The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-07-28
AWAITING THE CABINETS ACTION
No Changen the Present Peace Phase Until Meets FrdyText of
Spanish Overture may Remain Unknown for Some Time.

of Spain's proposal. This developed scv~
cral features of the propositions when
had not been entirely clear. In the llrSt
place, no foreign Government outside of
France has been consulted by Spain IN
this overture for peace, and the present
movement is not shared, directly or IN
directly, by Germany, Austria, Italy,
Russia or Great Britain. 1t can now be
stated. however. that the formal propo-
sition submitted yesterday had been un-
der consideration at Madrid for five days
previous to yesterday, during which time
the British as well as the French au-
thorities were cognizant of the fact that
Spain was about to sue for peace. This
being settled, it appears that II good ua-
tured but keen rivalry sprang uR be-
tween Sir Drummond Wolff, the British
Ambassador at Madrid. and NJ. Pate
notre, the French Ambassador there, as
to which Government should have the
honor of initiating the movement dc-
signed to restore peace between the
two Governments. But Spain appears
to have preferred the mediation of the
French Government, and negotiations
were finally entrusted TO the French
Ambassador at Washington.
Another point is the exact opposition
made by Spain. There has been some
miSapprehenSiOn over this, owing to the
publication of an alleged text of the
proposition, and other reports asserting
that Spain asked President Mckinley
to state the terms of peace. AS /; mat
ter of fact the Spanish proposition does
not mention the word terms" and there
is no request or suggestion in it that the
President shall state terms of peace. The
distinct inquiry made by Spain is as to
whether the United States will open net
gotiationS toward the settlement of the
war and the arrangement of peace. 1t
is based on the theory that if the, Pres-
dent answers in the affirmative then the
negotiations for terms will be opened be-
tween commissioners or parties clothed
with the responsibility Of bringing about
II settlement.
The Spanish proposition is clother with
all the soemnity and gormality of a Gov
erIanent act, despite the cable report
from Madrid that the peace proposal is
of a private" nature. The instructions
to NJ. Cambon bear the official signature
of Duke Almadovar de Rio, Spanish
Minister of Foreign Affairs, and beside
expressing the desire of the Cabinet and
Government that the peace negotiations
be opened, they are given the added sol
emnity of approval and earnest personal
request by Queen Regent Maria Cristina.
The instructions bear the date of Madrid,
June p. These formalities dismiss all
question in the minds of officials here
as to the regularity of the Spanish propo-
Sition as expressive of the wishes of the
Government of Spain. Aside from this
Nj. Cambon is too much Of Il veteran in
diplomacy to have spoken of private mat
terS.
AS to the manner of conducting the
peace negotiations several plans are said
to be open, besides that of having Gen
eral Porter and Senor Castillo, the Unit
ed States and Spanish Ambassadors at
Paris respectively, conduct them. One
pan is to have Spain name peace plen-
ipotentiarieSh who will come directly to
Washington and conduct negotiations
This, however. is said to be somewhat
ineXpedient, rs it would take nine days
for the Spanish plenipotentiarics to reach
Washington, and there is every desire
to avoid delay. Another tentative plan is
to have Spain name M. CambOn as the
Spanish plenipotentiary at Washington.
thus comforting on him authority to treat
directly with the President and carry
the negotiations forward to Il completion.
1t is probable that this plan will be more
acceptable to fhe United States as it
would keep the negotiations at Washing
ton. and also give them an agreeable per
sonal character, as the authorities have
the highest regard for the ability and sin
ccrity of the French representative here
The plans, however, will not be settled
until after the President gives his an
swer to the first inquiry made by Spain.
as to the willingness of the United
States to enter upon general negotiations
for peace.