Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1898-07-30
SUES FOR PEACE.
Spain Has Had Enough of wa1
With Uncle Sam.
The French Ambsssad ador, on Behalf of the
Madrid Government, Asks That Nego-
tiations be Opened Looking to
Cessation of Hostilitics-
The President Reserves
His Decision,

ulTeClly through Ine BTeaU powers OI
Europe, but by direct appeal to
President Mckinley. A proposition
was submitted to the president at
o'clock Tuesday afternoon by the
French ambassador, M. Jules Cambon,
who had received instructions from
the foreign office at Paris to deliver
to the United Staes government the
| tender of peace formulated by the
Spanish ministry. At the conclusion
of the conference between the presi-
dent and the French ambassador, the
| following official statement was issued
from the White House:
THE French ambassador, on behalf
of the government of Spain and by
| direction of the Spanish minister OF
foreign affairs presented to the presi-
dent this afternoon a message from
the Spanish government looking to the
termination of the war and the settle
ment of terms of peace"
| This was the only official statement
made public, but it put at rest all con-
| lecture and made clear that Spain had
taken the initiative toward peace.
Shortly before midnight Monday night
a dispatch to the French embassy
made it known that the ambassador
would be charged with the mission of
opening peace negotiations in behalf
of Spain. The complete instructions,
including an official letter from Duke
Almadover Rio, Spanish minister of
| foreign affairs, were received yester-
day. Thereupon NJ. Thiebeaut, first
secretary of the embassy, called at the
state department and asked that an
hour be appointed for a call by Am
bassador Cambon on the president. II
was arranged that the call should be
made at o'clock.
| M. Cambon first went to the state
department, where he was joined by
Secretary Day, and the two proceeded
together to the White House. The call
lasted about half an hour, and after
the first formalities had been executed
| by NJ. Cambon, the talk became gen
eral, the president, the ambassador
and Secretary Day discussing the out
look for a conclusion of hostilities.
The proposition submitted by the
| ambassador was quite general in
| terms, and was confined to an earnest
plea that negotiations be opened for
the purpose of terminating the war
and arriving at terms of peace. The
communication of the Spanish gov
ernment did not suggest any specific
terms of peace, nor was any reference
made to Cuba, the Philippines, Porto
Rico or other Spanish possessions.
The evident purpose of the Madrid
authorities was to first learn whether
the United States would treat on the
subject of peace, and after that to
| take Gnpb farms n tba n,tf
might suggest. Neither was there any
suggestion from the Spanish govern
ment that an armistice be established
pending the peace negotiations.
Neither the president nor the am
bassador entered upon the question of
the terms of peace. 1t was finally de-
termined that the president would
consult the members of his cabinet
concerning the proposition, and after
a decision had been arrived at NJ.
Cambon would then be invited to
further conference and for final an
swer from the United States govern
ment.
Naturally the plea of Spain to open
peace negotiations opens up 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
n sine qua non. There is not the
same certainly as to the Philippines,
Ladrones and Carolines, although the
belief is growing that the terms of
the United States will include coaling
stations in these groups.
On the part of Spain it is believed
that she now has reached such a reali-
zation of her misfortune that she will
readily consent to terms for the evac-
uation of Cuba and probably Porto
Rico. The Spanish desire is apparent-
| ly very strong for the retention of the
Philippines, although there is little
doubt that coaling stations 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
heavy war indemnity against Spain.
During the evening the president
conferred with most of the members
of the cabinet and the Spanish prop
osition was thoroughly convassed. It
was understood that the president
would be prepared to give an answer
within the next few days and certain
ly before Friday. No intimation came
from any official source as to the prob
able character of the answer. There
were strong intimations, however,
that there would be no acceptance
which would imply the stopping of the
war when the American arms were
adding victories on victories and the
embarlSing on a vague diplomatic ne
gotiation.
Jumped the Track.
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