Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 19, Number 89, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 15 July 1898 — PEACE PROPOSALS. [ARTICLE]

PEACE PROPOSALS.

A Wanhlngton Journal Tells of the efforts of Diplomata to Effect an Ending of War. Washington, July 14. —The Star claims to bg in a position to state authoritatively that an active exchange of views occurred on Monday and Tuesday between the diplomats who are endeavoring to arrive at a peace understanding between the United States and Spain. It also understands that the Spanish government is* ready to agree to evacuate Cuba if her soldiers are allowed to depart in a manner acceptable to an army which has not been defeated, and if the United States is ready to assume the Cuban debt. The greatest difficulty is with the question of a war indemnity, but a solution of this may perhaps be found in a proposal from a syndicate of American and English bankers to repay the United States its war expenses in 20 annuities, taking in return the tobacco mondpoly and the railway concessions in Cuba and the

?hilippine islands. It is rumored that If Spain will surrender Santiago without further bloodshed. President McKinley, in order to facilitate peace, may abandon the attack on Puerto Rico. If the pending peace negotiations succeed the queen regent will appoint a Moret cabinet to sign the articles of peace. The Star adds that at the last moment it learns that Spain has expressed its readiness to cede to German}' the Vizayas islands, Samar, Leyt, Mindora and Paragua, provided Germany will guarantee to Spain possession of Mindanao and the Carolines, in which case Spain will abandon Luzon to the United States. Madrid, July 14.—Senor Sagasta, the premier, declares that the peace propositions attributed to President McKinley are inadmissible.