Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1898-08-13

Views as to the Disposition of the Phil
ippines Will Be Appointed-0ur Gov
eminent Will Stand by the Terms In
dicated In the Answer to the Spanish
Government
washington, Aug. s.-The reply of
the Spanish government to the peace
conditions laid down by the United
States was received by the French
ambassador, NJ Cambon, yesterday at
ternoon. The reply came In sections,
the dispatch first received giving only
the opening passages of the Spanish
reply. A few minutes later another
dispatch brought second section, and
these kept coming uninterruptedly by
a procession of messengers until seven
sections of the Spanish reply had peen
received at o'clock, when the last
part was still to arrive. In the mean
time the cipher experts were at work
and by $3.50 o'clock they were abreast
of all that portion of the reply received
up to that time. and there was lull
of some time, pending the arrival OF the
concluding portions.
Pending the receipt Of the complete
reply no steps We're taken to fix time
for a conference with the president, as
the time for that depends largely upon
some of the features of the reply, ana
also upon the explicit instructions con-
corning the delivery Of the answer
which usually accompanies docu-
ment of this solemn character. Neither
at the White House nor at the state de-
partment was there any official know
ledge that the reply had reached Wash
ington. and the usual office hours closed
with no appointment made for con-
ference.
Pending the official delivery Of the
answer speculation was rife as to its
contents. There was little or no further
doubt that the length of the reply
meant that Spain had not given
simple and direct affirmative to the
American conditions. 1t was evident
that if the reply was an acceptance 1t
was accompanied by extended discus
sion and probably by conditions. This
caused considerable apprehension in Of
fetal circles here, for while it was felt
last week that Spain would surely
yield in every particular. it began to
be felt that possibly there might be
another period of discussion and pos
sibly an indirect attempt to open up
diplomatic exchange on the nature Of
the terms.
All vital points were believed to be
conceded-the abandonment of Cuba,
oJ,
establishment Of commission to pass
upon questions relating to the Philip
pines In the carrying out of this pro-
gram it was believed thatSpain would
seek to secure an understanding on
many incidental points involved, some
OF them of considerable Importance.
Late in the afternoon the president
received an indirect intimation that the
Spanish reply had come to the French
embassy a cabinet officer who was
with him at this time said on leaving:
THE information that has come from
Madrid about the action OF the Spanish
cabinet indicates the Spanish have ac-
cepted our terms in a general way. but
leaves several questions open that we
did not include in the terms submitted.
The communication offering those
terms was explicit, specifically stating
such points as would be left open to
forther negotiation. We will stand on
those terms"
The administration has not yet given
serious consideration to the personnel
of the peace commission, but it can be
stated no one not in accord with the
presidents present views as to the dis
position of the Philippines will be ap-
pointed, and Mr.. Mckinley favors
keeping at least Manila harbor and
bay and sufficient territory around it
for its support and protection, If not
the whole OF Luzon Island. AS to men,
bers Of the cabinet as members Of the
commission, there are urecedents for
their appointment, notably the treaty
of Client.
The concluding portion Of the Span
ish reply was received during the
evening, but it was not until a late
hour that it was declphered as a whole
and gone over by the ambassador. No
effort was made to communicate it to
the United States government last
night beyond note to Secretary Day
advising him that the document had
been received, but not disclosing It's
contents. 1t is probable that the reply
will be delivered to the president be-
fore the cabinet meeting today. al
though no hour has been fixed.
There is complete reticence in all
quarters az to the text of the reply,
but there is reason to believe it is not
an unqualified acceptance Of the Amer
lean terms. but is framed on the theory
of accepting the essentials and trusting
to hoped for conciliatory spirit on the
part OF this government to moderat.
to some extent features which the
Spanish government seems to regard as
unessential.
SANCTION OF THE CORTES
Necessary For the Cession of Any