The Red Cloud chief., 1898-08-05
A PEACE COM MISSION.
Terms to bc Arranged by Spanish and
American Representatives

have charge of the entire question OF
the terms OF peace, on condition, how
ever, that the Spanish troops are re.
moved Immediately from Cuba and
Porto Rico and that tho United States
shall have one Of the Ladrone islands.
The President has decided that the
statement intended to be made public,
as to reply To Spain. shall not be given
out. lie reached this determination
upon representation hat such n course
would be n violation of tho proprietics
of diplomacy, which require that such
a note shall not be published before 1t
is known to have reached the nation
addressed, and hat even then reason
able time must be allowed for IN an.
swcr
The American reply distinctly gives
warning that the proposition us TO
surrender Of all sovereignty in the
West Indian waters and the selection
OF an island In the I.adroncs is beyond
any discussion whatever.
AS to the Philippines the reply says
in substance that rs further indemnity
to the United States for its expenses
the United States will hold the city Of
Manila, its bay and harbor, pending
the determination Of the future gov
crnmcnt OF the whole island group.
One island of the Ladronc group is TO
be coded to the United States, this
government to make its selection
later.
In demanding the surrender OF Span
ish sovereignty in all our nearby
waters the reply automatically avoids
making Gny pledges as to what is to
be done by this government as to Cuba.
The paper prepared by Secretary Day
for presentation to M. Cambon, the
French ambassador, rs the answer OF
tho United States to SPANS peace pro.
posal, was laid before the cabinet when
It met ut II o'clock this morning. II
contained about LOO words. At the
adjournment yesterday the only point
not fully decided upon was as to the
extent Of our demands respecting the
Philippines.
IL Is now understood that the Presi-
dent and n majority of the cabinet
members favored the retention of a
coaling station at Manila and tho ex.
ercise Of practically the same sover-
eign authority over the city and ports
as is exercised by Great Britain at
Hong Kong. This, IL is believed, will
be the final result. With regard to
other questions than the Philippines,
the administration favors the follow
ing:
Absolute cession TO the United
States of Porto Rico and all islands in
the West Indies, ave Cuba.
Relinquishment by Spain Of sover-
eighty in Cuba. The United States
will exercise control there until a
stable government can be established.
Acquisition Of n coaling station in
the Ladrone islands and perhaps the
Carolines.
No assumption of SPANS Cuban OF
Porto Rican debts by the United
States.
No war indemnity for Spain.
The cabinet adjourned about
o'clock. As to the Philippines, it was
decided to leave their government oper
Cor the present, to be determined later
by n commission to be appointed by
the two countries, the United states
meanwhile to exercise control and jur
isdiction over Manila, it's harbor ant
Immediately surrounding territory.
The scope and power of this commits
sion could not be learned and tn,
method devised for enforcing any yer
diet it might reach vas left to sur
mise.
The Administrations general pur
pose underlying tho commission ar
rangement IL understood to be tn
development Of the sober sccon
thought Of the American people rs t
the disposition of the Philippines, ur
clouded by the clash of war and VII
affected by moIncntary lust for terri
torial acquisition.
OF course Il 10 understood that n
matter what form the Philippine al
rangement takes the United States
to acquire a naval station there, for |
Is understood that the original plan I
acquire = coaling station has bee
broadencd into = demand for a nav
station.
The argument that brought abor
this change was the representation
the naval war board that one of I'll
most pressing needs of the Unite
States naval vessels in Asiatic waite,
was n good dry dock and some machir
shops where the repairs that wei
always required by the complex WI
ships Of to-day can be effected. 1t w;
also pointed out that under strict a
ric~tion Of the neutrality laws,
aged by some writers, the Unit
States might be prevented in time
var from taking its own coal from !
/, own coaling station, though the sar
y rule cannot DO applied to a naval st
, ton, which wonld be held under an c
: tirely different tenure. The mainte
, ance of n naval station would requi
more territory than q coaling stati
and the existence of a dock yard
Cavite has fixed the eyes of the nav
. war board upon that place ms {
. ready made for our occupancy.
q A naval station involves some re
dent population to supply the nee
= sary labor and some agricultural Ia