The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1898-08-22
THEPn|L|PPINDS PUZZLE
General Merritt's Demands on Gen.
ssa.. eral Jaudenes. q,
ONLY MANILA AND SUBURBS.

dent Satisfied With the Terms Made
The Paris Tribunal VIII Decide the
Question of Sovereignty.
! Washington. Aug. 22.-Conditions
about the great state. war and navy
: building practically have assumed their
normal aspects. Only few clerks
3, were on duty in the principal bureaus
yesterday, and they did only q few
hours work. Acting Secretary Allen
said last evening that 1t had been the
Quietest day In his department since
the destruction Of the Maine. During
the afternoon he received 16 dispatches,
IA of which related to the movements
of vessels. arrivals or departures, the
remaining two referring to matters OF
the merest detail. Not a word was
received during the day from Admiral
Dewey Notwithstanding the fact that
cable communication with Manila had
again been reopened.
Among the war officials the terms of
the capitulation of Manila. as cabled
by General Merritt, was topic Of dis
cussion. No light has been thrown upon
the terms by General Merritt. He cab
led the terms themselves. expecting
probably to forward by mail the con-
struction placed upon them by the
American and Spanish officers at Man
fla.
Unofficial advices from Manila re-
ceived previous to the arrival Of the
text Of the terms indicated that the
capitulation Of the city included the
surrender of the Philippines, and that
Spanish sovereignty over the entire
archipelago was, temporarily at least.
at an end. This view is not sustained
by the conditions of the surrender as
Cabled by General Merritt, and It may
be said 1t Is not the view taken by the
best informed officials of the adminis-
tration. While some of the war au-
thorities were inclined to the opinion
that the articles of capitulation. neces-
sarily temporary and naturally some-
what elastic in their phraseology,
might be construed to mean the sur
render of Spanish control over the
entire Philippines group. the prevalent
opinion now is that they mean pre-
cisely what they say, and that the
surrender includes only the city Of
Manila and its immediate surroundings
or suburbs" as 1t is expressed in the
articles.
1t can be said authoritatively that
the president is quite satisfied with the
terms as made by General Merritt and
Admiral Dewey. Their Instructions af-
forded them considerable latitude for
Individuality of action. the president
feeling confident that they would Sc
cure the best possible terms In the cir
cumstances. That they have done so he
is certain.
1t Is pointed out that the terms of
the capitulation Of Manila can have but
little effect upon the action of the Paris
peace commission, in any event The
protocol as signed by the accredited
representatives of the governments of
the United States and Spain, provides
for the cession of the city, bay and
harbor of Manila to the United States
and leaves the peace commission to de-
termine tire disposition and government
OF the Philippine islands.
Whether. therefore, Spain is to re-
tain her sovereignty over the islands Is
a question to be decided by the Paris
commission. The action of the commits
don is circumscribed by tn, provisions
Of the protocol. while the terms of the
capitulation of Manila, it is suggested,
can have very little more serious effect
upon the commissions work than those
Of the surrender of Santiago.
Raar Admiral Ga YnncpO and Roor Ad-
miral Schley are expected to arrive in
Washington some time today. The ap-
pointment of the two admirals respec-
lively on the Cuban and Porto Rican
commissions necessarily will cause
them to be detached temporarily from
their present commands. The detach-
ment, 1t Is said by the naval authorl-
ties. will be only temporary. In the alb
sence of Admiral Sampson. Commo-
dore Philip will have command of the
squadron Of vessels In New York. Re-
pairs on the ships will be pushed with
yisor. and as rapidly as possible they
will be put In excellent condition for
sea duty in either war or peace.
Early In the afternoon Adjutant Cen
eral Corbin received the following dis
patch from General Merritt:
"Major General Otis with steamers
Peru and City of Puebla. has arrived.
All we'll No casualties"
This was the second dispatch received
from General Merritt since the opening
of cable communication with Manila,
Che first received late Saturday night.
announcing simply that cable COM
had been restored.
President Mckinley last night cabled
to Admiral Dewey and General Mer-
ritt his and the nations congratula-
tions upon their capture Of Manila.
The text of the dispatch to Admiral
Dewey Is as follows:
Receive for yourself and the off,
GERS sailors and marines of your COM
mand my thanks and congratulations
and those of the nation for the gal
liant conduct all have again so con-
opicuously displayed"
Following Is the text of the dispatch
to General Merritt:
TN my own behalf and for the ma
tion extend to yon and the officers
and men Of your command sincere
thanks and congratulations for the
conspicuously gallant conduct dis
played in your campaign"