The age-herald., 1898-07-28
PEACE PROPOSAL
 ABSORBING TOPIC Answer of the President isAWait- ed With Keenest Interest. SPAIN PREFERRED FRANCE As the Intermediatory, and That Power Was lnruSted With Negotiations. NO TERMS WERE MENTIONED Spain Simply Desired to Know if inc
 United States Were Ready. TO CONSIDER ENDING OF THE WAR Not Improbable That Within a Few Days Spain Will Take Another Forward
 Step and Suggest Terms and Ask
 if They Are Consistant.
Spain Simply Desired to Know if the
 United States Were Ready.
TO CONSIDER ENDING OF THE WAR

Washington, July 27.-In diplomatic quarters Spains peace proposal, made through the French ambassador, is the absorbing topic, and the answer of the president is awaited with keen interest The diplomats showed their interest early today by calling at the state department and at the French embassy to learn with more exactness the details of Spain's pro- posal. This developed several features of the proposition which had not been clear before In the first place no foreign gov ernment outside of France has been con- suited by Jpain in this overture for peace, and the present movement is not shared, directly or indirectly, by Germany, Aus tria, Italy, Russia, or Great Britain. It can now be stated, however, that the formal proposition submitted yesterday has been under consideration at Madrid for five days previous to yesterday during which time the British as well as the other four authorities were cognizant of the fact that Spain was about to sue for peace. This being settled it appears that a good natured but keen rivalry sprang up between Sir Drummond Wolff, the, British ambassador at Madrid, and M. Patenotre, the French ambassador there, as to which government should have the honor of initiating the movement designed to re- store the peace of the world. Owing to the cordiality existing between the gov ernments of Great Britain and the United States it was felt at first that Sir Drum- mond Wolff would be commissioned to ap- proach the United tSates, acting through Sir Julian Pauncefote.
 Spain Preferred France
 But Spain appears to have preferred the intermediation of the French government, and as a result the negotiations were finally entrusted to the French ambassador at Washington.
 Another essential point Is the exact prop osition made by Spain. There may be some misapprehension over this. owing to the publication of an alleged text Of the prop osition and other reports asserting that Spain asked President Mckinley to state the terms of peace As matter or fact, the Spanish proposition does not mention the word terms" and there is no request in it that the president shall state terms of peace. The distinct inquiry made by Spain is as to whether the United States will open negotiations toward the settle ment of the war and the arrangement or peace It Is based on the theory that II the president answers in the affirmative, then the negotiations for terms will be opened between commissioners or parties clothed with the responsibility of bringing abouts a settlement. Neither does the Spanish proposition contain any reterehce to aim- istice."
 At the same time it is framed on the idea that if the peace negotiations are en- tered upon there will be suspension or hostilities pending an agreement upon the exact terms of peace. In this connection there appears to be distinction made be- tween the word "armistice' and the sus- pension of hostilities, for while it is said the former is not asked or expected, 1t seems to be taken for granted that sus- pension of hostilities will be essential to carrying forward the peace negotiations.
 Clothed With solemnlty
 The Spanish proposition Is clothed with all the solemnity and formality of gov ernment act, despite the cabled report from Madrid that the peace proposal is of "prlvate" nature. The instructions to M. Cambon bear the official signature of Duke Almodovar de Rio, the Spanish minister of foreign affairs, and besides expressing the desire of the cabinet and the government that the peace negotiations be opened, they are given the added solemnity of approval and earnest personal request by "Queen Regent Maria Christina" The instructions bear the date of Madrid. June 25. These formalities dismiss all question in the minds of officials here as to the regularity of the Spanish proposition as expressive of the wishes of the government of Spain. Aside from this, M. Cambon Is too much of veteran in diplomacy to have embarked on any private overtures toward peace.
 Since the conference between the presi, dent and M Cambron, both the French government and the Spanish government bave tesn fully apprised of the action taken, and It is not improbable that Spain within tke next two or three days will take ano. .hcr important step forward by volun- tariiy suggesting what terms of peace she will re gard as consistent These, of course, Ill bs in!.iatory and will be designed as G4rt of opening wedge toward bringing the
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