The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-08-08
Spain's Reply To President Nc
KinIey's Terms
Has Been Telegraphed To the
French Ambassador;
THEY ARE ACCEPTED
But Some Qualifications Are
Hinted At.
Details Are Still a Secret AT
Madrid.

Madrid, Aug. 8.-The cabinet council
terminated after having completely ap-
proved the reply to the United States
which. it is said, accepts the American
conditions.
The reply was telegraphed to Senor
Leon Castillo, the Spanish ambassa-
dor to France.
The government is fully convinced
that the note will be satisfactory to the
Washington government and that a
suspension of hostilities will be its i'm
mediate consequence.
From a well informed source it is
learned that while the answer does not
discuss the four bases which the United
States makes an essential preliminary
to peace, and which Spain accepts with
out reservation, it points out that in or
der to avoid the defnitive negotiations
being in any way complicated by in
cidents of the war it is expedient to
agree beforehand to a suspension of
hostiities.
It is reported that Duke AlmodOvar
de Rio, the minister of foreign affairs.
and Mgr. Merry del Val, Spanish am
bassador to the Vatican, will be select
ed to represent Spain in the negOtia-
tions.
The newspapers make no comments
on the situation owing to the strict
ness of the censorship.
Her majesty approves the general
lines of the reply of Spain to Americas
peace terms, which Senor Sagasta ex-
planned to her.
The government believes that the
United States viii accept SPANS an
swer, which will certainly reach the
White House by Tuesday. AS a cOnse-
%
the reply, hostilities viii Immediately
afterwards be suspended.
According to the reliable sources of
Information the Spanish note is couched
in dignified language. It asserts that
Spain bows to the force of circum-
stances, having nothing to provoke the
war, into which she had been unwiIl-
ingIy led in the defense of her rights
and territory.
e. It expresses a willingness to appoint
delegates to meet the American COM
mission to discuss a regime for the
Philippines.
It is understood that both Senor Sa-
gasta and Duke AImodOvar de Rio, the
foreign minister. told the queen regent
that they felt deeply the painful duty
circumstances imposed upon them.
Room For Argument.
London. Aug. S.-The Madrid CORES
pOndent of the Times, says:
"All the best authorities agree that
the government has decided to accept
the American conditions. The Ameri-
can reply to Spain's request for explain
alton reached Madrid Friday evening.
The text has not been given out, but it
is known that it brought little consola-
ton.
president Mckinley has turned a
deaf ear to the suggestion that Porto
Rico might be left to Spain and COM
pensation sought elsewhere. Regarding
the Philippines the reply was not alto
gather satisfactory. but it was of such
nature that there was no longer any
necessity for postpOning a decision on
the main question.
Meantime Senor Sagasta's extensive
consultations seemed to leave no doubt
that the nation wants peace. do not
mean to say that all declared this in
plain language. On the contrary, there
was deal of reticence. Some persons
had more or less clearly expressed the
idea that the best men in the country
would patriOtically forget for the mo-
ment all personal and party cOnsidera-
tiOns and cordially and disinterestedIy-
endeavOr to assist the government in
it's difficulties
This idea, however, if it was ever
seriously entertained. was not realized.
Perhaps one of two acted in this spirit.
but in most cases the cloven foot of the
politician peeps out occasionally under
the flowing robes of the patriot Some
only half concealed their suspicious
that Senior Sagasta, in protesting to
consult the matter seriously in a great
crisis of the national history was in re-
atty playing the part of an old parlia-
mentarian and astutely laying traps
for his political rivals.
If these suspicious had anv real
foundation, Sagasta must be a con-
summate actor, for in all the inter
views he spoke with apparent frankness
and sincerity and personal disinterest-
edness that might we'll have dfsa Smed
all but the most hardened politicians.
Even when it was suggested that he
ought to leave to more capable hands
the task of concluding peace. he dis
played no impatience or resentment He
even showed the most perfect courtesy
10 Senor Romero y RobIedo. listening
With @apt attention to his absurd pro-
posals
=, AS to the context of Spain's reply.
me oracleS differ. Some saw it contains
no contentious matter, accepts simply
~ pIlncIple the four demands of Pres
AUe1t Mckinley'S first cOmmunica flor,
and suggests an immedfate snsnensi01l
y ASSt StlIltles On the other hand 9th
! SLS aInrm that it is prefaced by an ac-
SSOuHI OF the origin of the war tending
~ ~ prove that, as Spain was in no sense
- sSsIessor, she ought not to be ex-
Pecled TO pay a war indemnity. either
- money or territory"