The San Francisco call., 1899-03-12

PHILADELPHIA, March u.-Ihe
Philadelphia inquirer prints this morn
ing this story, purporting to come from
its correspondent in Washington:
THE famous red book of Spain, re-
plete with the secrets of the Spanish
Government, has reached the United
States through a secret channel. The
publication Of any matters contained
in this book is prohibited by law in
Spain. The book is not printed for
public perusal.
ut shows the inside workings of
plan to have NJ. Cambon, the Embassa-
dor of France at Washington, sound
the American Government as to its
terms of peace, and brings out the Gu
rious fact that when NJ. Cambon pre-
sented his instructions to President
Mckinley, after having taken the
trouble to have them deciphered out of
the private cipher Of the Department
of State for Spain, the Embassador
found that the American President had
been apprised of his instructions re-
ally in advance of the ambassador, and
knew their contents even down to the
minutest letter.
This, taken in conjunction with
other things brought out in the book,
shows that very early in the war the
Americans had some underground plan
for obtaining Spanish official docu-
ments and could read the Spanish ma
val, military and State ciphers as
readily as the Spanish themselves.
THE letter of ambassador Cambon
to the Spanish Minister of State ex-
presses intense surprise that the Amer
lean President should have been made
acquainted with all the little details
of his instructions.
ambassador Cambon thought that
President Mckinley was anxious to
continue the war when Spain accepted
the American terms. Under date OF
August 7, NJ. Cambon cabled to Mad
rid:
Senior Duke: I called at the White
House to-day by special invitation of the
President. [ Informed the Secretary OF
State of the receipt of your cable Of Au-
gust Z in which you acquaint me with the
fact that Spain accepts the onerous terms
imposed by the United States. The Presi-
dent and his Secretary of State appeared
to be much disappointed that Spain had
accepted the terms, it seeming to be ap-
parent that they thought Spain would re-
ject them and America might have a
greater excuse for forcing the war TO
After long silence Mr.. Mckinley said:
81 asked of Spain the immediate ces-
sion and evacuation of Cuba and Porto
Rico. Instead of sending to me d cate
gorical reply, [ am given general note.
The Spanish Government declares that 1t
cannot give the answer / desire until the
Cortes has been consulted | cannot con-
slider such a proposition"
l observed that the Spanish Queen had
no greater authority than the American
President, and called his attention to his
previous statement that all the conclu-
sions of the Peace Commissioners would
h 70 u fnd GI1hi m an
proval of the American Senate. All my
observations were futile. The President
was firm. Seeing he was at the point of
ending the interview and breaking off the
peace negotiation begged him to tell me
what security he could offer Spain as to
his sincerity. He replied:
There is only one way to conclude this
series of errors and delays. and that is to
draft protocol which should include the
conditions demanded by the United States
and to which Spain must agree, if she be
sincere in her protestationS of a desire
for peace. l would suggest that minor
commissions be created to confer as to the
evacuation of Cuba and Porto Rico. Iou
communicate this proposition to Madrid
and ask authority to sign the protocol. II
you get the authority and actually do
sign the protocol | VIII at once order a
suspension of hostilties, but not other
wise"
He added that as the object of the COM
mission at Paris was simply to draft Il
treaty this could be proceeded with at
once and it's ratification left to the Amer
lean Senate and the CorteS.
The protocol will be shown to me to-
morrow. There is no doubt that the ter,cs
will be strict and rigorous, and am per-
suaded the President cannot be induced to
mody the American pretensions. l tell
you frankly that if Spain does not accept
the protocol promptly she need expect no
Ienitv from the victors. They are deter
mined upon the utter humiliation of Spain
and the success of their arms encourages
them to believe that they can obiter9te
the kingdom. CAMBON.
1t will be a surprise to most Ameri-
cans to learn that Spain began to seek
a peaceful settlement as earlv as July s.
On that date the Spanish Minister Of
Foreign Affairs sent the following dis