New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-08-09
SPANS REPLY ARRIVES.
AMBASSADOR CAMBON WILL
DELIVER II TODAY.

TERMS OF THE UNITED STATES 40.
CEPTED IN A GENERAL WAY RIFT
SEVERAL QUESTIONS LEFT OPEN
""'"inston' Aug. s-The reply OF the Spanish
Government to the peace conditions laid down
~ '"e united states was received by the French
ambassador. NJ. Cambon. shortly before 2
ociock this afternoon. The reply came I'm sec-
'iohs' the dispatch first received giving onlv
VIZ opening passages of the Spanish reply
e" minutes later another dispatch brought a
u secuon' and these kept coming until
seven sections OF the Spanish reply had been
received at 800 o'clock. when the last part was
still to arrive
III the mean time the cipher experts were At
work. and by 4:30 o'clock they were abreast Of
all that portion Of the reply received up to that
ume. and there a ull Of some time pending
the arrival Of the concluding portions II was
thougnt terrific rainstorm. which swept over
washington about O'clock might have oc.
casioned delay Of the remainder Pending the
receipt OF the complete reply steps were
taken 70 fix time for conference with the
PRESIDENT as the time for that depended largely
upon some Of the features OF the reply and also
livery OF the which usually accom-
panies document OF this solmen character.
Neither at the White House nor at the State
department was there any knowledge that the
reply had reached Washington. and the usual
office hours closed with no appointment made
Tor conference. There was felt to be little
hKeiinood' even though the Ambassador re-
ceiVed the complete reply and instructions, that
there would be night conference at the White
House for the purpose OF presenting the docu-
ment.
PROBABLE NATURE OF THE ANSWER.
Pending the official delivery Of the answer
speculation was rife as to its contents There
was little or no further doubt that the length
of the reply left meant that Spain had not
given a simple and direct affirmative to the
American conditions. 1t evident that II
the reply was acceptance II was accom-
panied by extended discussion ard probably
by conditions. This caused considerable appre-
hension in official circles here. for while It was
felt last week that Spain would surely yield In
every particular 1t began to be felt that possi-
bly, there might be another period Of discussion
and possibly an indirect attempt to open up q
diplomatic exchange on the nature Of the terms.
The prevailing view. however, was that tho
reply on its face an acceptance although
not such a one as precluded all possibility OF
further discussion. All vital points be-
lieved to be conceded-the abandonment OF
Cuba. Porto Rico and the Ladrones. and the
esta adjustment OF a commission TO pass upon
questions relating 10 the Philippines In the
carrying out OF this programme 1t was be-
lleved that Spain would seek TO secure an un-
derstandlng on many incidental ponts- inyGlyed:
some of them Of considerable Importance. Fosl
1 -
Spain's acceptance would be operative until
referred to and ratified by the Spanish Cortes.
and 1t was understood that the reply might
call attention to this condition. The same con-
dtion. II was pointed out. exists as to the
United States FOR a pc ice treaty requires the
ratification OF the Senate TO become operative.
in case Spain's answer discussed these incl
dental points there promised 10 be wide lati-
tude for controversy and delay. unless the
President and Cabinet declined 10 enter the
field Of discussions
PRESIDENT MKINLEY HEARS THE NEWS.
Late in the afternoon the President received
an indirect intmaton that the Spanish reply
had come 70 the French Embassy. CABINET
officer who with him at this time said on
leaving: The information that has come from
Madrid about the action Of the Spanish Cabinet
indicates the Spanish have accepted our terms
in a general way. but leaves several questions
open that we did not include In the terms SUBJ
mitted The communication offering those terms
was explicit. specifically stating such points as
would be left open to further negotiations. We
will stand on those terms"
The Administration has not yet given serious
consideration to the personnel Of the peace COM
mission but it can be stated that no one not
in accord with the Presidents pre- sent views
as to the disposition of the Philippines will be
appointed and Mr.. Mckinley favors keeping at
least Manila Harbor and Bay. and sufficient ter
rtory around 1t for its support and protection. X
not the whole ~ Luzon Island AS TO members
OF the Cabinet as members Of the commission.
there are precedents for their appointment. no.
tably TIE Treaty OF Ghent.
NOT AN UNQUALIFIED ACCEPTANCE.
The concluding portion OF the Spanish reply
was received during the evening, but 1t was noe
until late hour that It was declphered as
whole and gone by the Ambassador. NO
effort was made to communicate it 10 the United
States Government tonight be, ond a
Secretary Day advising him that the document
had been received. but not disclosing its con-
tents II is probable that the reply will be de-
livered TO the President before the Cabinet
meeting tomorrow although no hour has been
fixed There is complete retcence In all quar-
ters as TO the text OF the reply but there IL
reason to believe 1t is not an unqualified ac-
ceptance Of the American terms. but is framed
on accepting tn, essentials. and trusting to a
hoped-for conclliatory spirit on the part OF this
Government to moderate TO some extent feat
ures which the Spanish Government seems to
regard unessental
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