The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-07-30

Washington. ID. c., July 29.-Nearly
five hours Of earnest discussion by the
President and his constitutional nd
viscrs of the nature of the response to
be made by the Government to the Span
ish ovcrturcs for peace, brought no CON
cusion, and the subject neccsaari" was
postponed for further consideration at
another meeting of the Cabinet to be
held at 1920 O'Clock tomorrow morn
ing. Such was the formal statement of
the situation made ut the conclusion of
the days work by each member of the
Cabinet who was questioned upon the
subject. \ final conclusion, however,
is much nearer than this statement
would seem to indicate. and indeed there
is little reason to doubt that an agree
mcnt has been reached upon all the sub
stantal points at issue. and that what
remains to be done tomorrow is rather
to smooth away inequalities and adjust
SONG very minor points Of difference
before making the answer expected by
NJ. Cambon.
The point under discussion during the
greater part of the meeting was what
disposition should be made of the Philip
pines
THE PHILIPPINE PROBLEM.
On the other issues unanimity develop
I'd. There was to be independence de-
manded for Cuba; Porto Rico was to be
coded to the United States; coaling sta
tions were to be acquired at Guam in
the LadrOne Islands, and one in the
Caroline Islands. These propositions
were disposed of quickly, but when it
came to the Philippines some diversity
of opinion was revealed. AS nearly as
can be gathered this did not relate main
ly to the retention of the Islands; on
that proposition the majority of the
Cabinet was speedily recorded in the ne
gativc. But accepting the broad pr0p0-
Sition that Spain was to be allowed to
keep these possessions, other questions
of Importance developed and it was felt
that these must be answered definitely
before the subject could be disposed of.
There was no question as to the pro-
pricty of demanding IL coaling station in
the Philippines and, while there reason
ably might be Il difference Of location
and extent of this station, little difficulty
was expected to be encountered in Solv-
ing that problem because the matter
could be referred to the naval war
board who are competent to deal with
the subject. The perpleXing problem
was what form of government should he
instituted in the Philippines, and what
should be the nature of the guarantee
required of Spain that the new govern
mcnt should be liberal and autonomous
i'll character. These two questions
hinged on the primary decision to inter
ferc at all in prescribing Il change i'll
the conditions in the Philippines. Some
of the Cabinet felt that the insurgents
under Aguinaldo having acted indepent
ly of the United States from the very
beginning of the insurrectionary move
ments, and having lately shown Il dispO
sition to make trouble for us had no
moral claim upon the United States in
the settlement of the terms of peace
On the other hand it was urged that
our government should lose no oppor
tunity to extend its principles through
out the world. and that this would b
done best in the present case by requir
ing Spain to extend genuine autonomy
to the Philippines. 1t was upon jus
such points as these that the discussion
proceeded I'LL day.
NO ARMISTICE GRANTED.
Admiral Dewey may be called to
Washington later on to consult with the
administration as to the general sitta-
ton in the Philippines, the reforms that
are needed in the present form of gov
ernment of the islands and the location
that should be reserved for our coaling
station there.
A point which was quickly established
was that there should be no reference !
of any phase of the question Of the dispo |
sition of the islands to any concert or
individual action by outside powers. |
Another point that was settled, though !!
there was no formal action on it, was |
that no protest against the continuance |
Of military or naval operations pending |
the peace negotiations would avail in the
slightest; that there would be no armis-
tice, no suspension of operations nor any
modification whatever of present plans |
until the Spanish government had agreed |
to the terms proposed. Incident to the |
cession of Porto Rico and the recognition
of Cuban independence by Spain was
the decision that every vestigP of Spanish
government and authoYity in the Carri- !
bean and West Indian waters must be !
removed, clfecting a material acquisition
of numerous islands over which the !,
Spanish flag flies, one of the most inn