The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-07-31

meut Oh Spain. II WIS f.oo o CioSh oc
fore the minister received the answer.
and IL makes about LOO words In all.
and must be reduced 10 the diplomatic
cipher and then transmitted by cable.
The Madrid authorities probably will
not receive IL until some time M
row Sunday.
At 1890 o'clock his morning. In ac-
cordsnce with the agreement reached
yesterday, the members of the cabinet
began to assemble at the white house.
but II was nearly II o'clock before they
were all present and ready to resume
their discussion at the point where Il
was interrupted yesterday by adjourn
ment. Secretary Day had prepared a
draft OF the answer based on the ex-
pressions OF his colleagues in the cabi-
net yesterday. and II was hoped that
only a short time would be consumed
I'm going over this and giving II formal
approval. 1t turned out otherwise,
however. Probably overnight new fac
tors had suggested themselves or fresh
influences had been brought to bear.
for the cabinet was soon engaged in
an animated discussion of the Philip
pine islands settlement.
On the other points of the anwer
there was no disagreement and these
preparations were ratified as they stood
yesterday. namely: Cuba to be freed:
Porto Rico TO be coded to the United
States; one of the Ladrone islands
probably Guam) to be ceded to the
United States as a coaling station; and
as an immediate step. all Spanish mil
itary forces In the West Indies to be
withdrawn. with the formal r%elinquish-
ment by Spain OF her sovereignty over
any possessions among those Stands.
As to the Philippines the abine
agreed upon the following point: That
Manila bay. with the city and sur
rounding territory should be retained In
the possession of the United States-at
least for such a length of time as is
necessary to devise and put in opera
t1on some plan for the future overn-
ment Of the group. After that point the
main divergence of opinion began, and
all sorts of propositions were put for
ward and urged by individual members
as the best means of dealing with the
future of the islands. In the very midst
of the discussion the element that had
strongly urged the necessity of pro-
tecting Aguinaldo in any settlement we
should arrange received a evere check
through the receipt of a cablegram
from Admira Dewey stating that the
insurgent chief had assumed a defiant
attitude, and Admiral Dewey expressed
the opinion that the United States
would be obliged to make war upon
them. necessitating the requirement of
$50, 900 troops to subdue the islands.
While this should not bring about a
complete dismissal of the proposition to
take the insurgents into account in set
Ting the terms Of peace. il did nave the
effect to cause an agreement upon the
proposition to defer action upon the
question as to the disposition of the ISL
until the other phases of the peace
negotiations have been satisfactorily |
adjusted, meaning by that hat the
matter go over until the last Spanish
flag has disappeared from the western
hemisphere and the American flag is |
hoisted 10 stay over the coaling sta
we require in M~icronesia.
The discussion lasted two hours and
a quarter before the abine 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 a joint commission
In it's representation to the gov
ernments OF the United States and
Spain. which commission is to sndeayor
to settle the details of the government
of the Philippines n determine what
shall be accorded the insur-
gents. the United States army and navy
meanwhile occupying Manila and Ma
Mia bay, and thus retaining a position
TO enforce speedily the verdict III shall
be finally reached by the commission.
As the cabinet meeting adjourned the
members went of to their ~luncheons
with a pleasant consciousness that they
had succeeded In disposing properly OF
the heavy problem.
Assistant Secretary ohn Moore. who
had been called into the meeting at the
last moment, went hastily to the state
to put the views of the presi-
and cabinet in the proper diplo-
form. and while this was doing
notice was sent TO the Frepch ambassa-
that the president would be pleased
to hand him the reply OF the United
government at 2:3O o'clock this
afternoon. 1t was expected that this
ceremony would occupy only a few min
utes and that the ambassador would
take the note and Immediately hurry
IL to his cipher clerks and then TO
the telegraph Office. In his expectation
Secretary Moore planned TO
90 out OF town on an afternoon train.