Jasper County Democrat, Volume 1, Number 18, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 13 August 1898 — SPAIN BAKES REPLY [ARTICLE]

SPAIN BAKES REPLY

Reluctantly Accepts Terms Dictated by McKinley. ) GIVES WAY TO FORCE Safasta Presents Elaborate Views on Points that Will Arise. The Spanish Government, Through the French Ambassador, Formally Accepts Peace Condition* Offered by the United Btatea Dona Declare They Did Nothing to Provoke War— Oily-Tongned Raacal* Court a Diplomatic Haggle—Long-Delayed Answer Finally Reaches McKinley. Washington sneclsl: Spain, through the French ambassador, has formally accepted the conditions of peace proposed by the United States as the basis for the negotiations for a peace treaty. She made eertain representations, however, in regard to Cuba which were not entirely acceptable to the President and Ambassador Cambon was so informed. The Spanish reply contains about 1,200 words, and is divided into five points, or heads—Cuba, Porto Rico, Ladrone Islands, occupation of Manila and appointment of a commission, which are treated in the order named. The Spanish Government presents elaborate views on each point involved and on questions which would naturally arise when the American conditions were carried into execution. It was late Tuesday afternoon when Ambassador Cambon notified Secretary Day that he would like an audience with the President for the purpose of presenting Spain’s answer. The hour of 5:30 o’clock was named for the meeting, and promptly at that hour Ambassador Cambon and Secretary Thiebaut arrived at the White House and were ushered into the library, where the President and Secretary Day were awaiting them. The conference lasted nearly two hours, much of the time being consumed in translating the note. Considerable time was also devoted to discussing the provisions to go into the protocol. Spain, while accepting the proposition in a general way, wanted to coßtinue the negotiations. She desired to have all the questions pending left to a peace commission in the hope that the commission, with a multitude of details before it, would award to Spain more than she believed she could otherwise obtain. In other words, Sagasta wished to evade the principal conditions of the American terms—the prompt evacuation of Cuba and Porto Rico —as a condition precedent to the beginning of negotiations. The Sagasta cabinet takes care to indicate that the Castilian Government gives way to the force of events and again asserts that the nation had neither Sought nor done anything to provoke the war into which it was driven by the conduct of America. The note suggests a suspension of hostilities with a view to make easier the course of negotiations. In the note the Spanish Government agrees to appoint commissioners in concert with the United States to consider the future regime in the Philippines. The consultations between Premier Sagasta and the various Spanish leaders were finished Saturday night. All'the personages consulted except Romero y Robledo and Gpn. Weyier admitted the extreme Urgency of early peace, consequently there was no motive for the change of policy by the Sagasta cabinet or the formation of a new cabinet, as Sagasta still enjoys the confidence of the Qupen Regent. The Madrid papers admit that Sagasta has come out of the crisis at this stage in good order. The finishing touches were given in the cabinet council Sunday night to the Spanish note. Duke Almodovar, before the council, crossed the court to the royal apartments and placed for the last time before the Queen Regent the text of the momentous document that marks the official assent of Spain to the loss of the last remnant of her empire in the new world. The queen and her minister were equally painfully moved when Duke Alm9dovar left the royal apartments to convey the document to the council, where the ministers also showed a deep sense of painful, mournful solemnity in the act imposed by necessity upon the rulers of Spain. BLANCO GIVES UP. Proclaims that Powers Have Forced Spain to Sue for Peace. News has reacher Washington that Gen. Blanco at Havana has recently issued a proclamation of amnesty, in which he makes known to the Spanish people of Cuba that Spain has, through the intervention of foreign powers, been forced to the disgraceful issue of suing for peace, and that there will be no more war and no further use for soldiers. He offered a pardon to all Cuban political prisoners, and more than 150 have been released in Havana. In explaining Spain’s defeat in his proclamation Gen. Blanco informs his credulous readers that Spain, having suffered so much in the present war, could not resist the interference of the foreign powers and go to war with all countries at once, so she was compelled to accede to their dictation and sue for peace. Havana, he says, will be given over to the Americans and Cubans and the Spaniards will be forced to evacuate. He assures the soldiery and all Spanish residents who wish to return to Spain or to go to other Spanish possessions that they wilt be given free transportation by their mother country to their destination Threatened with Court-partial. American officers who made public the terrible condition of the soldiers at Santiago are threatened with court-martial. It is shown that had the Spaniards secured the information they might easily have recaptured the territory and massacred our troops. ■ ■ IMrtge, Examination.. -M.- M Gen. Miles accepted the resignation of officer* of the Sixth Massachusetts regiment who threw up their commissions rather than' be arraigned before h hoard for incompetence.