The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-09-15
POLICY rs TO PHILIPPINES.
NO DEFINITE DECISION REACHED
BIZ THE ADMINISTRATION.
Question Of Holding More Than L1-
CON Left TO Peace Commfssion-
sDaafaras FaveF Renouncing the

WASHINGTON. Sept. 14-Much =asIz.ac-
ton was expressed today over reports from
Madrid that the lower house Of parliament
had passed the government bill accepting
the terms q the protocol The upper nosISe
already has rz$ed this measure. SO that
the las: fea- of legislative opposition 30 the
transfer OF Cuba. tie Ladrones aid Porto
Rico l. over.
TIE authorities feel that this carries the
United States beyond the danger point. as
II has bean stated Tor some time tina, the
Sagasta ministry would he defeated On the
question Of evacua;ing the Spanish islands
. either n one branch or the other.
There - little doubt tina: general line
Of policy was agreed upon between the
president and his cabinet at a meeting late
yesterday afternoon. but there is good rea-
son for believing that the assertion that the
decision was definitely in favor Of not per
hitting Spain under any conditions to retain
sovereignty In any par. OF the Philippine
Islands Is based on nn.sconcepsion. as the
members OF the cabinet and the members
OF the peace committee refuse absolutely 10
1scuss the subject with newspaper men,
II Is not doubted that the commission Will
start the negotiations at Paris With the
assertion that the United States has con-
quered Spain in the Philippines. ard that
Spanish sovereignty has already been for
feated there. This will not. however. neces-
sarily signify that IT is the purpose Of the
administration to retain possession Of the
entire group OF Islands, or TO permanently
deprive Spain Of all her POSSESSIONS In the
Pacific 1t .s not believed the adrnin.stra
ton has gone beyond the determine ton 10
retain the whole o. the island OF Luxor.
but II is understood TO be the intention OF
! the president to establish at the outset the
right OF his government to determine the
| fate OF the islands and to make the con-
| ditions on which government shall be es
| tabished there.
The matter OF reiinquishing possession o;
| the rest OF the islands is involved with so
many conditions TO be considered that II
| Is realized that ii may by force OF circum-
| stances become necessary to deprive Spain
| permanently OF ali her possessions in that
| quarter. 1t Is understood not TO be a mat
| ter OF policy to acquire all this territory.
| but 1t may become a necessity.
The commercial and trade side of the
| questions. as involving the development
| and expansion Of commerce in the Pacific
| Is occupying chief attention In connection
| with determining the policy Of the United
/ States
Ready to Surrender Philippines.
| LONDON, Sept. 15.-The Madrid CORE
| spondent OF the Daily Mali says:
| The politicians fer the most part favor
an entire remuneration Of the Philippines in
| return for economic advantages.
The government closed the cortes today
| "wednesday because 1t feared complica-
| tons through the publicity continuance
| Of the session would give TO acts OF the
| Spanish generals"
The COrtes Prorogued.
MADRID, Sept. I4.-Gen. Primo de Ri
vera has demanded an inquiry into his
administration OF the Philippine islands,