Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 19, Number 62, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 12 April 1898 — AGREES TO A TRUCE [ARTICLE]

AGREES TO A TRUCE

It Is Said That Spain Will Grant an Armistice. % 1 THE DECREE IS EXPECTED AT OSCE. The Report Says the Pope Will Uee His Influence with the ImurgenU to Secure Its Acceptance—Powers Ask Spain to Yield. t Washington, April 9. —Spain has indicated her desire not to engage in war with the United States by agreeing, it is understood, to the armistice suggested by the pope and advocated by France, Italy and Austria. This information was officially received here Friday night. It is the expectation that the queen regent will issue a decree today formally proclaiming that an armistice has been granted. It will then be necessary for representatives of Spain to confer with Gen. Gomez, the commander in chief of the Cuban insurgents, to learn if he is willing to accept the armistice. It is understood that the pope will extend his influence to the Cubans with a view of getting them to accept the armistice. Note from Papal Nuncio. Madrid, April 9. —Senor Gullon, the foreign minister, has held several conferences with the ambassadors of the powers. Rumors having been circulated that the .failure of the pope’s efforts was owing to the attitude of the United States, the nunciature here has issued the following note: “The nunciature has higher hopes than •vex of the success of papal intervention. It is not true that President McKinley has rejected the pope’s intervention in favor of peace. Such Impoliteness would be the more impolitic, not only because it would display a barbarous Insolence, but because, however much any person might be th<

pope’s enemy. It would be Impossible to misinterpret the voice of the venerable old man who recommends the preservation of peace. On the other hand, the Catholics of North ' America would never pardon such a disregard of the vicar general of their church.” Ask Spain io Yield. Madrid, Thursday night, by way of Bayonne, France, April 9. —The Ambassadors of five great European powers Russia, Italy, Germany and Austria —have diplomatically informed the government of Spain that a war with the United States can only he avoided, in their judgment, by Spain yielding. They advised extreme concessions to the United States. They appealed to Spain‘S pride, noble self-sac-rifice and self-interest. They meaijt that she must abandon Cuba. The general tone of the evening papers is one of satisfaction with the interference of the European powers, as showing that the latter realize Spain’s determined attitude against further concessions to America. Some doubt is expressed, however, as to the result of intervention, lest the European concert repeat the Cretan performance. The concert has i: weakness for the stronger side and may exact concession from Spain offensive to Spanish pride and harmful to Spanish interests. Therefore, the papers warn the ministry to trust to Spain only. A dispatch from Washington, just received, says no negotiations have been Initiated there and that none will be taken abroad except through Gen. Woodford, who is instructed to negotiate only on the basis of the uote presented ah the recent conference, namely, the immediate cessation of hostilities and the furnishing of aid to the reconcentrados. With reference to the above, Senor Sngasta says the Spanish government had no intention of opening further negotiations. Gen. Woodford has tent a cable message to Washington setting forth that the publication of his statement Thursday has done good in Madrid and will do good throughout Spain, but the end Is still very doubtful. The general I.*' working from a sense of duty rather than with strong faith in success. The basis of what hope is left rests upon the evident fact that the sober sense of Spain is slowly coming to the front and that in a few days (if a few days can *till be had) we shall see "a crystallization of public sentiment that will sustain the present Spanish government, if it has the aouragc to do at once the things that are necessary for peace.” Npanlnh Navirl Movements. Madrid, April 9. —The Spanish torpedo flotilla at Cape Verde islands is making hurried preparations to go to sea, the big squadron has sailed from Cadiz and a second torpedo flotilla is being formed.