Evening journal., 1898-07-29
MAY BE SENT TOMORROW
What Our Terms Of Peace Are Said
to Cover.
DON'T WANT THE PHILIPPINES.
Believed That the President WIN Ask
Only n Coaiing Station In the Islands.
Protest Against Porto Rican Oper-
ations Only spanish BIum

gtions Only a spanish BIuh
WASHINGTON. July 29.-The terms
which the United States government
VIII find acceptable as basis OF peace
are being reduced to form by Secretary
Day, the president having reached a
conclusion on their outlines These
terms were the formal subject of inter-
est and discussion yesterday In official
circles.
II the presidents purpose was to se-
cure a free expression OF public opin-
ion on this subject, he has been graft
fed with responses made through the
newspapers and in the exhibition OF In
terest by government officials in the
complex problem now presented. AL
though IL was stated Wednesday that
no announcement OF the position as
swned by the United States in this
matter would be forthcoming before It
had been formally discussed In the cab
met today. there Is the best reason to
believe that after the fun conferences
tho president has had individually with
the members OF his cabinet he has al
ready made up his own mind and that
Secretary Day has even now practically
reduced to form the reply that the
United States government VIII mako TO
the Spanish governments overture
through Embassador ,Cambon.
on tho main points OF the terms OF
peace the ADMINISTRATORS position has
been 80 well defined and stated that
there Is little left 10 conjecture.
About the only point that seems to
be open 20 an amendment OF Rn extern
bive character is tho disposition of tha
Philippines While tho administration
has not nsiled to take notlce Of tho ex-
teOt OF the demEnd. for their 'acquisi-
tioa by the United St@tes as exhitSted
tn cer1ssta soctiOhs OF the country. Il
can be stated that the conclusion has
been reached 10 abide by the ilrst de-
cision on this point-nauhely. to re-
hnqulsh the islands, retaining coal
log station there surrounded by sum
ctent zone OF land 10 make II solf sup
porting. This decision Il Is possible.
though not probable. may DO again
changed before tiTo cabinet disposes OF
the matter today. as stroug Influences
aro at work TO induce tho president to
insist upon the Substitution OF at least
an Independent government over tho
Philippines for Spanish rule. IL this
p0int shall DO difficult OF settlement
tho answer 10 Spain may not ba rem
dered today but may hsve to walt up
on another cabinet meeting next Tues
day.
TAere was display OF Indignation In
official circles yesterday Upon the pub
lication Of what was reported 20 be a
statement from the Spanish premier
hnPuting bad faith Ia the United states
I'm pursuing the war ana continuing to
make conQuests. However. TINS feeling
soon wore OF. as II became apparent
upon reflection that the statement was
either apocryphai or that II genuine II
was simply one in series OF complex
moves on the board of Spanish politics
ana was intended purely for home con-
sumption.
The report from Madrid toward the
close OF the day that the newspapers
there had given their approval TO the
terms of pcaoe described by the prcsi-
dent went far toward relieving n GER
tain feeling of discOuragement that was
manifested at the opening OF the day.
for II was patent that members Of the
administration apprehended a rejection
OF our demands by Spain at the begin
ming If, however, Il shall appear that
this Madrid statement is well founded
and that the Madrid papers fairly re-
fleet the views of the mass OF the Span
ish people. then it seems probable that
the difficulties that will lie before the
administration in accomplishing peace
would be rather internal than external
and will be based upon the preparation
of treaty that shall secure the ratin-
cation OF the United States senate Ii
may be pointed out In this connection
that II we are really az near TO peace
as many people suppose. it will become
necessary to Issue a call for an extra
session OF the senate to act upon the
peace treaty with all Of the prompt
ness that the Importance OF the subject
demands.
Secretary Alger is deeply concerned
over the welfare OF the gallant troops
under Skaters command. now en-
camped on the outskirts OF Santiago.
The helath reports show surprisingly
large number OF cases of sickness. but
army surgeons authorize the statement
that these figures are misleading I'm a
certain sense and that the situation
may not be nearly so bad as they would
seem 10 indicate. The slightest ailment
Of the most temporary nature sufiices
20 place a soldiers name on the sick re-
ports. which in their present shape
would not distinguish between such a
case and one IF mortal illness The in
ference is that many OF these cases in
Skaters camp are Of a trivial nature.
but go 10 swell its grand total of sick
and wounded. Notwithstanding tFis
mitigating fact Secretary Alger is going
10 remove the soldiers at the very ear
Hest opportunity 70 a more healthful
climate.
The surgeon general. under the di-
rection Of the secretary. a few Days ago
inspected a tract 6f land adjoining
Montauk Point. on Long Island belong
ing TO the Long Island Railroad COM
pany, which had been offered to the
government as suitable for a large en-
campment The tract is three miles
square. contains an abundance OF fresh
water a considerable lake, a hill l5C