Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 19, Number 93, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 29 July 1898 — NO ANSWER YET. [ARTICLE]

NO ANSWER YET.

Reply to Spain’s Request for Opening Negotiations Is j Not Yet Formulated. The Matter Being Deliberately Considered by the President and His Advisers. Answer Will Certainly Be Made Before the Close of the Present Week. President McK nley Keeps His Own Counsel as to What It WiU Be. Is Determined That the L'nitcd States Shall Not Lose Any of the Advantage. Gained. Washington, July 28. —The administration is carefully deliberating over the formal reply to be made to the peace message presented through the French ambassador. Wednesday afternoon the president with Secretary of State Day and Postmaster General Charles Emory Smith went over the situation and reviewed the course to be taken. Weight is given to the counsels of the postmaster general owing to his diplomatic experience and study of international questions. A final conclusion will not be reached until the cabinet has an opportunity to take up Spain’s note and our projected answer. There will be no extra session of the cabinet, and the matter will not be placed before the president’s advisers until Friday, when a reply will be definitely settled. The Spanish government will have the answer of this administration in its possession by Friday night or Saturday morning Will Lose No Ground. It can be stated positively, the president is determined to lose no ground through Spanish diplomacy. The armistice, if granted, will be conditioned upon the most binding pledges that it is to be followed by a treaty of peace. Moreover, the preliminary agreement that provides for an armistice must constitute in itself an understanding on the part of Spain to submit to certain broad conditions imposed by the United States as the basis of peace. To Push Military Operations. Military operations are to go steadily forward, so far as the United States is concerned, until the negotiations have advanced much further than they are at present. They’ are subject to interruption at any moment by an armistice, but it must be said that this is scarcely expected immediately. Philippines a Knotty Problem.

It is virtually admitted by leading members of the administration that upon only one point in peace negotiation® is there likely to be serious friction, and that relates to the future of the Philippines. As to Cuba and Puerto Kico, our government feels that there is a reasonable certainty of encountering little opposition to our demands. The Spanish government might insist upon the proposition thrown out by the Vatican Tuesday, namely, that the United States shall annex Cuba, the ostensible purpose being to secure full protection for the Spanish element left in the island, but >vhile this would be a vexatious point it would yield to adjustment. As to the Philippines, there is a full expectation of greater difficulties to be surmounted. There is reason to believe that these difficulties, like the Cuban settlement, will be rather internal than international in their character, at least from the outset. The president is firmly of the opinion that the United States has no use for the islands as a permanent possession. The gravest pronlems of government would result were the attempt to be made to annex them, ow ing to the heterogeneous and ill-favored character of the large population of the islands, while any effort to unite with other powers in a joint administration might be fairly expected to result as unsatisfactorily as the tripartite arrangement between the United States, Great Britain and Get many for the government of the Samoan group. However, there are evidences that a large element in the United States are of the opinion that the islands should be acquired by the United States, and it is hoped by the president that before it comes to the formulation officially of the United States’ demand public sentiment in this country, through newspaper discussion and otherwise, will have so far crystallised as to enable the government to perceive the popular demand clearly. May Get More Than We Ask. It may be stated that it is confidently expected that when the two governments arrive at the point of actually fixing terms they will be found much closer toge’her than is generally supposed. it is felt by officials that with the formalities out at th* way the actual peace terms would require little time for arrangement, and It is even suggested that the anomalous condition may be presented of Spain’s concfding as much or more than the United States feels justified In demanding. There is little reason to doubt that Spain has made up her mind to give up Cuba. It is almost equally certain that Spain recognizes that she must consent also to the abandonment of Puerto Kico. With

I these two vital points passed there is likely to be little delay on the question of indemnity, as there is every I disposition here not to press with ‘ undue severity bn Spain in this respect. | About the only reason which would Impel this government to insist upon , an indemnity would be a further stubborn resistance by Spain. Speaking broadly, the statement was made by an influt ntial official that a settlement In which Spain conceded two vital points, namely, Cuba and Puerto Rico, and at the same time gained two vital points, namely, freedom from a war Indemnity and a retention of her control of the Philippines would appear to be a just balance of equities. France Alone Consulted. In diplomatic quarters Spain’s proposal through the French ambassador Is the absorbing topic, and the answer of the president is awaited with keen Interest. The diplomats showed their interest by calling at the state department and at the French embassy to learn with more exactness the details of Spain’s proposal. This developed several features of the proposition which had not been entirely clear before. In the first place, no foreign government outside of France has been consulted by Spain in this overture for peace, and the present movement is not shared, directly or indirectly; by Germany, Austria, Italy, Russia or Great Britain. It can now be stated, however, that the formal proposition submitted Tuesday has been under consideration at Madrid for five days, during which time the British, as well as the French authorities, were cognizant of the fact that Spain was about to sue for peace. Not of a “Private Nature.” The Spanish proposition is clothed with all the solemnity and formality of a government act, despite the cable report from Madrid that the peace proposal is of a “private” nature. The Instructions to M. Cambon bear the official signature of Duke Almadover de Rio, the Spanish minister of foreign affairs, and besides expressing the desires of the cabinet and government that the peace negotiations be opened they are given the added solemnity of approval and earnest personal request by Queen Regent Maria Cristina. The instructions bear the date of Madrid, June 25. These formalities dismiss all question in the minds of officials here as to the regularity As the Spanish proposition as expressive of the wishes of the government of Spain. Aside from this, M. Cambon is too much of a veteran in diplomacy to have embarked on any private overtures towards peace. The yellow fever conditions are being suggested as one reason favorable to the conclusion of peace, for it is being urged that the material advantages which the United States will gain by continuing the war will be heavily offset by the inroads of disease. Another point being urged in favor of a peace settlement is that the aspect of the war will be even more glorious, more a tribute to the high aims of this government if it deals in a spirit of magnanimity with the conquered enemy. It is said also that Spain is so completely humbled, and so powerless to further continue the war, that the United States can secure through peace negotiations everything which even a prolongation of the war would ultimately make possible.

Spain Will Protest. London, July 28. —The Madrid correspondent of the Daily Mail says: Spain would probably protest against an attack upon Puerto Rico after the Washington cabinet had officially received Spanish overtures for peace. Should a circular note on this subject be sent to the powers it will contain the exfcc* dates of the Spanish communications. making it clear that the United States deferred its answer in order to be able to date this after the American forces had gained a footing in Puerto Rico. Senor Sagasta said: “We resolved on peace many days ago end made known our resolutions to the United States government. I regard as null and void and as destitute of good faith everything that the Americans have done since, and I am ready to protest against it formally.” No Snrprl«e In Madrid. Madrid, July 28. —The news that the government is suing for peace has

caused neither surprise nor sensation here. The attitude of a majority of the newspapers shows that the country will welcome peace if it can avoid the payment of an indemnity and the loss of the Philippines, where, it is now taken for granted, the Unite! States will retain a coaling station only. A few Carlists, republican and independent papers pretend that America’s will not be acceptable. Say Armistice Was Asked. London, July 28.—A special dispatch from Madrid says it is reported that the request of Duke Almodovar de Rio, minister of foreign affairs, was for an arihistice lasting until Sunday. It cannot be ascertained whether his action was spontaneous, in order, if possible, to forestall the invasion of Puerto Rico and the fall of Manilla, or whether it was due to advice from the Vatican and the powers. OlHclnl Statement by France. Paris, July 28.—The following official note was issued here Wednesday: "At the request of the Spanish government, the French ambassador at Washington has been authorized by the French government to present a note from the cabinet at Madrid to the president of the United States. It is in the name of Spain that M. Cambon, who is charged to watch Spanish interests in the United States, made this communication to President McKinley at the white house yesterday afternoon, in the presence of Secretary Day.” The Spanish Prisoners. Washington, July 28.—1 tis expected that the embarkation of the Spanish prisoners will begin very soon. The Alicante sailed Tuesday from Martinique and the hospital ship San Augustin sailed Wednesday. The Isla Luzon and the Isla Panaya sailed from Cadiz Wednesday for Santiago. The Leon XIII., the Salrustigen, the Covodonja and the Colon, all at Cadiz, are expected to sail very soon. The capacity of these various ships is as follows: Alicante, 1,800; San Augustin, 800; Isla Luzon, 1,900; Isla Panaya, 1,900; Leon XIII., 2,000; Salrustigen, 2,050; Covodonja, 2,210; Colon, 2,170. It will be observed that none of these ships was in Mexican ports, as had been reported. The provisioning and loading of the ships at Santiago may take some time, but all possible speed will be the policy of the war department. Hh» Manila Fallen? Madrid. July 28. —A report is current here that Spain has lost Manila, the capital of the Philippine islands. The story is that while Admiral Dewey attacked the city from the water front the American general in charge of the land forces made an assault on the rear, having 12,000 troops, who were assisted by 20,000 of Aguinaldo’s insurgents. Capt. Gen. Augusti, it is said, could not withstand the fierce attack, as his total force was only 10,000. Augusti’s reported surrender to the Americans is looked on with chagrin here, as it was fully expected he would make a prolonged resistance.