The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1898-08-08
Peace POINT
NOW At ISSUE
Settlement In Orient Is the Plg-
ZIilg Question.
OTHER FEATURES FIXED UPON
Spain Must Depart From Atlantic.
President and Cabinet In Con-
ference Powers -Aguanaldo.

WASHINGTON, July 23-Nearly five
hours earnest discussion by the Presi-
dent and his constitutional advisors to-
day on the nature of the response to be
made by the Government to the Spanish
overture for peace, brought no conclu-
sion, and the subject was necessarily
postponed for further consideration at
another meeting Of the Cabinet, to be
held at 1890 o'clock tomorrow morning.
The point under discussion during the
greater part Of the meeting was what dis
position should be made of the Philip
pines. on the other issues, unanimity de-
yelOped. There was to be independence
demanded for Cuba; Porto Rico was to be
ceded to the United States; coaling sta
tions were to be acquired at Guam, La
drone Islands, and one in the Caroline
Islands These propositions were disposed
Of quietly, but when it came to the Phil
ippines, some diversity of opinion was re-
veaIed. As near as can be gathered, this
did not relate mainly to the retention of
the islands. On this proposition a ma
jority of the Cabinet was speedily record
ed in the negative, but regarding the
broad proposition, that Spain should be
allowed TO keep those possessions, other
questions of Importance developed, and
it was felt that these must be answered
definitely before the subject could be dis
posed of. There was no question as to
the propriety of demanding the coal sta
tions in the Philippines. The perplexine
problem what form Of gOvernmeI
should be substituted in the Philippines,
and what should be the nature of the
guarantee required of Spain that the new
government should be liberal and autOn-
Omous in character. These two ques-
rionS hinged on primary discussion
to the propriety of interfering at all i'm
change q n
the Philippines. Some members OF the
Cabinet felt that the Insurgents. under
Aguinaldo, having acted Independently of
the United States from the very begin
ming of the insurrection movement, and
having ldtterIy shown disposition to
make trouble for the Americans, had no
moral claim upon the United States in
the other hand 1t was urged that the
Government should lose no opportunity
TO extend its principles throughout the
the present instance.
The point that was quickly established
was that there should be no reference
of any phase Of the question of the dis
position Of the islands to any concerted
to individual action by outside powers.
there was no formal action twas
that no protest against the continuance
OF military or naval operations pending
the peace negotiations would avail in the
slightest; that there would be arm
istice; no suspension of operations nor
any nOulllca Jon Whatever OF present
plans until the Spanish Government had
agreed to the terms proposed.
Some discussion was had to the
probability of the Spanish acceptance of
the American terms. The views differed,
though it can be stated that several of
the most influential members of the Cab
met believed that the terms substantially
agreed on would not be accepted by
Spain at once. While believing that the
propositions made should, in all reason,
constitute the minimum to be considered,
some expressed the belief that Spain
would not be Immediately disposed to
reach an agreement on them, and that
possibly considerable lapse of time
would take place before Spain would
yield. meantime seeking a compromise
which it is asserted was not to be enter
tanned for q moment.
WILL NOT CEDE PORTO RICO.
LONDON. July 29.-The Madrid CORES
pondent of the Daily Mail says: The
Snanish Government viii combat 70 the