onour, and having vindicated it, having fought bravely and been conquered
by a more powerful nation, trusted to the magnanimity of the victor to
bring the war to an end.

The President's reply showed that he was responsive to the appeal. He was
evidently moved by the almost pathetic position which the once proud
nation of Spain had been forced to take, but he had his feelings well
under control and behaved with great dignity.

The President frankly admitted that he was desirous of peace, that he
would welcome a cessation of hostilities, but he delicately intimated that
if Spain were really desirous of peace she must be prepared to offer such
terms as could be accepted by the United States. The President asked the
French ambassador if he had been instructed to formally propose terms, or
make any offer.

M. Cambon replied that he had not been so instructed, that his
instructions were to ask on what terms it would be possible to make peace.

Mr. McKinley said the matter would be considered by the Cabinet, and a
formal answer returned at the earliest possible moment. The French
ambassador thanked the President for his courtesy, and, with expressions
of good-will on both sides, the historical interview was brought to a
close.

On the thirtieth day of July the ultimatum of the United States was
delivered to the ambassador of France, and, in plain words, it was
substantially as follows:

The President does not now put forward any claim for pecuniary indemnity,
but requires the relinquishment of all claim of sovereignty over or title
to the island of Cuba, as well as the immediate evacuation by Spain of the
island, the cession to the United States and immediate evacuation of Porto
Rico and other islands under Spanish sovereignty in the West Indies, and
the like cession of an island in the Ladrones.

The United States will occupy and hold the city, bay, and harbour of
Manila, pending the conclusion of a treaty of peace, which shall determine
the control, disposition, and government of the Philippines.

If these terms are accepted by Spain in their entirety, it is stated that
the commissioners will be named by the United States to meet commissioners
on the part of Spain for the purpose of concluding a treaty of peace on
the basis above indicated.

August 12, 1898, peace negotiations were formally begun between the United
States and Spain.

A few minutes before four o'clock, in the midst of a drenching rain, M.
Cam