The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1898-08-08
SPANISH AGREEMENT
To Peace Terms Unconfrmed by
officials at Washington.
BUT BELIEVE THE END HAS COME

less of Peace observation-disclosures
OF Shafter's Army Corps.
Washington, Aug. S.-Although with
out official as yet, confirmation of the
report from Paris that the Spanish
government has decided to accept the
terms laid down by the United States
as essential to the negotiations of a
treaty of peace, the officials here are
proceeding under the conviction that
the end has come, and are giving at
tentlon to the steps to be taken next.
In view of the delay in coming to this
conclusion the idea was beginning to
prevail that the Spanish government
was about to enter a plea In abatement,
and that the answer would again be in
conclusive. In this case the president
was disposed to deal firmly with the
issue; to give notice that our proposals
were withdrawn and to let it be un-
derstOod that when Spain again sued
for peace the conditions would be more
severe than those first laid down. If
the Spanish answer should embody an
effort to secure any material change
in the conditions 1t will meet with
prompt rejection,
Some reference has been made in the
desire on the part Of the Spanish gov
ernment to include in the preliminary
agreement a clause exempting 1t from
liability for the Cuban debt The for.
NAL statement of the points of the
United States note given out from
the White House made no reference to
this subject, and it cannot be known
as yet whether or not the full text
shows anything more. But presuming
that no reference whatever Is made to
the Cuban debt, it is possible the sub
| ject may be regarded as one that
should be treated by the peace COM
| missioners who are to meet later to
frame the treaty, which of course will
embody many details that are left un-
touched in the main proposition. though
cabinet officers have authorized the
statement that no part of the Cuban
| or Porto Rican debts would be as
sumed by the United States.
Should the Spanish answer be an un-
| conditional acceptance of our terms
some negotiation may be necessary to
agree upon the steps to be taken to
| give effect to the agreement. So far
as can be learned 1t has not yet been
| determined how this shall be done.
There are two ways open. The first
! is military capitulation by the cap
tain generals of Cuba and Porto Rico,
which will Immediately place the Amer
| lean military or naval commanders in
| technical occupation of the islands and
| enable them to carry out In their own
way and in their own time the en-
| barkation of the Spanish armies in
the islands. The question as to whether
they shall be permitted to carry off
I.at,- fa1
it was in the case of the surrender of
General Torals forces at Santiago.
Spain having succumbed, 1t might be
urged that the United States might
grant a concession of this point to
Spanish pride without fear of having
the action attributed to fear of the
consequences of a refusal. This would
not apply. however, to the volunteers
who might elect to remain in Cuba, as
it would not be prudent to allow so
| large a body of men to carry arms.
The second method by which the pre-
| liminary peace agreement might be
! formally effected would be by a pro-
tocol to be signed by a representative
of the president, probably Secretary
Day in this case, and by NJ CambOn In
behalf of the Spanish government. II
| was by just such an agreement as this,
known as the Gushing protocol that
war with Spain was averted as a re-
suit of the Virginius affair. This course
| having the weight of precedent, may
he adopted in this case. 1t is probable
that i'm the Philippines the greatest
difficulty will be met in putting the
agreement into effect on account of the
attitude of the insurgents. but General
Merritt is now gaining in strength daily
and probably will be In position to
meet any emergency.
General Wades reinforcements foI
! General Miles are going forward re-
gardless of the progress of peace ne
| gotiations. The agreement to negoti-
ate a treaty of peace does not neces-
sarily carry with 1t cessation Of hos
tilities. If 1t is desirable these rein
forcements may be intercepted and re-
turned to the United States, after they
sail. The present plans of Secretary
Alger all contemplate that they shall
leave the United States, especially as
1t is felt that with the practical field
experience they will acquire in Porte
Rico under favorable climate condi-
tions they will make good material t
use both there and in Cuba in carrying
out the governments reconstruction
policies.
Secretary Alger is apprehensive that
the small wharfage recources of San
tiago viii seriously retard the execu-
tion OF the departments orders for the
speedy return to the United States OF
Skaters army corps. With the Span
ish steamers coming to take away the
surrendered army of General Toral
which must be first removed before Il
will bt safe to withdraw the whole o.
the American force, 1t is going to b,
difficult to embark the latter withou
incurring the danger Of a severe con
gestion in the unhealthy town. Genera
Shafter has been called upon by cabl
to describe the state of affairs, and h
will be given all the help in the powe
OF the war department, but stlll II 4
believed that the whole of Shafter'
soldiers cannot be embarked before tn
first of September.
The war department officials are en-
tirely satisfied with the progress so ia
made toward the shipment to Span
of General Toral's army surrendere'
at Santiago The vessels which are t
be used for this purpose are now OF
the way to Santiago, and barring acci
dents, they are expected TO arrive ther
about the 18th inst, when the troop
will be embarked as rapidly as pos
sible and proceed at once to Spain. ]
is recalled that most of the other com
petitors for the transportation contrac
required until Sept l to accomplish tn
embarkation, which, under the presen
arrangement, it is expected, will b