Virginia gazette. [volume] (Williamsburg, Va.) 1893-192?, 1898-11-12
Decision Reached by a Cab
met Meeting.
PAYMENT IN A LUMP
Bsfsne. Due the Dons Not $50 100000
military Governments to lie Msins.tned
In Cuba and Porto Rico for the Present
Terms offered VIII Likely Be Ac-
eepted.


net Wednesday devoted most % i,s attentioa
20 consideration Of questions connected with
ire sdmiuistratioo OF Affairs Ia Cuoa and
Porto Rico.
The adminisfra,ive features % the Phil
fpIine question also received some atten-
ton.
While the Cabinet gave little attention 90
the peace negotiations At Paris. there Is no
longer any doubt ss 20 the general purposes
% this Government 90 retain the entire
fhiiiPpine archipelago
IL after final balancing OF the account.
VIZ. the cost Of the war % the Uoited states
on one side and our acquisitions on the
other. Il is found that any compensation Il
due the Spaniards. Il will DO made Ia "A lump
sum. Il Is pointed out that al the time the
protocol was signed the United States did
not have and has not sioce acquired ANY
part Of the Philippine Islands outside %
Manila City and harbor. and THAI the United
states has never entertained a purpose O. /
acquire any territory by tho power ot con
quest.
Must B@ Paid War Expenses.
what tho United states will insist upon is /
that she must be fully reimbursed Tor every |
dollar expended by her on account OF the
war and IA the statement will be included
an amount sufficient 90 cover all payments.
present and prospective. on account Of pen
sions incident 20 the war.
/ No spanish bonds OF any character or
, amount. other than local or municipal
bonds. viii be paid or assumed by this Gov
/ ornment The question of The status of
| municipal obligations under circumstances
like the present T. fully settled by internal
ional law; they must be recognized a. valid
and binding by tho conquering power. and
hence IL Is assumed that the United
Nil Al
point. but promptly consent 70 guarantee
their nnal payment. What sum of money
this government would consent 20 pay 20
-~ra,n cannot even % estimated, but whea
the hnal account Is rendered. u s. te,-sved
that ths balance due spain will 6e small,
probably not exceeding s25, ,ooo,0 or
S30.Co0, 900.
The belief still prevails among the major
ity OF the Cabinet that the SpAniards will
accept the terms laid down by the United
States and that whatever OF delay occurs
before that result Il reached will be charge
able only TO the purpose OF the spaniards 60
I secure the best possible terms; % extort the
last possible million dollars before Acceding
Z to our demands.
The possibility OF disagreement % the
/ Commissioners and the failure OF the con
, ference, however IL now contemplated with
! greater eQuanimity than az an earlier stag e
OK the negotiations Tho Administration
e has satisfied itself that spain f. neither able
Z nor willing 70 resume hosuities on any
> scale that would make her dangerous
opponent 20 the United states. Therefore
y supposing the Paris Conference TO fail. al
( hat would be imposed upon our govern
+ ment as an immediate duty would lie 20 tax,
o complete military possession OF the phnlp
pines.
+ This, IL is believed. could be accomplisheC
l. by Us without loss OF time or life. The las
s vestige OF spanish military power in th'
islands is that under Colonel Rios, com
n nander-in-chief OF the Vizayas Islands. anS
- by deputized authority. IA charge Of al
:, spanish territory not directly within IN
"a control OF the United states Ia the Philip
pine Islands. His force Is Insignificant frou
= military point Of view. and II Is doubtful
~ u he could have held his own against tn
:. insurgents had the Tagals been allowed b
- Admiral Dewey TO make Manila the base c
=, an expedition directed against the SPANS
- commander.
- so far as Cuba IS concerned the difficult
might be more serious. but even Ia Cub
the spanish military forces are not in cond
lion 10 offer a prolonged resistance 20 n
American conquest OF the island, and wit
Is he spanish navy at the bottom OF tue Sc
they could not be reinforced by troops fro
spain.
= Therefore about the worst that eou
a. happen would DO the necessity imposed upc
a. rs OF struggling along without the ssgnatu
A., Of treaty OF peace, but In full possession
ha all the territory we desire. and that su'
r. conditions can exist without damage
,r material interests Is shown by the history
10 the Spanish-Am republics which Z
,ra yolted from SPANS rule.
b SO far as thse Cabinet discussion tonch'
,s- upon Cuba and Porto Rico, Il was the pu
N ! pose 10 develop views as TO the best mea
- Of collecting the revenues and customs, pr
n, sidlng some means OF equalizing the duti
which will be collected locally upon impol
from the United States, as we'll as frc
other countries, and providing for the peac
-, ful and satisfactory government OF the cit
"a and towns until such time as Congress sh
'.- have ordered otherwise.
II Is the Intention OF the President
- - maintain a military governments Ia be
Cuba and porto Rico for the time oeir
~ - but his purpose Is also to mitigate ,
harsher features of such form of go~eI
az ment so far as lies within his power.
tly sas.iS Tss
of prominent citizens appointed some ii
ago TO discuss the subject and determine
- what manner the centennial anniversary
the purchase OF the territory Of Loassis
by the United States can best be celehrai
- i have decided and win so make public
4 port--thst the holding OF a worlds fair
\ 1908 viii bs the better way to honor
'seo event. and state their conviction thai s
s'' q fair can be successfully heid In st. Lo