The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-07-17

call at the White House on July IL. The
purpose Of this call and the entire CONVEX
satlon which passed between the President
and the ambassador is full known, and 1t
can be stated positively that it contained
Spain and the United States, or to the pros
poets OF its being brought TO a Close. 1t re-
lated to a subject wholly outside OF the war,
or IT'S close, by peace or otherwise, and the
question of the war did not come up, even
incidentally. The only incidental question
referred to was the loss of the French
steamship La Bourgogne, for which the
President expressed the deepest regret, as
we'll as his satisfaction that the investiga-
ton had mitigated the earlier reports of the
occurrence. The main question referred to
related closely to the United States and
France, without the remotest reference to
Spain; In due time this conference, will bear
fruit in certain expressions of good will be-
tween this country and the French republic.
Notwithstanding the well-established char
acter Of this conference between the Presi-
dent and the French ambassador. it served
as the basis of the reports that the French
ambassador had been sounding the govern
ment on the terms of peace. This has been
asserted so positively that even some off,
Gals have accepted 1t as accurate, and as
an indication that the peace movement at
last had assumed tangible form The re-
ports have been accepted at Madrid, after
being cabled to the impartial. The French
his government to make peace overtures or
inquiries, and in the absence of such in
StructionS he would not assume such a deli
cate duty. Furthermore, he has not taken
any such step, with or without Instructions.
AS a result of his call at the White House,
the government was apprtsed, by cable,
fully of what occurred, and this report con-
veyed not the slightest reference to Spanish
affairs, the progress of the war, or the pos
sibilities of peace. The Associated Press is
able to make this statement with full infor-
nation as to the nature of the conference
between President Mckinley and Ambassa-
dor Cambon.
The appearance of every representative of
the European powers at the State Depart
ment is seized on by the many watchers
peace overtures. Thus. when the German
secretary of the embassy, Baron Spec Won
Sternburg, came 10 the department to-day,
his visit Immediately gave rise TO the story
that he had come charged with such a mis-
sion. This, however, met with very prompt
denial from everybody concerned, and it
reference to the Philippine islands.
The statement attributed to Premier Sa-
gaSta, that Spain had been making extra
official inquiries to learn what terms the
United States might accept as a basis for
peace, failed of confirmation to this extent.
That up to this moment the State Depart
ment has not been approached on the sub
ject directly or indirectly. Perhaps the
Spanish premier may have some means or
obtaining the information he desires that Is
not known to our officials here, but however
that may be, the statement still remains
good, that the United States government
would accept. as a basis for peace negot1a-
lions. OF course, these matters have been
discussed between government officials
GAAO0
and 1t is also true that the President would
like very we'll to accurately gauge the wish
of the majority of the American people in
this matter. Without assuming to speak for
him in a matter of this Importance, II is
gathered from high officials of the admins
tration that the President is disposed to be
moderate in his demands, while seeking to
obtain all that he feels that the United
States is fairly entitled to exact from a
nation in Spain's distressed condition, he Is
not disposed to embark in a World-conquer-
ing enterprise and insist on the retention
of remote territos Ties that would be service
able to us. In other words, unless there Is
an overwhelming demand on the part or
the American people for the adoption or
such a course, it is not believed that the
President, as a finality, would insist that
Spain abandon all of her colonial possess
sions. While the proposition is tentative, 1T
is felt that as a minimum demand he would
be content with the acquisition OF Porto
Rico, an admission of the independence or
Cuba. a coaling station in the Philippines,
with provision of some kind of protectorate
over the island. and a moderate indemnity.
1t is judged that the Spanish government
has pretty fairly imbibed some such idea as
this, and that the utterances OF premier Sa-
gasta and the cautious declarations in the
pro-Spanish newspapers are simply IN
tended to gradually bring the Spanish popu-
lace into a state of mind where they Will
be willing to submit quietly to the imposi-
ton of some such terms of peace. 1t is
realized that at present the conditions In
Spain are not ripe and that some time-hoW
much cannot be estimated-will be required
to cultivate public sentiment in Spain to the
proper point.