Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 19, Number 94, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 August 1898 — TERMS FOR SPAIN [ARTICLE]

TERMS FOR SPAIN

Madrid Government Is Furnished with Demands of United States. If They Ara Accepted Peace Will Follow at Once—A Reply Expected Tuesday. Ambassador Cimbon.with Extraordinary Powers from Spain, Agrees to Them. He, However, Induces President McKinley to Slightly Modify the Original Document. The Terma Not Made Public, But an Outline la Secured from Very High Authority.

Washington, Aug. I.—M. Cambon, French ambassador in Washington, on receiving President McKinley’s reply to the Spanish note, presented credentials empowering him to act for Spain in the matter of peact negotiations. In consequence the terms as proposed by President McKinley were discussed at once, and when M. Cambon left the white house terms had practically been agreed upon. Should Spain ratify M. Camton's action peace would come at once, The terms agreed upon art not made public. From a high source, however, it is learned that the answer to Spain is practically as follows: Withdrawal by Spain of her forces and •cverelgnty from Cuba, the United States to exercise control until a stable governxnent can be established. Withdrawal of her forces and sovereignty from Puerto Rico and the absolute cession of these and the minor Spanish Wesi Indies to the United States. Acquiescence by Spain in the permanent occupation by the United States of Guan Island, In the Ladrones, already in the possession of the United States. ‘ The United States to exercise control ovei the city and bay of Manila and the immediate surrounding territory, including Cavite, until such time as the commissioners appointed respectively by the twc countries determine upon the future disposition and government of the Philippines, which receives the ratification of the tw< governments, the United States nelthei waiving claim to the of the Philippines nor specifying the exact boundarj limit of the territory she desires to hold permanently. May End the War.

After strong argument the president and Secretary Day consented to a modlflcatior of the American terms in one particular What that modification relates to is not disclosed, but ft is believed not to apply to th< condition for the absolute Independence ol Cuba, the cession of Puerto Rico, or ths granting of adequate coaling stations tc the United States in the Pacific, or to diminish in any vital particular the terms on which peace will be restored. The modification brought about practical unanimity between the president and Ambassador Cambon, as plenipotentiary for Spain, and th. latter has now transmitted the results ol the conference to Madrid for approval, which. If given, will end the war. An.wfj Given to Cambon. The cabinet concluded its labors about two o'clock, and thereupon Ambassadoi Cambon, representing the Spanish government, with his secretary, M. Thiebaul, was granted an audience by the president, who was, of course, accompanied by the secretary of state. The answer of the United States to Spain was read in full to Ambassador Cambon, and its meaning discussed tn the fullest manner in an unofficial way. The interview lasted fully three hours, being prolonged by the necessity of constant translation from French to English and vice versa. Did Not Commit Himself.

President McKinley did not commit him- , •elf in regard to the American policy except •o far as it was outlined in the official note, He did explain, however, that if Spain agreed to the proposition to give up th* 1 West Indies before entering upon general peace negotiations it would be treated fairly tn regard to its possessions in the orient. The president explained to the French amtoassador what, of course, he already knew ■ —that there was a difference of opinion not only in the cabinet but throughout th« United States as to the advlsibllity of retaining the Philippines and the other Pa- i ciflc groups. The president did not say he was opposed to their retention, but he went j •o flar as to explain to Spain that there would be something to strive for, and that I the concession in regard to Cuba and Puerto Rico would not be met immediately by a harsh ultimatum on the part of ths United States. Spain Will Gain by Parly Peace. On the contrary, the hope was extended, although no pledges were made, that if Bpaln accepted the Inevitable at thia time and yielded possession of Cuba and Puerto . Rico peaceably, the saving of expense and i life to the United States which would b« necessary to capture these Islands would, of course, be considered by the peace commissioners as an offset to some of the Just claims of the United States. The president pointed out that as this country was maintaining a large army and navy at enormous expense It could not consent to * cessation of hostilities whether under the mtn. of an armistice or not until Spain Mad - greed to retire from the West Indies. A Gentle Warning. The president also pointed out in hl* eiuiet but firm manner that if Spain rejected the present offer and forced the United States to continue its vast expenditure of men and money it would result only in adding to the items properly chargeable against the defeated nation, and cor.clltions which the United States would conaider reasonable now would be out of the question before Christmas. Tire president explained that in view of the division of opinion in this country there whs at least n. chanoe that Spain might retain some of hor possessions in the Pailtlc, but if the war were continued that chance would disappear entirely, and after Watson’s arrival on the other side of the Atlantic the Philippines and adjacent islands would necessarily occupy th* position now held by Cuba and Puerto Rico a* territory entirely outside the pale of negotiations, while th* Canaries and th* Balearic islands would become debatable ground, us the Philippines ar* to-day. After th* note bad b**n cabled to Madrid Almost ail 01 tne uirmewt vi tire cainiwi -expressed the opinion in private converse, tlon that the Spanish government woull probably reject th* offer made by thi United-States. This, 1* expected by all ol them for some reaaon which they find li difficult toexplain beyond the constitutional Inability of Spaniards to recognise fact* at tacts. It is believed that if Spain does accep «’ p»tnjo;ui »soq *uo«J*a *nx ■Xapsan.L ps*|a->-»H -»H ( -saiviS potiun out jo »«n «« uoi**|uituoo »q: JO |U*PB»->d •q Hl* 01 «te|«l»« W»

tno ‘pJojpoOAA T WVMSjg uao pajuiodd? ojv sjauoisstoiuioo aoßsd nus sruijeji. sin abilities declare tnat the answer ot tne Spanish government to the terms of peace outlined by the government of the United States is not expected before Tuesday. This opinion is based upon a knowledge of the time when the United States communication was received in Madrid, which was not until an early hour Sunday morning, the time required to decipher it, the necessity for an extended consideration of the matter by the Spanish cabinet, and also , the necessity for careful framing the rejoinder. , Terms Considered Hard. London, -Aug. I.—The Madrid correspondent of the Times says; “The conflicting accounts of the American peace- terms and a suspicion that the Washington government was temporizing, in order to confront Spain with the occupation of Puerto Rico, and the capitulation of Manila, ' originally caused irritation and provoked strong language, but it is now seen that the suspicion was unfounded. The terms, however, are regarded as very hard, and the annexation of Puerto Rico and the re- ' pudiation of the colonial debt is charac- I terized as flagrantly unjust. Happily the question of the Philippines is reserved; and I am confident that the more it is considered the less will America be inclined to annexation. ’ ’