The San Francisco call., 1899-03-12
WAR SECRETS
IN SPANISH
RED BOOK
President Mckinley, Not
Spain. Wanted to Go
On Fighting.

patch to ambassador Leon y Castillo
at Paris:
See Secretary Of State for France and
ask him to have the French Embassador
at Washington go to the President OF the
United States and sound him gently on
terms upon which a suspension of hos
tilities might be agreed on.
You should act with haste in this mat
ter but not with apparent haste or anx-
iety, as such action might prejudice our
cause. You should be very discreet in
this undertaking, as the Americans are
tired of the war and would like to retre.
They must not be given the impression
that we are discouraged or that our re-
sources are fast ebbing.
This is the reply that came back:
Have seen Secretary of State for France
and he personally agrees with the propo-
sition on the ground that the war Is a
distress 10 humanity, burden 10 com
merce and has marked tendency to keep
the popular mind in state of excitement.
He cannot, however, at this time give me
a definite answer, as he must await the
return to Paris of the French President,
who is absent and will not return until
several days have passed.
On July 25 the following dispatch
was received from the Spanish Embas-
sador at Paris:
The Secretary of State informs me that
ambassador Cambon has presented his
instructions and that the American Presl-
dent had full information concerning the
document He welcomed the French En-
bassador and remarked that he was aware
of the mission on which he called ana
was familiar with his instructions This
the Embassador found to be quite true
upon close conversation with President
Mckinley.
The formal letter of ambassador
Cambon to the Minister of Foreign Re
lations for Spain follows, dated Wash
ington, July 81, and addressed to his
Excellency, the Duke de Almodavar del
Rio, Minister of State, Spain:
The President states that it is the un-
alterable conviction of the people OF the
United States that only the end OF Span
ish sovereignty in the West Indies can
put stop to the war For many years
! the Government of the United States, re-
specting the susceptibility of the kingdom
| of Spain, has at great expense TO its
| treasury, enforced the acknowledgment
/ by its citizens of Spanish sovereignty IN
| Cuba and accepted the obligations i'm
posed by neutrality. But at last came
/ a moment when 1t was impossible to
/ kept before American eyes of fertile ter
| rftory scared by fire and ,depopulated og
| Listening to the pleadings of humanity
/ America lifted up its strong arm in de-
tense of a down-trodden people and TO
suppress at any cost to herself a condi-
ton which gave Americans pain.
For these reasons the President Of the
/ United States, acting on the advice OF
/ \
/ command of Spain that she remove her
/ raval and milItar:, forces from the island
| of Cuba and that she give, to the inhabi-
! tants of that island their liberty and their
] political independence.
To this end Spain answered by severing
diplomatic relations with the United
| States and declaring that she interpreted
/ this act on the part of the American Gov
ernment as amounting virtually TO a
| declaration that state OF war existed
! between the two Governments.
regrets that the question of Cuba 8 rights
had to be settled with the sword and by
conflict between two great nations, out
/ having accepted this eventualtty with all
its risks and prosecuting the war on land
/ and sea as his duty told him, he sought
by these methods to obtain the qulckeSt
and most honorable peace. In doing TINS
| he has spared no expense eltneT VI ploOu
The President of the United States, is
pleased to offer to his valorous adversary
/ generous peace conditions. He will form
ulate a peace proposition which will nave
/ to meet with the approval OF the senate
of the United States before peace may be
finally concluded The President under
! stands that Spain desires to protect cuba
from danger of premature indebtedness
and the Government of the Unlted states
is not combating the position OF Spain on
! this Dofnt but believes that In the pres
ent state of perturbation on the island
Cuba needs the advice and help wnlch the
/ Government of the United states Is as
posed to give to her.
The Minister of Foreign Relations
| cabIed the following reply to Embas-
! sador Cambon direct on August l:
! Snain would incline to the belief that
unon cuba should fall the burden of the
! paymcnt of any indemnity to the United
! States Spain is Indifferent as to the
character of the indemnity or to the terms
You must find out one important thing
which this Government wants to know,
oil ( demand
| States for the cession of Porto Rico can
not be postponed till some other PROPOSE
ton may be arrived at or some other kind
/ Continued Fourth Page.