Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1898-08-10
IN M'K|NLEY'S HANDS
SPANS Reply Delivered Yes
terday Afternoon.
ITSNATURENO DIvULGED
All Indications Point to the Fact Tina. tho
Answer In Not Entirely Satisfactory,
Although, 1t liz said Most OF Our
Conditions a re- Accepted.
(By Telegraph.)

twenty-fGur hours after it had begun
to reach Washington, the Spanish note
ditions was presented at the White
Rouse by the French ambassador.
What the nature of the answer is can
only be coniectured at this stage. rhe
secretary Of State at the conclusion OF
the conference making the formal
statement that nothing whatever could
be said upon the subject The confer-
ence lasted an hour and twenty-five
minutes. From this long discussion it
was believed that the Spanish answers
was not satisfactory In every RESPECT.
though just what points It fell short OF
meeting the expectations of the Pres
idcnt. 1t is impossible to say 1t was
felt BY the observers that had the an
swer been a complete acceptance of our
terms. the result would have been made
public. On the other hand, it would
be Il strained inference to conclude
mat the answer was unsatisfactory
entirely 1t would seem that there
could scarcely be good reason in this
case for Withholding the result OF the
conference. On the whole, it is rather
To be concluded that middle result
was obtained: that Spain was found to
have attached certain conditions to her
acceptance Of the Presidents terms but
that the latter was not disposed to re-
gard the injection of the new matter
as sufficient in itself to warrant an i'm
mediate termination of the peace ne
President has taken exception to some
or the Spanish conditions. but has al
lowed last opportunity for them to
be withdrawn or modified.
The reply of the Spanish government
is understood to be u document embrace
Ing about 1920 words. 1t bears the sig
nature of the Spanish minister Of for
eign affairs, and the form Of the state
ment throughout is that OF Her Males
tvs government similar to the Amert-
fhkh-r Of -
Iresident The copy delivered to tho
President was in English the transia-
ton from Spanish to French having
need made at Paris. and that from
French to English having been made
prior to the presentation of the answer
at the White House. This obviated de-
lays, and gave the President and Sec
rotary Day an English text at the
outset or the conference with the am
bassador.
The Spanish reply Is said to be d.
vided into five points or heads, namely,
Cuba. Porto Rico. Ladrone Islands, oc-
cupatfon of Manila and the appoint
ment of a peace commission. which are
treated in the order named. So far
rs could be learned no mention is made.
Q tthe Cuban debt. The retention OF
arms and ammunition by the Spanish
troops comes in Tor direct reference.
under the head Of Cuba.
In the u bSence of an official statement
IT is impossible to give the Spanish YER
sion of the several American conditions.
But the following is from the best infor-
nation obtainable in treating each sub
Ject-Cuba. Porto Rico. Ladrones, Ma
Mia and peace commission An accep-
lance in some cases Is understood to re-
late to conditions somewhat different
from those laid down by the American
government. AS to Cuba. the Ameri-
cen terms demanded the evacuation OF
the island without specifying the fu-
ture form OF government The Spanish
reply is said to accept the principle
that the Spanish sovereignty over Cuba
VIII terminate, but it is understood to
take up the future government of the.
island. and, because of the extent OF
the Spanish interests there. is said to
take the view. either express or I'M
pied. that the United States should adj
munster the affairs Of the island. AS
10 the time r the evacuation OF Cuba.
TINS is detail which the Spanish reply
is said to regard as among many which
can be left to the commission for f1naf
determination
me american conditions Us to Porto
Rico. the Ladrones, Manila, etc. are
believed to be accepted, but the tonl,.s
are treated at length and it will re-
cure the full text to show how the Ian
suase used may be construed as an ac-
ceptance
The provision as to the commission
Is assented to. The commission is to
consist OF five commissioners on each
side, with Paris as the probable meet
ing place. The Spanish reply is said
TO develop somewhat the scope of the
the commission, leaving to it only the
denomination of the future OF the
philippines but also the details In
vowed IN the arrangement Of lasting
peace; The outcome Of the conference
Is unknown. but the best opinion OBJ
tanable is that the matter Is still open.
that Ambassador Cambon will report to
spain the results Of his efforts and the
desires OF this government and that
another reply from Spain as to some
details will be necessary.
me call of the ambassador had been
almost momentarly expected from the
moment the cabinet adjourned. The
PRESIDENT was in readiness for the can
throughout the afternoon, but toward
o'clock took brief respite from his
, morS; ana gained a short nap. Several
members of the cabinet called but Left
alter remaining but few minutes In
the White House. Shortly after
O'Clock Secretary Day drove over from
sne state Department and Immediate
iy Joined the President, announcing
that he had received word from the
French ambassador as to an appoint
ment. and ii was agreed the President
Should See Nj. Cambon at half past five.
AS on the day when the President ten
nered to the ambassador the terms
inns government offered. the embassy
carriage at the appointed hour stopped
Mt the entrance to the grounds and NJ
Cambon and NJ Thiebault sauntered
ielsureJy up to the circular walk.
When the ambassador and his secre-
.ary entered the White House. it was
h:40 o'clock. The President and Sec
rotary Day Immediately joined them in
the library From then until a scaur
hour and a half afterward the four
We're closeted together, going over the
answer Of the Sagasta government
II was noticeable that neither Assistant
Secretary John Moore nor Assistant
Secretary Adee. both OF whom are au-
thorities on diplomatic phraseology.
and one or the other of whom has been
called into conference on previous &C.
casions, was present. When the meet
Ing ended 1t was five minutes past
seven.
Secretary Day did not leave the
White House at the conclusion Of the
conference. He had been accompa MED
to the executive mansion by Mrs. Day.
D., y