The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-07-30
REPLY
TO
SPAIN.
The Answer Has Been Deter
mined Upon and Drafted.
Question of the Philippines to
Be Left Open.
A JOINT COMMISSION
Will Settle the Matter In the
Future
Along Lines to Be Laid Down
In the Reply.
The Answer Has Been Deter
mined Upon and Drafted.
Question of the Philippines to
Be Left Open.
A JOINT COMMISSION
Will Settle the Matter In the
Future
Along Lines to Be Laid Down
In the Reply.

Washington, July 3O.-The cabinet ad-
5ourned about o'clock. AS to the Phil
fppines, it was decided to leave their
government open for the present to be
determined later by commission to be
appointed by the two countries, the
United States meanwhile to eexrcise
control and Jurisdiction over Manila, it's
harbOr and Immediately surrounding
territory. The answer of the United
States will be submitted to Cambon,
the French ambassador. at o'clock this
afternoon when a complete statement.
though not the text of our answer will
be made public.
With regard to other questions than
the Philippines, the situation is as stated
by the Associated Press yesterday:
Absolute cession to the United States
of Porto Rico and all islands in the
West Indies save Cuba.
REIMBURSEMENT by Spain of sover-
eighty in Cuba. The United States will
exercise the control until stable gov
ernment can be established. The acqui-
sition Of coaling station in the Ladrone
islands and perhaps the CaroHnes. No
assumption of Spain's Cuban or Porto
Rican debts by the United States. No
war indemnity for Spain.
Cabinet Meets.
The cabinet convened in a special ses-
sion today to approve formally the an
swer of the United States to the Span
ash note asking peace. Practically all
was in readiness for a final vote, the
language of the diplomatic note to be
communicated to Spain having been
practically settled upon yesterday.
The hour fixed for convening was 1880
o'clock, but it was considerably past
then when all of the members of the
cabinet had assembled. All of them
agreed on reaching the White House
that the indications We're for a short
session, the formal vote of adoption of
the note submitted by Secretary Day
as the result of yesterdays conclusion
being likely to be had with very little
delay. There was some likelihood, how
ever, that there might be some renewed
discussion on the Philippine problem,
though for all present purposes that has
been settled for the time being by the
decision to leave the future government
of the islands to be definitely settled
later by Spain and the United States.
Secretary Day who had been with
the president for brief hurried con
ference early in the morning was one
of the last to join the president at the
cabinet session. It is stated that the
text of the note of reply will not be
made public at this time by this govern
ment, though there probably will be a
brief official statement outlining its
nature.
Secretary Day announced on joining
the cabinet at 11:1O that an official
statement outlining the nature of the
reply to Spain probably would be made
public this afternoon.
To Sound Public Sentiment.
Washington, July SO-It was pretty
well understood before the cabinet
met today that a practical agreement
had been reached upon the answer to
be returned to the Spanish Overtures
for peace and that what remained for
the cabinet to do was simply to go over
carefully the text of the communication
Secretary Day had been charged to
prepare over night and to give it the
seal of formal approval Secretary Day
had had two conferences with the presi-
dent since the adjournment of the cab
anet yesterday, one last night and an
other early this morning with the result
that he had completed his share of the
work before the hour of half-past ten
appointed for the reassembling of the
cabinet.
1t was impossible to gather details as
~ NAAC AAeAtuA Z VI llAe1l part OF the GOIl-
munication relating to the Philippines,
which after all was the only point that
gave rise to prOtracted discussion or
had revealed any substantial differences
among the members of the cabinet.
However, it was learned that an ar
rangement had been proposed which
had met the approval of the cabinet
providing for the reference of so much
of the Philippine question as touched
their future government to a commits
sion, probably limited to American and
Spanish representation. The scope and
power of this commission could not be
learned in advance of the cabinet meet
ing and the method devised for enforc-
ing any verdict it might reach was left
to surmise. Still the general principle
underlying the arrangement is under
stood to be the development of the sober
second thought of the American people
as to the disposition of the Philippines,
unclouded by the clash of war and un-
affected by mOmentary lust for terri
tOrial acquisition
or course it is understood that no
matter what form the Philippine ar
rangement takes, the United States is
TO acquire naval station there for it