The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1898-08-02
ANIMATED DISCUSSION
OF PHILIPPINE QUESTION
The Cabinet Finally Agreed that Manila Bay With the City
and Surrounding Territory Should be field by Us
Until We Could Devise and Put into Operation
Some Plan for the Future Government
of the Isands-The Discussion
Lasted Over Two Hours

Of 15O coo troops to subdue ther,. While
this did not bring about Il complete dis
mi>Sal of the proposition to take the in
surgcnts into account in settling the
terms of peace it did have the effect to
| cau&c an agreement upon the proposition
to defer action. upon the question AZ 20
| the disposition of the islands until the
other phases of the peace negotiations
have been satisfactorily adjusted mcin
ing by that that the matter goes over
until the last Spanish ilag has disap-
feared from the Western hemisphere.
and the American flag is hoisted to
stay ever the coalin@ stations we require
in Micronesia. The discussion lasted
Two hours aud 4 quarter before the Cab
met hit upon the best course for the
nited States To adopt. Ii WAS finally
decided that what we desired could be
best done by the appointment of Il joint
commission, limited in its representa-
tion& to the Governments of tie United
States and Spain. which commission
is to eudeayor 10 settle the details Of
the government of the Philippine Isl
:ndS. and determine what treatment
si.ali he accorded the insurgents. the
nited States navy and army. meaning
while occupying Manila and Manila Bay.
and thus retaining 4 position to enforce
speedily the verdict that shall be finally
reached by the commission.
AS the Cabinet meeting adjourned, the
members went off to their lnncheons with
Il pleasant consciousness that they had
succeeded in disposing properly of the
very difficult problem. Assistant Sccre-
tary John Moore, who had been called
into the meeting at the last moment went
haSiIy' to the State Department to pat
Il, Il, .,l.
the proper diplomatic form, and while
this was doing. notice was sent to the
French Ambassador that the President
would be pleased to hand him personally
the reply Of the United States Govern
mcnt at half past two O'Clock this after
noon. 1t WAS expected that this ccre-|
mony would occupy only a few minutes
that the Ambassador would take the
note and Immediately hurry with it to
his cipher clerks and then to the tcc
graph office. In this expectation ASsis
tant Secretary Moore went out of town
on an afternoon train and Secretary Day.
az he went to the White House to meet
the Ambassador. tossed his grip sack
into his carriage in the firm expectation
Of being able to catch the 800 train for
Atlantic City to meet his wife. The
Ambassador came on time accompanied
by his secretary. but rs the minutes
ran along into hours without the re-
appearance Of NJ. Cambon it was sur
missed that something had happened to
dlSarrangc this meeting. 1t was after
a stay Of two hours and a quarter that
til" French Ambassador terminated his
! visit.
! While it continued Secretary Long and
Admiral Slcard. of the Naval War Board,
ana Assistant Secretary Adee. Of the
STATE department, were called into con-
SUItatlon. The newspapers had been led
10y proml. a& made earlier in the day by
i member Of the Cabinet to expect that
statement would he given out explain.
ING the nature Of the answer to Spain.
but to the disappointment of their repro
SehtatlTeS 1t was announced by s'ccrc
tary Day that this had been abandoned
3 luf the reason that to make any state
ment at this point would involve n Sc
rioEs breach Of diplomatic etiquette that
mi&ht embarass Negotiations
The extended stay of the Ambassador
with the President opened up n widc
! hctd Of conjecture, but in All official
! quarters there was rcticcnce as to
the nature Of the discussion. From re-
! liable quarters. however it was learned
that the conference did not result in
any change in the conditions already laid
down. but that il was devoted 10 IN
explanation Of them in detail. IT was
sand that no new condition of affairs had
arisen hy reason Of the Ambassadors
call. and that there would be no need OF
another Cabinet meeting to consider new
factors. The ease remained it is said, rs
hNcd by the Cabinet early in the day, and
llc next move was to transmit these
terms to Spain and await her reply. In
/ TINS connection. also. it was said that the
/ terms given in detail in The Associated
ffcSS dispatches were correct III al 90
sentlal points, the only features remain