| Show SPAIN ASKS ASK MACE application made direct to the united states and not through the powers tho th unbroken chain of reverses suffered by spain since the tha war began has forced the proposal in an endeavor to save what Is left war will not be stopped pending protracted Diplo diplomatic matio negotiations lations some significant expressions as to the terms the united states should Propose Philippines will be the bone of contention washington july 28 26 the spanish government lias has sued for peace not indirectly through the great powers of europe but by direct appeal to president mckinley McKin lcy the proposition was formerly submitted to the president by tile the F rench french ambassador M jules cambon who hit had received instructions from the foreign office at paris to deliver to the united states government the tender of peace formulated by the spanish cabinet at the conclusion of tho the conference between the president and the french ambassador the following official statement was issued from the white house the french ambassador on behalf odthe of the government of 0 spain arld and by direction of the spanish minister of foreign affairs presented to the president this afternoon at the white Whito house a message from the spanish government looking to tho the termination of the war and the settlement of terms of 0 peace the proposition submitted by the ambassador acting for the spanish government was quite general in terms andaas and was confined to the one essential point of an earnest plea that negotiations be opened for the purpose of ter I 1 Q M 10 go ci it M an I 1 T THE QUEEN REGENT OF SPAIN AND HER SON THE BOY KING ICING ALPHONSO XIII inina ting the war and arriving at terms of peace the communication ol 01 the spanish government did not suggest any specific terms of peace nor was any reference made to cuba the philippines porto rico eico or other spanish possessions the evident purpose of the madrid authorities was to first learn whether the united states would treat on the subject of 0 peace and after to take up such terms as the two parties might suggest no intimation came from any 0 official source as to the probable pro bablo character of the answer there were strong intimations mat ions however that there would be no DO acceptance which would imply the topping stopping of the war when the american arms were adding victories on victories to embark on a vague diplomatic negotiation it was felt that this government had bad everything to lose in a subtle gamo game of diplomacy in which the only certain element clement would be tile the inaction of our array army and navy rol por this reason there was a disposition in official quarters to know what terms w were ere in sight before entering upon general negotiations A prominent administration official after talking with cabinet officers that in his opinion the situation was not materially changed by the spanish proposition and that the war would be pressed with unabated vigor until I 1 something some th ing more mora tangible in the way ol of peace terms was at hand lN neither elther was there any suggestion from the spanish government that an armistice be established pending the peace negotiations it seemed natural however from the proposition that formal peace negotiations be entered upon that pending their con conclusion cessation of hostilities would occur owing to the importance of the communication muni cation the ambassador adopted the usual diplomatic procedure of reading tile the communication from the original french the translation being submitted bym by M in the conversation which followed the reading of the proposition neither the president nor the ambassador ambas dor entered into the question of terms of peace the instructions of the ambassador had ball been confined to the one essential point of 0 opening peace negotiations and it was evident that the president desired to consider the proposition at this moment before giving any definite reply the president decided to consult with tile the members of his cabinet before intimating what his reply would be and promised a reply later the call of the ambassador was two hours after the regular cabinet meeting and the next nest regular meeting mccurson occurs on frida friday Y no special meeting was called but the president had an informal talk with the members of the cabinet last night the consultation lasting until after midnight naturally the plea of spain to open peace negotiations opens up a wide field of conjecture on what the terms of peace willbe will be thus far there is is ne nc official warrant for saying what terms spain will propose or what terms the united states will offer or accept so far as this country is concerned it is ia the general impression that the complete spanish evacuation of cuba and porto rico will be insisted upon as a sine qua non there is not the samo same certainty as to the philippines la drones and carolines although the belief is growing that the terms will include coaling stations in these groups on the part of spain it I 1 is believed she has reached such a realization of her misfortunes that she will readily accept terms for the evacuation of cuba and probably porto rico the spanish desire is apparently very strong for tile tha retention of the philippines the matter of war indemnity Is for future consideration although there does not appear to be a disposition among the officials here to pilo pile up a heavy war indemnity against spain la in her present helpless condition in case the peace negotiations are opened the means by which they will be carried on are not determined nor have they been officially considered it is understood however that one means likely to bo be proposed is to authorize direct negotiations between sva boain ln and this country spain being represented by senor leon castillo Castl llo tho the spanish ambassador Amb asador at paris and the united states by general horace porter our ambassador to france senor castillo i is one of 0 the foremost diplomats of eutrope Eui europe rope and since the war began his bis chief mission has been to go from capital to capital and endeavor to awake foreign intervention in behalf of spain jail failing lug in tilts this ho has 1 turned his bin attention to the peace movement as the last chance for saving his bis country castillo la is a linguist lang mst speaking english s no that the negotiations could proceed with facility while not a veteran in diplomacy general porter Is regarded as able rind and tactful and moreover he would bo be guided by very explicit instructions instruction from rom washington another plan of procedure contemplates the appointment m antof 0 a commission to receive and make proposals which will arill iaal include ude members of the foreign affairs committee of 0 the senate who will also have a voice roice in the confirmation of 0 the treaty |
