The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-07-30

WASHINGTON, July 29.-Nearly hve
hours earnest discussion BY the President
and his constitutional advisors OF ths
nature Of the response 10 be made by mo
Government to Spanish overtures Tor
peace brought no conclusion, and tho
subject necessarily was postponed for
further consideration at another meet
ing OF the Cabinet, to be held at half
past 10 O'Clock tomorrow morning. such
was the formal statement OF the situa-
ton made al the conclusion OF the days
work by each member OF the Cabinet.
who was questioned upon the subject
final conclusion. however, is much nearer
than this statement would seem TO indi-
cate. and. indeed. there is little reason
TO doubt that an agreement mas oeen
reached upon all the substantial points az
issue. and that what remains 10 be done
tomorrow is rather TO smooth away in
equalities and adjust some very minor
points of difference before making tna
answer expected by NJ. Cambon.
THE PHILIPPINE PROBLEM.
The point under discussion during tho
greater part OF the meeting was what
disposition should be made or the Phiiip-
pines on the other issues unanimlty de-
veoped. There was 10 DO Independence
demanded for Cuba: Porto Rico was 10
be oedcd 10 tho United States; coaling
stations were 20 be acquired AZ Guam. I'm
the Ladrone Islands, and one In tho caro-
line Islands.
These propositions were disposed Of
quickly but when IL came TO tho Philip
pines some diversity OF opinion was rrs
vealed. As near as can be gathered this
did not relate mainly 10 the retention
Of the islands on that proposition tht
majority OF the Cabinet was speedily re-
corded In the negative But accepting
the broad proposition that Spain was TO
be allowed 20 keep these possessions. 9th
er questions OF Importance developed and
IL was felt that these must be answered
definitely before the subject could be dis
posed Of.
A COALING STATION.
There was no question as to the pro-
priety of demanding q coaling station IN
the Philippines and while there reason
ably might be a difference ~ opinion OF
the location and extent Of this station
little difficulty was expected 10 be en-
countered in solving that problem because
the matter could be referred 10 the ma
val war board who are competent 90 deal
with the subject.
The perplexing problem was what form
OF government should be instituted In tho
Philippines and what should be tho na-
ture OF the guarantee required Of spain
that the new government should be llb-
eral and autonomous I'm character These
two questions hinged on the primary de-
cision 10 interfer az all I'm prescribing
a change IN the conditions In the Philip
pines.
HAVE 40 CLAIM on rs.
Some Of the Cabinet felt thar the In
surgents under Aguinaldo having acted
Independently Of the United States from
the very beginning OF the insurrection-
ary movement and having lately show
a disposition TO make trouble for us had
no moral claim upon the United States
IN the settlement Of the terms OF peace.
on the other hand II was urged that our
government should lose no opportunity
TO extend it's principles throughout the
world and that this would be done best
In the present case by requiring Spain 10
extend genuine autonomy 10 the Philip
pines II was upon just such points as
this that the discussion proceeded all
day.
Admiral Dewey may be called TO Wash
ington later on 10 consult with the ad-
-ninlstration as 10 the gene1 al situation
in the Philippines tho reforms that are
needed In the present form OF government
OF the Islands and the location that should
be reserved for our coaling station there.
No OUTSIDERS WANTED.
4 point which was quickly establisher
was that there should be no reference OF
any phase OF the question OF the dispo-
sition OF the islands 20 any concert or
individual action by outside powers. An
other point that was settled though there
was no formal action on IL was tndt no
nro,est AGAINST the continuance OF mill
tary or naval operations pending tns
peace negotiations would avail In the
slightest. that there would be no armis-
lice no suspension of operations nor any
modification whatever OF present piahs
RAxMl .