The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-08-04

Washington, Aug. 3.-After confer
ence on the peace question lasting for
just an hour this afternoon between
the president and NJ. Cambon, the
French ambassador the latter acting
as the representative of Spain, Secre-
tary Day emerged from the White
tEouse and announced that today's
conference was inconclusive, wherefore
the parties to it nad agreed to say
nothing to the public as to what had
occurred. The secretary did not appear
to be discouraged as he made this
statement, though he admitted that no
time had been set for another confer
ence. From this it is gathered that the
long expected answer of the Spanish
government to the presidents note,
upon being received, had turned out
to be just as it was expected, either
a counter proposition or a request for
fuller statement in detail upon some Of
the heads of She presidents note.
Up to the middle of the afternoon it
was stated by all parties conceSned
that the Spanish answer had not been
received and that the only formal note
that has come to hand was one from
the Madrid cabinet to NJ. Cambon,
asking for information upon some
points that were not clear to the Span
.
O'Clock the secretary of the French
embassy, NJ. Thiebaut, called at the
state department and arranged with
Secretary Day for a meeting between
the president and the ambassador as
soon as possible. The meeting was
set for 3:45 o'clock and Secretary Day
was at the White House in season, but
was obliged to wait about ten minutes
for the French ambassador.
AS was stated, after comforting for
an hour the parties separated, having
been unable TO reach a conclusion as
to the acceptance by Spain of the peace
conditions laid down by the president
and binding themselves to the obserV-
ance of the Strictest secrecy as to the
proceedings until further progress had
been made. Thus, it is practically as
sured in advance that any attempt to
state what occurred at today's meeting
- the White House will be nothing
more than pure guesswork.
PEACE PRELIMINARIES.
On the assumption that peace is near
at hand, some attention is being given
to the steps by which this may be
brought about formally, and the meas
ures necessary to be adopted immedi-
ately Afterwards. 1t is said to be not
at I'll improbable that the prelimi-
narieS leading UP TO the signature of
the treaty of peace may consume fully
along toward the legal date of the as
sembly of congress before the president
will be prepared to submit a peace
treaty to the senate. This allowance of
time is rather moderate than excessive.
We were two years, from 1871 to 1888,
in arranging a peace with Great Brit
ain to terminate the revolutionary war.
In the case of the Chinese-Japanes
war it was several months before the
commissioners were able TO perfect the
treaty which terminated that war. It
does not follow from this that an ac-
tual state Of war viii prevail during
this interval Of three months; for, as
matter of fact, hOstilities VIII terInin-
ate within a very few days after Spain
has notified the United States govern
ment o. her acceptance of the terms
laid down in the presidents note of
last Saturday. The military establish
ment however. must be maintained /
during that time and many acts per
formed that are incident to actual war
fare.
Is is expected here that the Spanish /
pledge to accept the broad conditions
laid down by the United States will
take the form OF a written agreement, (
+, mething in the nature of a protocol
Which, while q very necessary step in
1.-The negotiation OF a treaty, is not al (
Ways q part Of the document.
The negotiations have not progressed ]
sufficiently to indicate who shall be the /
parties to this agreement, or, rather, (
who shall represent the principals, the I
United States and Spain. 1t Is DOS !.
si0le that it may be signed in Wash /
ington, as between Secretary Day and /
NJ. Cambon. or, on the other hand, the /
ambassadors of Spain and the United /
States in one Of the European coun- /
tries, probably, in this case, France /
might meet, and by the authorization !
M their
this agreement. The protocol, if it may
be so called, in either case would not /
take the place in any manner of the I
treaty Of peace, which would be drawn
up later by commissioners to be ap-
pointed for this purpose.
EVACUATION OF CUBA.
Under the terms of The presidents
note if they shall be accepted by Spain,
the Spanish government is bound to
evacuate Cuba and Porto Rico tmme (
diately. This action is not to wait
upon the work of the peace comm ssion- !
ers. but is to precede it, and to follow
Immediately upon the signature of the
memorandum accepting the presidents
conditions. The word Immediately, In
this case, is, perhaps. a little deceptive.
The experience of the war department
in the endeavor to remove to Spain the
Spanish troops surrendered at Santiago
has not justified the expectation that
the large force of Spanish regulars can
be gathered and shipped home to Spain
in less than about 60 days, at the
least.
This estimate is based on the fact
that it is not expected of the Spanish
troop transports that they will be able
to return all of the Santiago prisoners
to Spain before the first of September.
Therefore. what is meant by the word
Immediately is that he Spanish gov
eminent shall at least begin the ar
rangements at once for the evacuation
of the islands
On the whole, it is rather fortunate
circumstances that this evacuation can
not take place en- masse and imme-
diately, for il has been determined that
the Spanish troops withdrawn must be