The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-08-09

Washington, Aug. S.-The reply of
the Spanish government to the peace
| conditions laid down by the United
States was received by the French am
bassador. NJ. Cambon. shortly before 3
O'Clock this afternoon. The reply came
in sections, the dispatch first received
giving only the opening passages Of
the Spanish reply. A few minutes later
came second section and they kept
coming interruptedly by procession of
messengers until seven sections of the
Spanish reply had been received at 10
minutes to o'clock, when the last part
was scheduled to arrive. In the mean
time the cipher experts were at work
and by 4:30 o'clock they were alb oast
of all portions of the reply received up
to that time and there was a lull of
some time pending the arrival of the
concluding portions. 1t was thought a
terrific rainstorm which swept over
Washington about o'clock might have
occasioned delay to the remainder
Pending the receipt of the reply no
steps were taken to fix a time for a
conference with the president, as the
time for that depended largely upon
some of the features of the reply and
also upon the explicit instructions con-
cerning the delivery of the answer
which usually accompanies a document
OF this solemn character. Neither at
the white house nor at the state de-
partment was there any official knowl-
edge that the reply had reached Wash
ington, and the usual Office hours closed
with no appointment for a conference
There was felt to be little likelihood,
even though the ambassador received
the complete reply and instructions
that there would be a night conference
at the white house for the purpose Of
presenting the reply
Pending the official delivery of the
answer speculation was rife as to it's
contents There was no further doubt
that the length of the reply meant that
spain had not given simple and di-
rect affirmative to the American con-
dttions. 1t was evident that if the Re-
ply was an acceptance it was accom-
panied by extended discussion and
probably by conditions. This caused
considerable apprehension in official
circles here. for while il was felt last
week that Spain would surely yield in
every particular, it began To be felt
that possibly there might be another
period of discussion and possibly an in
direct attempt to open up a diplomatic
exchange on the nature of the terms.
The prevailing view, however, was that
the reply was on its face an accept
ance, although not such a one as pre-
cluded all possibility of further discus
sion. All vital points were believed to
be conceded-the abandonment of Cuba,
Porto Rico and the Ladrones. and the
establishment of commission TO pass
upon questions relating to the Philip
pines. In the carrying out of this pro-
gramme it was believed that Spain
would seek to secure an understanding
on many incidental points involved
some of them of considerable impor-
tance. For instance, some doubt was
raised as TO whether Spain's acceptance
would be operative until referred to and
ratified by the Spanish cortes, and It
was understood that the reply might |
call attention to this condition. The |
same condition. il was pointed out. ex-
lists as to the United States, for a peace
treaty requires the ratification of the |
senate to become operative. In case |
Spain's answer discussed these inciden- |
tai points, there promises to be wide |
latitude for controversy and delay un-
less the president and cabinet declined |
to enter the field of discussion.
Late in the afternoon the president |
received an indirect intimation that |
the Spanish reply would come to the !
French embassy. A cabinet officer who /
was with him at this time said on |
leaving: The information that has |
come from Madrid about the action Of |
the Spanish cabinet indicates that the |
Spanish have accepted our terms in a /
general way, but leave several ques- /
tions open that we did not include i'm |
the terms submitted. The communica- |
tion offering those terms was explicit. |
specifically stating such points as /
would be left open to further negotia- /
tions. We win stand on these terms"
The concluding portion of the Span
ish reply was received during the even
ing. but it was not until a late hour
that it was deciphered as a whole and |
gone over by the ambassador.
No effort was made to communicate /
il to the United States tonight beyond 4
a note to Secretary Day advising him
that the document had been received, /
but not discussing its contents. Ii is
probable that the reply will be deliv-
cred TO the president before the cabi-
net meeting tomorrow. although no
hour has been fixed. There is COM
plete reticence in all quarters as to the
text of the reply. but there is reason
to believe IL is not an unqualified ac-
ceptance of the American terms. but
is framed on the theory of accepting
the essentials and trusting TO a hoped
for conciliatory spirit on the part OF
this government to moderate TO some
extent features which the Spanish gov
ernment seems to regard as unessel-
tiaL
The administration has not yet given
serious consideration TO the personnel l
of the peace commission. but it can oe
stated that no one not In accord with
the presidents views as TO the DISPOSE
ton of the Philippines will be appoint
ID. and President Mckinley favors
keeping at least Manila harbOr and
Day and sufficient teFrirory around fr