Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-07-31
CABINET WAS SLOW IN REACHING
AN AGREEMENT.
! PHILIPPINES COMMISSION
DISPOSITION OF ISLANDS NOT TO BE
DETERMINED now.
Manila and Manila Bay TO Be Held
Until Final settlement Is Reached
Other Terms Are Those
That Have Already
Been Printed.

WASHINGTON, July 30.-After day of
anxious deliberation and important consul
tations, the reply of the United States gov
ernment to the Spanish overture for peace
bon, the French ambassador. to be by him
transmitted to the government of Spain.
1t was half past o'clock this afternoon
before the minister received the answer.
and, as it makes about LOO words in all.
and must be reduced to the diplomatic ci-
pher and then transmitted by cable. the
Madrid authorities probably will not re-
ceive it until some time tomorrow, Sum
day.
At half past 10 o'clock this morning, in
accordance with the agreement reached
yesterday, the members of the cabinet be-
gan to assemble at the White House, but
it was nearly II o'clock before they were
all present and ready to resume their dis
cussion at the point where it was inter-
rupted yesterday by adjournment.
Secretary Day had prepared draft of
the answer, based on the expressions of his
colleagues In the cabinet yesterday, and 1t
was expected that only short time would
be consumed in going over this and giving
it formal approval. 1t turned out other
wise, however, Probably over night new
factors had suggested themselves, or fresh
influences had been brought to bear, for
mated discussion of the Philippine islands
settlement. On the other points of the
answer there was no disagreement, and
these propositions were ratified as they
stood yesterday, namely, Cuba to be freed;
Porto Rico to be ceded to the United States;
one Of the Ladrone islands (probably Guam
to be ceded to the United States as a coal
ing station. and, as an immediate step. all
Spanish military forces in the West Indies
to be withdrawn, with the formal relin-
quishment by Spain of her sovereignty over
any possessions among those Islands.
upon the following point: That Manila
bay, with the city and surrounding terri
tory, should be retained in the possession
of the United States at least for such a
length of time as is necessary to devise
and put In operation some plan for the
future government of the entire group.
After that point the main divergence Of
opinion began, and all sorts of propositions
were put forward and urged by individual
members as the best means of dealing with
the future Of the islands.
In the very midst Of the discussion, the
element that had strongly urged the neces-
sity OF protecting Aguinaldo in any set
| tlement he should arrange received a Sc
we're check through the receipt of cable
gram from Admiral Dewey stating that
the insurgent chief had assumed defiant
attitude, and Admiral Dewey expressed the
| opinion that the United States would be
| obliged to make war upon them, necessi-
| tating the employment of 10000 troops to
| subdue the islands.
| While this did not bring about a COM
plete dismissal of the proposition to take
| the insurgents into account in settling the
| terms of peace, it did have the effect to
| cause an agreement upon the proposition
to defer action upon the question as to the
! disposition of the islands until the other
phases of the peace negotiations have been
satisfactorily adjusted. meaning by that
| that the matter goes over until the last
| Spanish flag has disappeared from the
| Western hemisphere and the American
| flag is hoisted to stay over the coal!cs
| stations we require in Micronesia.
| The discussion lasted two hours and a
| quarter before the cabinet hit upon the
best course for the United States to adopt.
| 1t was finally decided that what we desired
| could be best done by the appointment Of
| a joint commission. limited in its represent
alton to the governments OF the United
States and Spain, which commission is 10
| endeavor to settle the details Of the govern
| ment of the Philippines and determine what
| treatment shall be accorded the insurgents,
the United States army and navy mean
while occupying Manila and Manila bay
| and thus retaining a position to enforce
speedily the verdict that shall be finally
reached by the commission.
AS the cabinet meeting adjourned, the
members went off to their luncheons with a
pleasant consciousness that they had sue.
| ceeded in disposing properly of the very
difficult problem. Assistant Secretary Johr
Moore, who had been called into the meet.
ing at the last moment, went hastily to the
state department to put the views of tht
president and cabinet in the proper diplo-
matte form, and, while this was doing, no.
tice was sent to the French ambassador
that the president would be pleased to hant
him, personally. the reply Of the United
States government at half past O'Clock
this afternoon.
1t was expected that this ceremony woult
occupy only few minutes; that the am
bassador would take the note and immedf
| ately hurry with it to his cipher clerks anc
then to the telegraph office. In this ex
pectation. Assistant Secretary Moore wen
out of town on an afternoon train and Sec
retary Day. as he went to the White Hous
to meet the ambassador. tossed his grip
! sack into his carriage in the firm expecta
ton OF being able to catch the $50 trail