Adams County news. [volume] (Ritzville, Wash.) 1898-1906, 1898-08-03
N HANDS OF A COMMISSION
PEACE TERMS STILL A SECRET.
The Answer to Spain In in the Hands
OF the French AmbassadOr-The
Philippine Question Still Unset
Tied, and VIII he Discussed StiII
Further.

H---sF0rther.
-
Washington, July 30.-It is learned
that a Spanish-American commission is
to have charge of the entire question of
the terms of peace, on the condition, how
ever, that the Spanish troops are removed
Immediately from Cuba and Puerto Rico.
and that the United States shall have the
I4adrone islands.
The president has decided that the state
= .1nent intended to be made public as the
reply to Spain shall not be given out.
He reached this determination upon rep
resentation that such course would be
in violation of the proprieties of diplo
macy, which require that such a note
shall not be published before it is known
to have reached the nation addressed, and
reasonable time must be allowed for ans
-wer.
With regard to other questions than
the Philippines the situation is as stated
yesterday.
The absolute cession to the United
States Of Puerto Rico and all islands in
the West Indies save Cuba.
LIE Uy NP0Au va hSf CIV
ereignty in Cuba.
The United States will exercise control
there until a stable government can be
established.
The acquisition of coaling stations in
the Ladrone islands and perhaps in the
Carolines.
No assumption of Spain's Cuban or
Puerto Rican debts by the United States.
No war indemnity from Spain.
Secretary Day sent NJ. Cambon a cour.
teous note requesting him to call at the
White house at 2 o'clock to receive our
answer to Spain's peace note.
. The Cabinet Meeting.
. Washington, July 3O.-The cabinet con
vened in special session today to formally
approve the answer to the Spanish note
asking for peace. Secretary Day an
nounced on joining the cabinet at IL
o'clock, that an official statement eutlin-
ing. the nature of the reply would prob
ably be made this afternoon. The papers
prepared by Secretary Day for presenta-
tion to the French ambassador contained
100 words.
Secretary Day had two conferences with
the president since the adjournment of
the cabinet yesterday with the result that
he had completed his share of the work
before the hour for reassembling this
morning. 1t was impossible to gather
details as to the nature of the cOmmunica-
tion as it related to the Philippines,
which was the only point that gave rise
to protracted discussion among the meni-
bers.
-: However, it was learned that arrange
. ments had been proposed which had met
the approval of the cabinet, providing
for the reference to a commission OF so
much Of the Philippine question as
touched their government. 1t is under
stood that no matter what form the Phil.
ippines arrangement takes, the United
United States is to acquire naval sta
ton there, for it is understood that the
original plan to acquire a eoaling station
has been broadened into a demand for
naval station.
On the other hand it is pointed out that
there are several hundred thousand semi
barbarous inhabitants on Luzon. whose
government would oblige the United
States to keep considerable military and
naval force always on the island without
proper recompense. The statement Of
General Merritt, in his cablegram today,
that he would probably need all the
troops that had been assigned him, was
regarded as ominOus of trouble, though
whether it is to be with the natives or
incident to the siege of Manila, is not
evident.
Dewey's Message.
While the cabinet was in session sig
nificant cablegram was received from
Dewey. lie announced the arrival OF
Merritt and that AguinaidO had assumed
bold attitude of defiance, and that there
were strong indications that the Philip
pine insurgents themselves would have to
be fought. Based on this depletion of the
gravity Of the situation. it would take
10000 soldiers from this country to cope
with the insurgents throughout the ISL
ands.
The deferment Of the final disposition
of the Philippine problem was based sub
stantially on the following grounds:
That the United States has no satisfac-
tory knowledge Of existing conditions
there. Nothing is known as to what obi
cations were incurred between the United
States forces and the Philippine insurg-
ents. The present definite attitude Of the