mr.. Eustis, ex- ambassador to
France, whose staunch Americanism,
combined with diplomatic knowledge
and legal ability, are urged as fitting
him especially for appointment as peace
commissioner. The fact that Mr.. Eus-
tbs is Democrat would not initiate
against his chances, as it is presumed
the president would rather prefer to
make the commission non partisan.