Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1898-07-27
held - order to make prompt re-


ply to the proposition.
Secretary Long arrived at the
white House shortly after the
French ambassador had departed
and had q talk with the President,
during which the Spanish proposal
was gone over briefly. Mr.. Long
said afterwards that 1t was an In
itial move, but in reply to inquir-
les as to whether it was likely to
bring a speedy cessation OF hostll-
tiles he expressed some doubt, say
ing that no decision on the points
involved had been reached thus
far.
Naturally the plea Of Spain to
open peace negotiations opens up a
wide field of conjecture ON what
the terms of peace will be. Thus far
there is no o-Iicial warrant for say
ing what terms Spain will propose
or what terms the United States
will offer or accept. So far as this
country is concerned It is the gen.
eral impression that the complete
Spanish evacuation of Cuba and
Porto Rico will be insisted upon as
a sine qua non. There is not the
same certainty as to the Philip
pines, Ladrones and Carolines, al
though the belief 10 growing that
the terms of the United States will
include coaling stations in these
groups. On the part of Spain 1t Is
believed that she now has reached
such a realization of her misfortune
that she will readily consent to
terms for the evacuation Of Cuba
and probably Porto Rico. The
Spanish desire is apparently very
strong for the retention of the
Philippines, although there is little
doubt that coaling stations there
and at other points would be con-
coded. The matter Of war 1ndem-
nifty is for future consideration, al
though there does not appear to be
a disposition among the officials
here to pile up heavy war indem-
nifty against Spain in her present
helpless condition.
Ambassador Cambon, who initi-
ated the negotiations to-day has
had a. distinguished career in the
official and diplomatic service of
France. He was born in Paris on
April 5, 1845; entered the council
of state in April, 1871, assistant
chief Of bureau of the general gov
eminent of Algeria in September,
1876, chief of bureau In November
1876; project at Constantin, June
10, 1878; Knight of the Legion Of
Honor February 16, 1879; general
secretary of the police department
of Paris February 1897; project at
Lille department of the Nord)
February %, 1892; officer cross Of
the Legion Of Honor July 8, 1888;
project at Lyons (Rhone) January
& 1897: commander cross of the
Legion of Honor 1889; governor
general of Algeria April 10, 1891;
Ambassador of them French Re-
public to the United States October
IA, 1897. When leaving Algeria
nj. Cambon was made honorary
governor general of Algeria, a title
heretofore not bestowed. M. Cam
bon presented his credentials to
President Mckinley January 15,
1898.
During the late afternoon and
evening the President conferred
with most of the members OF the
cabinet and the Spanish PROPOSE
ton was Thoroughly discussed.
Secretaries Day, Alger and Long
were at the White during the al
ternoon and in the evening the
President was joined by Secretar-
les Bliss and Wilson and POST
master General Smith. There was
no cabinet meeting in the ordinary
sense, but these talks with indi-
yidual members served about the
same purpose as a formal meeting.
1t was understood that the Pres
ident would be prepared to give
an answer within the next few
days, and certainly before the next
regular cabinet Gay on Friday. No
intimation came from any official
source as to the probable charac-
ter OF the answer. There were
strong limitations, however, that
there would be no acceptance
which would imply the stopping of
the war when the American arms
were adding victories upon victor
les, and the embarking on a vague
diplomatic negotiation. 1t was felt
that this government had every
thing to lose in subtle game Of
diplomacy, in which the only GER
tain element would be the inaction
of our army and navy. For this
reason there was a disposition in
official quarters to know what
terms were in sight before enter
ing upon general negotiations. A
prominent administration official
said after talking with cabinet Of
ficers, that in his opinion the situ-
alton was not materially changed
by the Spanish proposition and
that the war would be pressed with
unabated vigor until something
more tangible in the way of peace
terms was at hand.