Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1898-07-30
PHILIPPINE ISLANDS
Peace Terms Decided Except As to
Disposition of the Asiatic
Archipelago.
NO SPANISH DEBTS ASSUMED
Cabinet Held Long Conference Admiral
Dewey's Message from Manila An
nounced That Aguinaldo is Defiant
French Ambassador Called
on President

Washington, July 3O.-The cabinet
adjourned about o'clock. As to the
Philippines it was decided to leave the
matter open for the present, to be deter
mined later by commission to be APP.
pointed by the two countries. The
United States meanwhile to exercise
control and jurisdiction over Manila. its
harbor and the Immediately surround
ing territory. With regard to other
questions than the Philippines the situa-
ton is as stated yesterday.
The absolute cessiOn to the United
States of Puerto Rico and all other islands
in the West Indies save Cuba; the relin-
quishment by Spain of sovereignty in
Cuba. The United States will exercise
control there until stable government
can be established: the acquisition of a
coaling station in the Ladrone islands
and perhaps in the Carolines. No as
sumption of Spanish Cuban or Puerto
Rican debts by the United States: no
war indemnity from Spain.
Secretary Day sent M. Cambon a
courteous note requesting him to call at
the White house at o'clock to receive
our answer to Spain's peace note.
The American reply distinctly gives
warning propositions that the surrender
of all sovereignty in the West Indian
waters and the selection of an island in
the Ladrones are beyond any discussion
whatever. As to the Philippines the
reply says in substance that as further
indemnify to the United States for its
expenses the United States will hold
the City of Manila, it's bay and harbor,
pending the determination of the future
government of the whole island or of
the group. One island of the Ladrone
group is to be ceded to the United States,
this government to make the selection
later. In demanding the surrender of
Spanish sovereignty in all our nearby
waters, the reply automatically avoids
done by this government as to Cuba.
While the cabinet was in session a
significant cablegram was received from
Admiral Dewey. 1t announced the ar
rival of ior General Merritt and the
expedition with him at Manila, but
graphically painted the uncertainties
of the future there. The dispatch,
which has not been made public save in
it's important features, largely guides
the cabinet in its disposition of the
Philippine problem. Without mincing
words Admiral Dewey announced that
General Aguinaldo had assumed bold
attitude of defiance and there were
strong indications that the Philippine
insurgents themselves would have to
be fought. Based on this depletion of
the gravity Of the situation there, it
would take 100000 soldiers from this
country to cope with the insurgents
throughout all the islands. The defer
ment of final disposition of the Philip
pine problem was based substantially on
the following grounds:
I. The United States has no salts
factory knowledge of existing conditions
there.
2. Nothing is known of what obliga-
tions were incurred as between the
United States forces and Philippine in
surgents.
8. The present definite attitude of
the insurgents is unknown.
4. The extent to which General Agui-
naldo controls the islands of the Philip
pines is unknown.
S. Incident to the foregoing it is not
known what would have been done by
this government in subiugating the in
surgents' forces, Spanish and natives.
The French ambassador left the en-
bassy shortly before o'clock, accom-
panied by his first secretary, M, THE
baut, and the conference began shortly
after o'clock.
1t had been expected the ambassadors
call would be only long enough to
receive the American answer, but at
s:40 it was still in progress. Secretary
Day joined the president and ambassador.
Attorney General Griggs also came
although it was not known whether he
joined in the conference. 1t was thought
possible, though hardly probable, that
the ambassador had come prepared to
discuss and perhaps to determine on
some of the terms under consideration.