The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-09-14

Washington, Sept. 13.-Secretary
Long reached Washington today. hav-
ing come down from his New England
summer home to meet the presidents
wish that there should be a full at
tendance at the cabinet meeting. The
purpose of the president in calling for
full attendance at the cabinet meet
ing was to submit instructions which
will be given to the American peace
commissioners. The time is very linn
tied in which 10 properly charge the
commissioners, as the members will
sail from New York on Saturday on the
Campania, and they must leave Wash
ington Friday. so that only two days
are available to close up their business
in Washington.
1t is believed the president has not
finally and definitely concluded upon
line of policy respecting the Philip
pines, whether they shall be retained
or relinquished. He was strongly dis
posed at the time of the signature of
the protocol to acquire nothing more
than coaling station, or perhaps
naval station at most in the Philip
pines.
From the many inquiries he has made
of public men and from the notice he
has taken of the attitude assumed to-
wards the question by the press of The
country, it is inferred that he is still
open to convictions as to the best line
of policy to be pursued, and it is prob
able that his principal purpose in call
ing the cabinet meeting today was to
gather from the members their per-
sonal opinions, which are supposed to
I l.. II or nit
the people where they have been, as in
the case of Secretary Long and others
paying visits to their native states.
PosTPoNEMENT FAVORED.
One element in the cabinet is disposed
! to postpone the final decision on the
future of the Philippines, arguing that
the matter might safely be left TO the
discretion of the peace commissioners,
and pointing out that important devel-
opments changing the whole aspect of
the question could fairly be expected
before the joint commission had taken
up the subject for consideration. II is
/ the present disposition to refrain from
publishing instructions TO the peace
commissioners, so it is probable that
only the most general idea will be per-
mitted to leak out. This course is re-
garded as absolutely essential in order
TO prevent the Spanish commissioners
from obtaining an advantage in the
negotiations.
SITUATION AT MANILA.
The officials at the navy and army
departments profess to feel more con-
I fidence than they have heretofore ex-
| perienced regarding the present Sltua-
4 ton in the Philippine Islands.
| In spite of all the disquieting reports
! that have come of late from hewspa-
per sources, indicating the existence of
/ critically strained relations between
/ the insurgents and the American forces
of occupation, it is a fact that for three
! days past no word came TO either the
! state. navy or war department from
/ Manila until today. That was a mes
SAGE from Admiral Dewey asking au-
! thority from the department officials
/ TO purchase some fresh beef which
would afford him a supply for three
months. The admiral made no mention
! of any disturbance
! one reason for the confidence felt by
/ the war department officials in a
3 peaceable solution of the difficulties is
fneir knowledge of the peculiar fitness
| of General Otis, the American military
/ commander. for the discharge of such
T duties, diplomatic as well as military,
! as now confront him.
| Not much Importance is attached here
to the Spanish report of the destruc-
! ton by Spanish gunboats of the insur-
B gent fleet which attempted to make a
] landing on the Vizcayas islands
I Now the military authorities here,
after a careful consideration of the
/ question. have concluded that it is in
/ curnbent upon them to compel the IN
/ slIrgents to an observance OF the SuS-
I pension of hostilities agreed upon be-
I tween the United States and Spain, at
least in cases like that in the vicinity
| of Manila, where by the action or the
United States forces. naval and mill
tarv. the residents had been deprived
Of the protection of the Spanish naval
I and military forces. 1t is stated. au-
/ thoritativeIy that General Otis has been
I given power to deal with this matter,
although it is hoped that he will be
able to prevent an absolutely hostile
clash. .-.
After a session lasting nearly two
and a half hours the cabinet took a
recess until $3.50 o'clock this Afternoon.
The situation at Manila was q scus5ed
at some length, but the principal BUSH
ness of the meeting was the discussion
of the letter of instructions TO be given
to the commission which viii meet IN
Paris to- formulate a treaty OF pence
! with Spain. The letter of instructions
will not be made public, but it is un-
derstood that il is comprehensive IN
character and in addition to making
plain the general policy or the govern
/ ment en- all important points 1T covers
all the details that can now be seer
i and provided for. 1t is assumed, how
ever. that many questions are likely
to arise during the deliberations of the
Joint commission upon which the Amer
lean members will require specific cable
instructions from the president.
Secretary Day has not yet sent his
resignation to the president, but nc
doubt ne will do so within day OF
| two.
The cabinet lat its second session
continued the discussion of the instruc-
lions to be given to the American mem
bers of the peace commission Although
the document is practically agreed .upor
as a whole. the matter viii be left oper
until the meeting here OF the member!
I $40 Aox