Rless to help our citizens. The latest report of Consul-Gener

With the enthusiastic cooperation of many patriotic women and societies
in the various States, the Red Cross has fully maintained its already
high reputation for intense earnestness and ability to exercise the
noble purposes of its international organization, thus justifying the
confidence and support which it has received at the hands of the
American people. To the members and officers of this society and all who
aided them in their philanthropic work the sincere and lasting gratitude
of the soldiers and the public is due and is freely accorded. In tracing
these events we are constantly reminded of our obligations to the Divine
Master for His watchful care over us and His safe guidance, for which
the nation makes reverent acknowledgment and offers humble prayer for
the continuance of His favor. The annihilation of Admiral Cervera's
fleet, followed by the capitulation of Santiago, having brought to the
Spanish Government a realizing sense of the hopelessness of continuing a
struggle now become wholly unequal, it made overtures of peace through
the French ambassador, who, with the assent of his Government, had acted
as the friendly representative of Spanish interests during the war. On
the 26th of July M. Cambon presented a communication signed by the Duke
of Almodovar, the Spanish minister of state, inviting the United States
to state the terms upon which it would be willing to make peace. On the
30th of July, by a communication addressed to the Duke of Almodovar and
handed to M. Cambon, the terms of this Government were announced
substantially as in the protocol afterwards signed. On the 10th of
August the Spanish reply, dated August 7, was handed by M. Cambon to the
Secretary of State. It accepted unconditionally the terms imposed as to
Cuba, Puerto Rico, and an island of the Ladrones group, but appeared to
seek to introduce inadmissible reservations in regard to our demand as
to the Philippine Islands. Conceiving that discussion on this point
could neither be practical nor profitable, I directed that in order to
avoid misunderstanding the matter should be forthwith closed by
proposing the embodiment in a formal protocol of the terms upon which
the negotiations for peace were to be undertaken. The vague and
inexplicit suggestions of the Spanish note could not be accepted, the
only reply being to present as a virtual ultimatum a draft of pro

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