The herald., 1898-08-07
The SEVEN STEPS
Continued From Page One.)

Affairs, and with Marshal de Campos, the
former Captain General of Cuba.
This afternoon Her Majesty will receive
Senior Robiedo, whose views are said to be
shared by General Weyler. The series of
conferences between the Premier. Sagas ia,
and the leaders of the various parties con-
cudes this evening with interviews with
General Canaejas and others. Senor Bar
rios. the Carlist leader, has replied to
Senior Sagastas invitation to come to Mad
rid in order to discuss matters.
Waiting for the Reply
WASHINGTON, Aug. 6.-The answer of
Spain to the American terms on which
peace may be restored was expected at al
most any moment in official circles today
and the brief press dispatch from Madrid
stating that the answer was an accept
ance increased the tension over what was
looked upon as the elimination Of the ne
gotiations. During the early hours of the
day the State Department had not received
any direct information as to Spain's an
swer, nor was there an intimaton when it
will come. The same was true as to the
French embassy. The Ambassador had
made no arrangement for a call at the
White House or the State Department. and
none of the officers of the embassy had con-
ferred with the officials here since the
discussion of last Wednesday night Every
| thing was in a condition of waiting ex-
| pectancy. The report from Madrid that
| Cabinet council would go over the reply
| this afternoon indicates that it might not
be dispatched to Washington until late in
the day. Secretary Day had expected to
go to Atlantic City this evening to join
Mrs Day, and he may even yet carry out
his plan unless some official assurance
reaches him from the French embassy
| that the reply will be forthcoming tonight.
| A report was current during the day that
| the embassy received communication at
an early hour this morning, the inference
being that It was Spain's reply, but this,
| is can be stated positively is not correct,
for up to midday Spain had given no Init
| nation of her answer to any quarter in
| Washington. The Spanish announcement
| that the Spanish Cabinet will go over the
| reply this afternoon raises a possibility ot
| Cabinet discussion and a prolongation of
the time before the answer Is submitted.
All the Madrid reports show that Premier
Sagasta Is endeavoring to reconcile the
various political elements and the leaders
as far as possible, and there is disposi
| ton among officials here to give him time
| for this difficult and delicate moulding of
public and political sentiment up to the
point of an acceptance of the American
| demands This view is strengthened
among officials here by the fact that all
our preparations are going steadily for
ward. The campaign in Porto Rico is pro-
crossing with uninterrupted success, the
hands of Admiral Dewey and General
Merritt are being strengthened at Manila
ard the conditions at Santiago so serious
when the American generals united in
their statement is being promptly and en-
ergetically overcome. For this reason it
is felt that delay is the loss of Spain, and
j that Sagasta, in the interest of his own
country, will make the answer as speedily
as internal conditions will permit.
i If the Madrid dispatches are fully real
zed Spain's acceptance of Americas S
| terms then officials feel that nothing re-
mains but routine of concluding the form
alities of peace. In some quarters appre-
hension is felt in regard to the word 'ac-
ceptance.". 1t is pointed out if the ac-
ceptance is simply an affirmative on all
the American peace terms every chance
for delay or negotiations is at an end But
If the acceptance is qualified in any way by
a condition that certain privileges be grant
ed, or rights conceded, then there ia still
the possibility of further discussion The
Madrid advices are so unqualified in stat
ing that the American terms are accepted
that there seems to be little chance Spain
will attach any conditions to her accept
ance and yet only the answer itself, final
unconditional and conclusive, can mako
it clear that the last chance of controversy
is removed.
There will be little surprise here If the
elimination of the peace arrangement
brings about a change in the Spanish Cab
met, not so much by crisis by con-
certed movement among the leaders to
institute a cabinet representing all ele-
ments. including the army, capable of TAX
ing the responsibility before the country
of the acceptance of the American terms
A New York Journal Report
NEW YORK Aug. Ga Madrid special
to the New York Journal says:
The Queen Regent has approved the re-.
ply of the Spanish government to the
United States accepting the conditions laid
down by the latter under which peace will
be concluded.
Ordered to the Front
(SIJTCIS MAJTHA Aug e-Ma al