The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1898-08-11
PEACE
PROTOCOL
Iho Outcome of tho Neg0tia.
w lions With Spain. 4.
H0STILITIES STILLOONTINUE
An Armistice May Come After the
n: W.. Document Is Signed.
PROBABLE PEACE COMMISSIONERS

NV NVPsCsSAtdlANGS VI lHIS OOVeIHLHcu
Will Be Appointed as Soon as the Pro
tocol Is Submitted to the Spanish Gov.
srnment For Approval Hitch Feared
Naval officials Have Made Up Thei'
Minds Peace is at Hand, and Arc Plan
ming For a Reduction Of the Navy to q
Peace Basis.
Washington. Aug. 1.-THE prelimi-
nary negotiations looking toward the
confirmation of peace advanced long
step yesterday when the secretary of
state and the French ambassador
agreed upon the terms upon wrich
future negotiations for a treaty are to
be conducted and reduced these to the
? FORM Of a protocol. This protocol. 1t Is
true. is yet to be signed and is to be
submitted to the Spanish government
before the formal sisnatures are affixed,
but the administrations view Us to the
progress made was set out In Secre-
tary Days sentence: 1T Is expected
that this protocol VIII he executed"
There Is always the possibility in deal
ing with the Spanish government that
4 may recede at the last moment from
IN implied agreement. but 1t is scarce-
~ probable that it would he willing
10 involve the French ambassador in
tAe difficulties that would follow what
- the world would seem to be repudia-
ti0n of his benevolent efforts in be-
half of Spain.
There must be delay--possibly from
- to AZ hours-before the next step can
be taken and the protocol made bind
ting upon both the United States and
Spain by the attachment of the sig
natures of the plenipotentiaries. Sec
retary Day for the United States, and
N. Cambon for Spain. The delay will be
largely attributable to physical causes.
The protocol is long and it must be
tIanslated and turned back and forth
tniO code and simple language no less
than five times before It reaches Mad
rid through the French foreign Office
This work was not begun until late yes
terday afternoon, after it had con-
sumed the best energies of Assistant
Secretary Adee. of the state depart
ment and NJ Thiebaut, secretary of the
French embassy.
II is apparent the consumption of
time involved In purely mechanical
tmctions will be so considerable as to
make the rendition Of a very early
answer improbable.
As to the character of the protocol 1t
can be stated on authority that the
terms are in all practical points those
est out In the abstract of the prcsi-
dents conditions published from the
Mhite House week ago. From this
1act 1t Is deduced that the extra con-
unions or qualifications sought to be
imposed by the Spanish government
were abandoned at least In large part
~ the french ambassador 1t Is be-
NeVed that the protocol carries within
stself provision. fps~lhe cessation OF
hDstilities On this point the naval con-
tingent is urgent that our government
adopt the Napoleonic policy OF refusing
10 enter Into an armistice without ac-
Quiring some substantial pledge to Sc
cure the consummaton Of peace. What
ahey particularly desire Is that our gov
eIhn1eht shall demand as : condition
oi lhe cessation OF hostilities the sur
render to the United States military
aorces or MORO Castle at the entrance
OF Havana harbor and some such
points OF vantage at the other i'm
poftaht ports In the territory soon to
hail under our control
The peace negotiations are now be-
MeFed 10 be advanced to point where
ths president has felt warranted in
turning MS attention to the selection OF
the commissioners to he charged by the
Dhited states with the drafting of a
tfeaty OF peace. But one name has been
positively determined upon. namely.
that OF Secretary Day. who will head
tne commission. Beyond that point
thfrc IS no certainty Mr.. Woodford, |
our last minister to Spain, has been
also mentioned, though as he is cred
ated with entertaining a desire to re-
turn to Madrid in the capacity of
United States minister after the war
The two ambitions might conflict One |
OF the names that finds universal ap-
prcVal Is that OF Mr.. Eustis, EXAM
osssador to France, whose staurch
combined with dipIo-
matte knowledge and legal ability, are
urged as hitting him especially for ap-
pointment as peace commissioner.
Ihc navy officials have made up their
minds That peace is at hand. and are
piGhning Tor reduction of the naval
to peace basis The
nst step to be taken will be the re-
vn-,,;,. nh. ~''S