Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1898-07-28

Washington, July % The Spanish gov
eminent has sued for peace, not directly
through the great powers Of Europe. but
by Il direct appeal to President McKin-
Icy. The proposition was formally sub
mitted to the President ut O'Clock this
afternoon by the French amba ssador. NJ.
Jules Cambon, who had received instruC-
tons from the foreign Office at Paris to
deliver to the United States government
the tender Of peace formulated by the
spanish minister. At the conclusion Of
the conference between tho President and
the French ambassador the following Of
fetal statement was issued from the
White House:
THE French ambassador on behalf of
the government of Spain and hy direc-
ton Of the Spanish minister of foreign
affairs, presented to the President this
afternoon at the White House a message
from the Spanish government looking to
the termination OF the war and tho set
Element of terms of peace"
This was the only official statement
made public but it suffCcd to put at rest
all conjecture and to make clear and de-
finite that at last Spain had taken the
Initiative toward peace. Although peace
rumors have been current almost daily
heretofore since the war began not one
of them had the shadow of foundation,
and until the French ambassador recciV-
cd instructions from Paris late last night
no ovorturcs Of any kind had been re-
ceivcd. Shortly before midnight last night
a despatch to tho French embassy made
1t known to the embassy that the ambas-
sador would be charged with the import
ant mission Of opening peace negotiations
in behalf of Spain. The complete ins,ruc-
tons including an official letter from
Duke Almodovar Rio, Spanish minister
Of foreign affairs. was received this
morning. Thcrcupon NJ. Thbesult, first
t1r nt hF .ea1I ,1 . ,n
state department and asked that an hour
be appointed for a call by Ambassador
Cdmbon on the President The purpose of
the call was not stated. 1t was arranged
at the White House that the call should
be made at o'clock. NJ. Cambon first
went to the state department, where he
was joined by Secretary Day and the two
then proceeded together to the White
House.
The call lasted about half an hour. and
after the first formaltics had been exc
cuted by NJ Cambon the talk became gem
eral ana quite informal. the President, the
ambassador and the secretary of state
discussing the outlook for a conclusion of
hostihtics.
The proposition submitted by the ambas-
sador acting for the Spanish government
was quite general in terms and was con-
fined 10 the one essential point OF an
earnest plea that negotiations be opened
for the purpose of terminating the war
ana arriving at terms OF peace The COM
munication of the Spanish government did
not suggest and specific terms of peace
nor was there any reference made to Gu
b1, the Philippines, Porto Rico or other
Spanish possessions. The evident purpose
OF tho Madrid authorities was first to
learn whether the United States would
treat Oh the subject of peace and after
that TO take up such terms Ms the two Iar-
Neither th,If
any suggestion from the Spanish govern
mont that an armistiCo be established
pending the peace negotiations. 1t seemed
natural however. from the proposi don
mat formal peace negotiations be entered
upon that pending their conclusion cess
haton OF hostilities would occur.
Owing to the importance OF the commu-
nicatlon the ambassador adopted the us
ual diplomatic procedure Of reading the
communication from the original in
French, the translation being submitted
by NJ. Thibcault. In the conversation
which followed the reading Of the PROPOSE
ton neither the President nor the amhas-
sador entered upon the question of the
terms Of peace. The instructions of the
ambassador had confined him to the one
essential point Of opening peace negotia-
tons and II was evident that the Presi-
dent desired to consider the proposition at
this moment before giving any definite re-
President would consult the members OF
his cabinet concerning the proposition and
after decision had been arrived at, NJ.
Cambon would then be invited to the
White House for further conference and
Tor final answer from the United States
government. Before the call closed, "A
brief Of the memorandum was agreed up-
on in order to set at rest misleading con-
lecture and to give to the public informa-
ton on subject which had advanced be-
yond the point where diplomatic reserve
was essential.
Naturally the plea of Spain to open
peace negotiations, opens up a wide field
for conjecture on what the terms OF peace
Will be. Thus far there Is no official war
rant Tor saying what terms Spain viii
propose, or what terms the United States
VIII offer or accept So far as this coun-
try Is concerned ii is the general linprey-
sion that the complete Spanish evacuation
OF cuba and Porto Rico will be insisted
upon as a sine qua nom" but there Is not
the same certaity astothe Philippines, La
ufohes ana Carolines. although the belief
Is growing that the terms Of the United
states VIII include coaling stations I'm the Sc
groups ON the part of Spain 1t is belcv-
ca that she now has reached such reali-
Zalion of her misfortune that she will
readily consent to terms for the evacua-
tion OF Cuba and probably Porto Rico The
spanish desire Is apparently very strong
for the retention Of the Philippines, al
though there is little doubt that coaling
stations there and at other points would
be conceded. The matter of war indem-
nifty is for future consideration although
there does not appear to be a disposition
among the officials here to pile up heavy
war indemnity against Spain in her pres
ent helpless condition
Ambassador Cambon, who initiated the
negotiations to-day has had distinguish
ed career in the Official and diplomatic
service OF France. He was born In Paris
on April s. ls45, entered the council OF
state In April, 1871 lie was appointed am
bassador of the French republic to the
United States October IA. 1897 NJ, Cam
bon presented his credentials to President
Mckinley January 10, 1893
During the late afternoon and evening
the President conferred with most OF the
members of the cabinet and the Spanish
proposition was Thoroughly canvasA.d
Secretaries Day, Alger and Long were at
the White House during the afternoon