The times., 1898-08-03

ward any claim for pecuniary indemnity
but requires the REIMBURSEMENT of al
claim of sovereignty over or title to the
island of Cuba, as well as the immediate
evacuation by Spain of the island; the
cession 10 the United States and inn
mediate evacuation of Porto Rico and
other islands under Spanish sovereignty
in the West Indies and the like cessor
of an island in the Ladrones.
THE United States will occupy and
hold the city, bay and harbor of Manila
pending the conclusion of a treaty of
peace. which shall determine the control,
disposition and government of the Philip
pines If these terms are accepted by
Spain in their entirety, it is stated that
commissioners will be named by the
United States TO meet commissioners on
the part of Spain for the purpose of con-
cluding treaty of peace on the basis
above indicated"
Made by the President
The determination TO give the synop-
sis to the public was only reached yester-
day At the Cabinet meeting or at least
the Cabinet was only then informed that
il would be given out. The President
made the statement to his Cabinet that he
had hoped TO make the noe and Spain s
answer public at the same time but as
there seemed a possibility that the answer
might not come for some time, he would
| issue a summary of the note Immediately
This bulletin is understood to mean that
Spain has at least notified Ambassador
| Cambon that she has received the Amer
lean note. The reason given for with
holding it from publication officially last
Saturday was tat ii would be improper to
give it out until it had been received by
Spain.
The futility of Withholding the Official
story of the note apparently became evil
dent 10 the President
1t is understood that the President was
influenced somewhat by the various mis-
statements circulated by the Associated
Press. After the terms had been given
on the best authority by The Times, the
Associated Press papers published the
statement that changes in the original
note had been made at the instance of
! Ambassador Cambon,
This suggestion. notwithstanding its i'm
mediate denial by Cabinet members and
others in authority, has caused confusion
in some peoples minds because it has
been persisted in from day to day by the
authors of the false report. Il is shown
| by the official bulletin that the terms
were not changed in any particular.
There IS much discussion of the Ameri-
can note. favorable and otherwise. now
that it has been given out officially.
gentleman who is on terms of intimate
friendship with the President said TO
| Times reporter last night: "One interest
| ing change has been made from the orig
inal rough draft that has not been COM
mented on as far as l have noticed. 1t
| was the first intention that Spain should
only be asked Immediately to vacate the
| Western Hemisphere. Nothing was to
be said of the Ladrone Islands. They
were to be left TO the peace commission.
| This clear and logical demand that Spain
should quit this hemisphere as a prelim-
| mary TO any peace talk needed no addi-
ton of the Ladrones. They were made
part of the American demands for a d.
| plomatfc reason solely.
Madrid's Earnest Desire
1.-The administration is very certain that
Madrid will wish to go before the Spanish
! people with something accomplished in
the way of concessions by America from
| the original demands. If Madrid insists
/ on holding the Ladrones there will be no
| strenuous objection on this side. The
mass of the Spanish people do not know
! the geography of even Spains colonies.
They will be greatly pleased If sa-
gasta tells them that the Yankees have
been forced to give up these islands.
| does not hold the Ladrones finally, if CIV
ing them up will help to securing peace
| quickly with the important demands in
tact
The significance of the attitude of this
Government with relation to the Philip
| pines is most commented on. There are
two very different views expressed.
1t is stated by friends of the President
/ that he has not yet decided what DISPOSE
! ton shall finally be made of the islands,
1t is said that he has left the matter to
the peace commission, because in the
meantime he can learn more accurately
what the popular wish is.
These friends of Mr.. Mckinley suggest
that the American commissioners can be
instructed positively to demand the Phil
ippines if this is desired
One other argument made is that by
leaving the question to the commission to
be decided later the American position is
not disclosed to Europe and cannot there
fore be criticised by the European pow
| ers.
On the other hand there is strong be-
| lief by many that the note shows con-
| clusively the President does not want the
Philippines.
An officer of the Administration, who
is bitterly disappointed that the islands
were not demanded in the beginning, said
yesterday:
The Door Is Open
1.-The door is opened to the pressure on
the Administration from every interest
opposed to the American possession of
the islands All these interests will not
only work on public sentiment in this
country and even endeavor directly to
influence the President himself, but they
may be expected to use their most power
full arguments with the European cabi-
nets.
If the President is not convinced by
them that the country does not want
the islands it seems at least possible That |
some European power, or combination |
of powers, will be persuaded to offer an
objection to their annexation by this |
country.
''On the other hand, if America had
come out boldly at the first and an