Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 19, Number 97, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 12 August 1898 — TAKES A LONG STEP. [ARTICLE]

TAKES A LONG STEP.

Material Advancement Shown in Peace Negotiations. HOW THIS PROGRESSED WEDNESDAY. r/' ' . i Spain and the United States Agree Upon a Protocol Embodying; President McKinley’s Proposed Conditions. Washington, Aug. 11. Secretary Day at one o’clqck Wednesday made the following statement to the press: "We have agreed upon a protocol embodying the proposed terms for the negotiation of a treaty of peace, Including the evacuation of Cuba and Puerto Rico, and it U expected that protocol will be executed." It can be stated that the terms are precisely those laid down by the president in his original note about a w eek ago. It is believed that nothing but a few formalities remain to be disposed of to secure the signature of the protocol. The preliminary negotiations looking toward the confirmation of peace advanced a long step Wednesday when the secretary of state and the French ambassador agreed upon the terms upon which future negotiations for a treaty are to be conducted and 1 reduced these to the form of a protocol. This protocol, it is true, is yet to be signed, and is to be submitted to the Spanish government before the formal signatures are affixed, but administration’s view as to the progress made Wednesday was set out in Secretary Day’s sentence: “It is expected that this protocol will be executed.” There is always the possibility, in dealing with the Spanish government, that it may recede at the last moment from an implied agreement, but it is scarcely probable that it would be willing to involve the French ambassador in the difficulties that would follow tfthat to the world would seem to be a repudiation of his benevolent efforts in behalf of Spain. Delay Inevitable. There must be a delay—possibly from 24 to 48 hours —before the next step can be taken and the protocol made binding upon both the United States and Spain by the attachment of the signatures of the plenipotentiaries, Secretary Day for the United States and M. Cambon for Spain. The delay will be largely attributable to physical causes. The protocol is long; it must be translated and turned back and forth into code and simple language no less than five times before it reaches Madrid through the French foreign office. This work was not begun until late Wednesday afternoon after it had consumed the best energies of Assistant Secretary Adee, of the,state department, and M. Thiebaut, secretary of the French embassy, in the preparation in formal shape of two copies of the protocol, one in English and one in French. These were prepared very carefully, the idiomatic* variance in the two languages necessitating the greatest caution in order that the identical character of the two copies should be preserved. The length of the protocol imposed a great amount of labor upon the cipher clerks, or whoever is charged with the work of rendering the original into cipher, so that altogether it is apparent the consumption of time involved in purely mechanical functions will be so considerable as to make the rendition of a very early answer improbable. Character of the Protocol. As to the character of the protocol, it can be stated on authority that the terms are in all practical points those set out in the abstract of the president’s conditions published from the white house a week ago. From this fact it is deduced that the extra conditions or qualifications sought to be imposed by the Spanish government were abandoned at least in large part by the French ambassador. This deduction is supported by the circumstance that in the early morning, and before the conference between Secretary Day and M. Cambon which resulted in the agreement, there was a prevalent impression, based upon the utterances of public men who had talked with the president, that the Spanish answer was unsatisfactory and that the negotiations looked as If they might terminate suddenly. As this situation changed so suddenly after the conference, it may be fairly assumed that the ambassador abandoned the conditions which the president was reputed to have regarded as unsatisfactory. Cessation of Hostilities. It is believed that the protocol carries within itself provision for the cessation of hostilities. On this point the naval contingent is urgent that our government adopt the Napoleonic policy of refusing to enter into an armistice without acquiring some substantial pledge to secure the consummation of peace. What they particularly desire is that our government shall demand as a condition of the cessation of hostilities the surrender to the United Stnt.es military forces of Morro castle at the entrance of Havana harbor and some such points of vantage at the other important ports in the territory soon to fall under our control. The Peace Commissioners. The pence negotiations are now believed to be advanced to a noint where the president hns felt warranted in turning his attention to the selection of the commissioners to be charged by the United States with the drafting of a treaty of peace. So far as epu be gathered but one nun.e has been positively determined upon, namely, that of Secretary Day, who will head the commission. Beyond that point there is no certainty, although some prominent names have been brought forward. Mr. Woodford,

our late minister to Spain, has been ao mentioned/ though as he is credited with entertaining a desire to return to Madrid in the capacity of United States minister after the war the two ambitions might conflict, a peace commissioner not always being welcome as a minister resident, particularly where he has been a party to forcing an obnoxious peace upon the country to which he is to be accredited. One of the names that finds universal approval among persons versed in diplomacy is that of Mr. Eu6tia, ex-am-bassador to France, whose stanch Americanism, combined with diplomatic knowledge and legal ability, are urged as fitting him especially for appointment as peace commissioner. The fact that Mr. Eustis is a democrat would not militate against his chances, as it is presumed the president would rather prefer to make the commission nonpartisan. Think Peace I> at Hand. The naval officers have made up their minds that peace is at hand and are planning for a reduction of the naval establishment to a peace basis. The first step to be taken will be the retirement of the monitors from active service. They are uncomfortable craft to live in and afford the men little opportunity for general training. Another matter which has received attention is the promotions to be accorded to officers who have distinguished themselves during the hostilities. A step was made in this direction Wednesday by the submission to the president of recommendations by the secretary of the navy for the advancement of all of the officers of Sampson’s fleet who distinguished themselves. Want Religious Interests Protected. Rome, Aug. 11.—The Tribuna says that the Vatican is in constant communication with Archbishop Ireland, Mgr. Martinelli, apostolic delegate to the United States, and Duke Almodovar de -Rio, the Spanish minister of foreign affairs, endeavoring to secure clauses in the treaty of peace that will safeguard the religious interests of Catholic residents in countries to be ceded by Spain to the United States. Mar Be Expelled. London, Aug. 11. —The Madrid correspondent of the Standard says: The fate of the religious orders in the Philippines excites much interest because it is believed that both the Americans and the natives will insist upon, if not the expulsion of the orders, certainly a curtailment of their influence and a disestablishment of their property. Though it is admitted that some such reforms are needed, the government is bound to approach the subject cautiously in order to avoid offending the Vatican and playing into the hands of the ultramontanes and Carlists. Amounts to an Ultimatum. London, Aug. 11. —The Washington correspondent of the Daily Mail says: Spain’s acceptance of the American peace conditions was so equivocal that President McKinley determined to compel assent to a protocol fixing definite terms, and the answer given to M. Cambon practically amounted to an ultimatum. It is understood that unless the protocol is sighed immediately all negotiations will be suspended and the war vigorously continued. The United States will not abate Its terms by an lota. »