The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-07-28

Settlement of Peace Plans Be
tween America and Spain.
WASHINGTON, July H.-The initia-
ton of overtures for peace has had the
effect Of suspending in a large meas
ure, for the time being at least, interest
in the military and naval situation.
Though it is known, through the open
admission of members of the admins
tration, that the present phase would
remain unchanged until after another
cabinet meeting on Friday, there was
still evinced disposition to discuss this
matter in its every aspect.
Naturally the first point of inquiry
was the exact shape taken by the
Spanish presentation of yesterday.
Curiosity on this point remained I'M
gratified, and must probably so con-
tinue for some days to come, the pres
ident having decided that nothing more
definite than the statement issued from
the White house yesterday shall be
given to the public for some time. The
motive is a prudential one, and the
president has even gone so far as to
suggest to the Madrid authorities the
expediency of keeping the text of the
Spanish overture from publication at
this time.
The next point of interest was the
character and extent of the demand
likely to be made by the United States
as the condition of peace. 1t is felt
that the statement of terms of peace
from Spain and the United States may
be some days off, and there doubtless
viii be considerab bic diplomatic fencing
at the outset before the actual point
OF stating terms is reached. A great
deal of this, for instance, may result
e from the attempt to define the meth
DDS Of approach to the object sought,
whether through a commission or
through the direct exchange of notes,
as Initiated yesterday. There will be
much discussion, in all likelihood, re-
garding an armistice, for it is the dis
tinct purpose of the Spanish author
tiles to secure a suspension of hostil-
tiles pending the negotiations for
peace. It may be that the appeal will
be granted, but, if so, it will only be
under the strictest safeguards to pre-
vent any loss to this country and upon
binding pledges that certain we'll de-
fined objects are to be conceded to US.
The president discussed this complex
subject all day with various members
of the cabinet, as they called in the
course of ordinary business. Secretary
Day and Postmaster General Charles
Emory Smith spent some time this af-
ternoon at the White house. presuma-
bly, exchanging Views with the pres-
dent.
PHILIPPINES PROBLEM.
1t is virtually admitted by leading
members of the administration that
upon only one point in peace negotia-
lions is there likely TO be serious fric-
ton, and that relates to the future of
the Philippines. AS to Cuba and Porto
Rico, our government feels that there
is a reasonable certainty of encounter
ing little opposition to our demands.
The Spanish government might insist
upon the proposition thrown out by
the Vatican yesterday, namely, that the
United States shall annex Cuba, the
ostensible purpose being to secure full
protection for the Spanish element left
in the island, but, while this would be
a vexation, it would yield to adjust
ment.
AS to the Philippines, there Is a full
expectation Of greater difficulties to be
suTmounted. There is reason to be-
lieve that these difficulties, like the
Cuban question, viii be rather internal
than international in their character,
at least at the outset. The president
is firmly of the opinion that the United
States has no use for the islands as a
permanent possession. The gravest
problems of government would result
were the attempt to be made to annex
them, owing to the heterogeneous and
ill-favored character of the large pop-
ulation of the islands, while any eff
fort to unite with other powers In a.
Joint administration might be fairly
expected to result as unsatisfactory
as the triparte arrangement between
the United States, Great Britain and
Germany for the government of the
Samoan group. However, there are