The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-07-31

terms of peace. it did have the effect to
cause 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 meHn-
ing by that that the matter goes over
Until the last Spanish flag has dlsap-
peared from the Western hemisphere.
and the American flag is hoisted to
stay over the coaling stations we require
in Micronesia The discussion lasted
two hours and a quarter before the Cab
met hit upon the best course for the
United States to adopt. 1t was finally
decided that what we desired could be
best done by the appointment of joint
commission, limited in its representa-
tioEs to the Governments Of the United
States and Spain, which commission
is to endeavor to settle the details of
the government of the Philippine ISL
ands, and determine what treatment
shall be accorded the insurgents, the
United States navy and army, meaning
while occupying Manila and Manila Bay,
and thus retaining a 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 luncheons with
Il pleasant consciousness that they had
succeeded in disposing properly of the
very difficult problem. Assistant Secre-
tary John Moore, who had been called
into the meeting ut the last moment, went
hasily to the State Department to put
the views of the President and abinet in
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
ment ut half past two O'Clock this after
noon. 1t was expected that this cerc
mony would occupy only Il few minutes.
that the Ambassador would take the
note and Immediately hurry with it to
his cipher clerks and then to the tele-
graph office. In this expectation Assis-
tant Secretary Moore went out of town
on an afternoon train and Secretary Day,
as 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 $3.50 train for
Atlantic City. to meet his wife. The
Ambassador came on time accompanied
by his secretary, but as the minutes
ran along into hours without the re-
appearance of NJ. Cambon, it was sur
missed that something had happened to
dsarrange this meeting. 1t was after
stay of two hours and quarter that
the French Ambassador terminated his
visit.
While it continued Secretary Long and
Admiral Sicard, of the Naval War Board,
and Assistant Secretary Adee, of the
State Department, were called into con-
sultation. The newspapers had been led
by promises made earlier in the day by
Il member of the Cabinet to expect that
IL statement would be given out explain
ing the nature of the answer to Spain,
but to the disappointment of their repre-
sentatives it was announced by Sccre-
tary Day that this had been abandoned
for the reason that to make any state
ment at this point would involve a Sc
rious breach of diplomatic etiquette that
might embarass negotiations.
The extended stay of the Ambassador
with the President opened up Il wide
field of conjecture, but in all official
quarters there was Il reticcnce 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 it was devoted to an
explanation of them in detail 1t was
said that no new condition of affairs had
arisen by reason of the Ambassadors
call. and that there would be no need Of
another Cabinet meeting to- consider new
factors. The case remained it is said, as
fixed by the Cabinet early in the day. and
the next move was to transmit these
terms to Spain and await her reply. In
Al, nj,
terms given in detail i'm the Associated
Press dispatches were correct in all es-
sential points. the only features remain
ing. being these of relatively unimportant
detail.
Immediately following the long CON
ference the French Ambassador. and
NJ Theibeant returned to the French
Embassy, and then began the hard work
Of reducing to cipher the American peace
conditions together with the results Of