The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-08-22
An Advantage to Spain, for She VIII
Keep the Islands III Peace Commis-
sioners Fail to Agree ON n Treaty.
PRESIDENT QUITE SATISFIED
CONFIDENT THE BEST TERMS POS
sIBLE WE'RE SECURED.
No Danger of Losing Anything That
Was Claimed in the ProtocoI-Ar-
rival of Two More Transports.


Special to the indianapolis Journal
WASHINGTON, Aug. 21.-Disappointment
is open and confessed that the official re-
port of the Manila surrender does not con-
firm statements previously published in
Heng-Kong cablegrams that the capitula-
ton included the entire Philippine group.
These statements bad been made with such
particularly of detail that they were be-
lieved to be authentic, even at the White
House. The administration, as we'll as those
not connected with official life, had there
fore felt safe in building theories and specu-
lating on them. 1t now turns out that only
Manila and its suburbs were included in its
surrender. This puts different color en- the
Philippine situation, and Spain, instead of
the United States, will profit by failure on
the part of the peace commission to agree
upon treaty. Spain instead of the United
States will hold the nominal sovereignty
over the islands (Manila excepted) and the
American troops will have to seize them by
force Of arms if they intend to put them un-
der the protection of old glory. Under the
terms of the military surrender, as they
were first understood, the islands would be
ours in the event Of failure to agree on a
treaty.
An Associated Press dispatch says:
among the war officials the terms of the
capitulation of Manila, as cabled by Gen.
Merritt. topic of discussion to-day.
No light has been thrown upon the terms by
General Merritt. He cabled the terms them
selves, expecting probably to forward by
mail the construction placed on them by the
American and Spanish officials at Manila.
Unofficial advices from Manila received pre-
vious 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 en-
tire 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,
IS not the view taken by the best informed
officials OF the administration. While some
OF the war authorities last night were in
clined to the opinion that the articles of
capitulauon. necessarily temporary and nat
urally somewhat elastic in their phraseolo-
sy, might be construed to mean the surren-
der or Spanish control over the entire
Philippine group, the prevalent opinion now
is that they mean precisely what they say,
and that the surrender only includes the
city of Manila and its immediate surround
ings or suburbs as it 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 afforded them
considerable latitude for individuality cf
action, the President feeling confident they
would secure the best possible terms under
the circumstances. That they have done so
he is certain. 1t is pointed out that the
have but little effect on the action of the
Paris peace commission in any event The
protocol. as signed by the accredited repre-
sentatives 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 com
mission to determine the disposition and
government of the Philippine islands.
Whether, therefore, Spain is to retain her
sovereignty over the islands is question to
be decided by the Paris commission. The
action of the commission is circumscribeJ
by the provisions of the protocol, while the
terms of the capitulation of Manila, it is
suggested, can have very little more serious
effect on the commissions work than those
of the surrender of Santiago"
Early this afternoon Adjutant General
Corbin received the following dispatch from
General Merritt, dated Manila, Aug. H:
Major General Otis. with steamers Peru
and City Of Pueblo, has arrived; all well;
no casualties"
This was the second dispatch received
from General Merritt since the opening of
cable communication with Manila, the first.
received late last night, announcing simply
that cable communication had been re-
stored. Not a word received during
the day from Admiral Dewey.
President Mckinley tonight cabled to Ad-
miral Dewey and General Merritt his and
the Nations congratulations upon their
capture of Manila. The text of the dispatch
TO Admiral Dewey is as follows:
Receive for yourself and the officers,
sailors and marines of your command my
thanks and congratulations and those of the
Nation for the gallant conduct all have so
conspcuously displayed"
Following is the text of the dispatch to
General Merritt
In my own behalf and for the Nation
tender to you and the officers and men of
your command sincere thanks and congratu-
lations for the conspicuously gallant con-
duct displayed in your campaign"