The sun., 1898-09-14
PEACE TERMS UNDECIDED.
PnngTDENF AND CABINET TAX OF
TRH PH1IIPPnNEs' FUTURE

u
No Dsoinisn Rsached ~ 20 the Tnstruotions
70 BE Given 70 our Paris Commissioners
The President 70 Coisult Furthers but
He Is 70 Come to = Dsoision By Friday.
WAsHTEoror, Sept. 1S.-Aftsr q Cabinet
meeting devoted entirely to the discussion OF
the character Of instructions TO be given to the
Paris Peace Commissloners,t the policy Of the
Government on the Philippines question
remained undecided and further consultations
between the President, his oflcial advisers
and the members Of the commission will be
held before the great problem that confronts
the Administration viii be disposed Of. Aseo-
ond Cabinet meeting was held later In the day,
but this had little bearing on the Philippines
question. It was devoted to other matters
affecting the State Department which Mr.. Day
desired to explain and clear up before his re-
tirement from the ONCE Of Secretary Of State.
On Friday. one Of the days on which regular
meetings OF the Cabinet are held. the Presi-
dent and the heads OF executive depart
ments will endeayor to como to o conclusion
in regard to the future government Of the
Philippines and the instructions to the Ameri-
can Commissioners will undergo the finishing
touches and he signed. Between now and Fri-
day the President will consult with the mem-
bers Of the Cabinet and the Peace Commits
Bloners, and IL is probabls that when the Cab
lubJ d1hoLilDleb Ou btihJ uhy tH0 uubl uEdAt VI
the Instructions will be presented and agreed
to without change
Tonight Secretaries Day, Long. and Bliss
took dinner with the President and gave q fur
ther explanation Of their views. Tomorrow
the members of the Peace Commission will
m eet Secretary Day ut the State Department
and afterward have a consultation with the
President.
While the members OF the Cabinet are very
retlcent as to what occurred in the Cabinet
room. some ofthem admit that definite policy
in regard to the Philippines has not been deter
mined and that the instructions to the Commits
sioners are still uncompleted. At this morn
ing's meeting. which lasted for two and half
hours. rough draft OF the instructions pre-
pared by the State Department for the guild
ance Of the Commissioners was laid before the
Cabinet as basis for the consideration of the
problem that confronts the Government. The
retention OF the island OF Luzon as the primary
demand OF the American Commission was the
principal feature set forth in the document
The present indications are that the Commits
sloners will receive explicit instructions as to
there is. nevertheless. considerable PROBABLE
ity that many Of the details o., the peace
be disposed Of during the progress Of the
sessions at Paris. In other words, the Commits
sioners will consult frequently with the Presi-
It was demonstrated clearly at the session OF
philippines problem that none among the
Presidents official family is adherIng to the
Those who previously favored such disposition
Of the matter have advanced to the point whore
they are willing to have 6 the t Pence copmssioI
the island OF Luzon. This is distinct gain for
the exPansionists and means that whatever
not be u complete surrender such as
some Of those near to the President, have
meeting to-day. and that was that even Il the
United states ahonld not secure governmental
% hs Fs ppeess PheRs b Bses sE Ss hSs Ss
outcome Of the deliberations ofthe Peace Com
hs Ss SSGnFy WI
that the efforts Of the commission will be di-
on the character Of the advice given to the /
President. He is anxious to follow the sentI-
BEST policy to pursue. Already he has heard
Pscs q 1hs United y STATES in
but there, are men OF infuonee. whose advice
he y seeking on account Of their Official con-
snder S 'ss the STAY; sa q ana d' strpss VIII Ss
remains to be seen. There. is some fear ex.
shas they S h that is
affect the policy OF taking the whole Philippine
Archipelago under American protection,
From the best Information obtainable to-
night it is evident that the discussion at to:
days session Of the Cabinet was more general
than specific. the members OF the Cabinet Civ
Ing their views as to the best policy TO pursue
from the standpoint OF the Presidents posi-
ers would not be Instructed to make as the
minimum demand anything less than the
retention BY the United States OF the entire
island Of Luzon. Whatever the character OF
the advice given to him he will not consent to
cussion, OF the problem on any. basis mar
rover than that and 1t Is certain that the
whole question of the future government and
ownership Of the islands. win not be left for set
voys. However. the probabilities are that the
Administration will deem 1t wiReRt to leave o
number OF other matters to adjustment as they
The President Is apparently not in favor Of
binding the Commissioners down TO o set Of
rules that will allow them no discretion. be-
cause of the fear that they will by that means
be hampered In meeting propositions adj
Commissioners. Other matters than the
Philippines question are included in the
draft Of instructions laid before the Cabinet to-
day. The American Commissioners will not be
az TO Cnba and Porto Rico. The signing OF the
peace protocol by NJ. Cambon was pledge by
Spain that she would eyaeuate Cuba and Porto
Rico. and the United States Government does
mention, her former Western possessions be-
fore the body to assemble In Paris.
All the absent members OF the Cabinet with
the exception OF Secretary Alger returned to
will not tender his resignation as Secretary Of
State until Friday. the dayson which he will
leave Washington for New York to sail-for
Europe.