The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-07-27
Through the French Ambassador She Asks America
to Entertain Negotiations
NO SUGGESTION OF PEACE TERMS,
BUT AN EARNEST PLEA TO END THE WAR
Proposition Will Be Submitted to the Cabinet But OStliteS
Will Be Continued With Unabaed Vgor

House shortly after the French am
bassador had departed, and had a talk
with the president, during which the
Spanish proposal was gone over briefly.
Mr. Long said afterwards that it was
an initial move, but in reply to inuui-
rles as to whether it was likely TO bring
a speedy cessation of hostilities. he ex-
pressed some doubt, saying that no de-
clslon on the points involved had been
reached thus far.
TERMS OF PEACE.
Naturally, the plea of Spain to open
peace negotiations, opens up a wide
field OF conjecture on what the terms of
peace will be. Thus far there is no
official warrant for saying what terms
Spain will propose, or what terms the
United States will offer or accept. So
far as this country is concerned, it is
the general impression that the COM
plete Spanish evacuation of Cuba and
Porto Rico will be insisted upon, as a
sine qua non. There is not the same
certainty as to the Philippines, La
drones and Carolines. although the be-
lief is growing that the terms will in
clude coaling stations in these groups.
On the part OF Spain it is believed she
has reached such a realization of her
cept terms for the evacuation of Cuba
and probably Porto Rico The Spanish
desire is apparently very strong for the
retention of the Philippines, although
there is little doubt that coaling sta
tons there and at other points would
be conceded.
The matter of war indemnity is for
future consideration. although there
does not appear to be a disposition
among the officials here to pile up a
heavy war indemnity against Spain in
her present helpless condition.
During the late afternoon and even
ing the president conferred with most
of the members of the cabinet, and the
Spanish proposition was thoroughly
caIvassed.
DISCUSSED BY CABINET.
Secretaries Day, Alger and Long were
at the White House during the after
noon, and in the evening the president
was Joined by Secretaries Bliss and
Wilson, and Postmaster General Smith
There was no cabinet meeting in the
ordinary sense, but these talks with
individual members served about the
same purpose as formal meeting. 1t
was understood the president would
be prepared to give an answer within
the next few days, and certainly before
the next regular cabinet day, on Fri
day.
No intimation came from any official
source as to the probable character of
the answer. There were strong init
nations, however, that there would be
10 acceptance which would imply the
stopping of the war when the Ameri-
can arms were adding victories on vic
tories. to embark on a vague diplomatic
negotiation. 1t was felt that this gov
eminent had everything to lose in a
subtle game of diplomacy, in which
the only certain element would be the
iEaction of our army and navy. For
this reason there was a disposition in
official quarters to know what terms
were in sight before entering upon gen.
eral negotiations. A prominent admin
istration official said, after talking with
cabinet officers, that, in his opinion, the
situation was not materially changed
by the Spanish proposition, and that the
war would be pressed with undated
vigor until something more tangible in
the way of peace terms was at hand.
METHOD OF NEGOTIATION.
In case the peace negotiations are
opened. the means by which they will
be carried on are not determined, nor
have they been officially considered. II
is understood, however, that one means
likely to be proposed is to authorize
direct negotiations between Spain and
this country, Spain being represented
by Senior Leon Castillo, the Spanish
at Paris, and the United
States by General Horace Porter. our
to France. Senior Castillo
is one of the foremost diplomats of
Europe. and since the waj' began MS
chief mission has been to go from cap
ital TO capital and endeavor to awake
foreign Intervention in behalf of Spain.
Failing in this, he has turned his at
tention to the peace movement as the
last chance for saving his country.
Castillo is a linguist, speaking English,
so that the negotiations could proceed
with facility. While not a veteran in
General Porter is regarded
as able and tactful, and, moreover, he
would be guided by very explicit in
from Washington. This plan
is quite tentative, however, and ii is
rather doubtful whether the United
States government would consent TO
have such important negotiations re-
moved so far from Washington, and
in a European capital,
where the atmosphere might not lie
conducive to forwarding the desires of
this country.
SPANS peace proposal excited the
deepest interest Throughout Washing
ton. and for the time being war news
gave way to animated discussion of the
for peace. This was Darticu-
arly true in diplomatic circles. The
move of the French ambassador took
The other members of the corps Cum
)letely by surprise. as they mad we'll
Known among themselves that all peace
ak up to this time had been fanciful,