The daily morning journal and courier., 1898-07-27

aSpecial Cabinet Meeting Will be Held
 to Make Prompt Reply to Spain.
 Washington, July 26.-The Spanish government has sued for peace by a di- rect appeal to President Mckinley. The proposition was formally submitted to the president at 8 o'clock this afternoon by the French ambassador, M. Jules Cambon, who had received instructions from Paris to deliver to the United States government the tender of peace formulated by the Spanish minister. At the conclusion of the conference be- tween the president and the French ambassador the following official state ment was issued from the White house:
 'DThe French ambassador on behalf of the government of Spain, and by direction of the Spanish minister of foreign affairs, pre- sentcd to the president this afternoon at the White house message from the Span ish government looking to the termination of the war and the settlement of terms of peace"
 This was the only official statement made public, but F sufficed to make it clear and definite that at last Spain had taken the initiative toward peace Although peace rumors have been cur rent almost daily heretofore since the war began not one of them had the shadow of foundation and until the French ambassador received instruc- tions from Paris late last night no overtures of any kind had been receiv- ed. Shortly before midnight last night a dispatch to the French embassy made it known that the French ambas- sador would be charged with the mis- sion of opening peace negotiations in behalf of Spain. The complete instruc- tions, including an official letter from Duke Almedovar de Rio, Spanish min- ister of foreign affairs, was received this morning. Thereupon M. Thie- beaut, first secretary of the embassy, called at the state department, and asked that an hour be appointed for a call by Ambassador Cambon on the president. The purpose of the call was not stated. It was arranged at the White house that the cali should be made at 3 o'clock. M. Cambon, accom- panied by Secretary Day, proceeded to- gether to the White house at that time. The call lasted about half an hour, and after the first formalities had been ex- ecuted by M. Cambon the talk became general and quite informal, the presi- dent, the ambassador and the secretary of state discussing the outlook for @ conclusion of hostilities.
 The proposition submitted by the am- bassador, acting for the Spanish gov- ernment, was quite general in terms and was confined to the one essential point of an earnest plea that negotia- tions be opened for the purpose of ter minating the war and arriving at terms of peace. The communication of the Spanish government did not suggest any specific terms of peace, nor was there any reference made to Cuba, the Philippines, Porto Rico or other Spanish possessions. The evident pur- pose of the Madrid authorities was first, to learn whether the United States would treat on the subject and after that to take up such terms as the two parties might suggest. Neither was there any suggestion from the Spanish government that an armistice be estab- lished pending the peace negotiations. It seemed natural, however, from the proposition that formal peace negotia- lions be entered upon that, pending their conclusion a cessation of hostili- ties would occur.
 Owing to the importance of the com- munication the ambassador adopted the usual diplomatic procedure of read ing the communication from the origin al French, the translation being sub ,nitted by M. Thlebeaut. In the con- versation which followed neither the president nor the ambassador entered upon questions of the terms of peace. It was evident that the president de- sired to consider the proposition to open peace negotiations before giving a definite reply. It was finally deter mined that the president would consult the members of his cabinet concerning the proposition and after a decision had been arrived at M. Cambon would be invited to the White house for further conference and for a final answer from the United States government. Before