, 1898-07-30


Washington, July 25.-Nearly five
hours of earnest discussion by the
president and his constitutional ad-
visers of the nature of the response to
be made by the government to the
Spanish overtures for peace brought
nc conclusion and the subject was nee
~essarily postponed for further consid-
GRAFTON at another meeting of the cab
met to be held at 1890 clock tomorrow
morning. Such was the formal state
ment of the situation made at the con-
clusion of the days work by each mem
Der of the cabinet who was questioned
upon the subject.
The final conclusion, however, Is
nearer than this statement would seem
to indicate and indeed there is little
reason to doubt an agreement has been
reached on all the substantial points
at issue and that what remains to be
done tomorrow is rather to smooth
away the inequalities Inc adjust some
of the very minor points of difference
before making the answer expected by
NJ. Cambon. The point under discus
sion during the greater partofthemeet-
ing was what disposition should be
made of the Philippines.
On the other hand issues of unani-
nifty developed. Independence was de-
manded for Cuba: Porto Rico is to be
coded to the United States /; coaling
stations will be acquired at Guam in
the Ladrone islands and one in the
Caroline islands. These propositions
were disposed of quickly, but when it
came to the Philippines some diver
sity of opinion was revealed. AS near
as "a be gathered this did not relate
mainly to the retention of the islands
for On that proposition the majority of
the cabinet speedily recorded in the
negative. But accepting the broad
proposition that Spain was allowed to
keep these possessions, other questions
of Importance developed and it was felt
that these must be answered definitely
before the subject could be disposed of.
There was no question as to the pro-
priety of demanding a coaling station
in the Philippines and while there
reasonably might be differences CT
opinion as to the location and extent
of this station, little difficulty was en-
pected to be encountered in solving the
problem. because the matter could be
referred to the navy board. who were
competent to deal with the subject.
The p~repleXing problem was what
form of government should be institute
ed in the Philippines and what
should be the nature of the guarantee
required of Spain that the new govern
ment should be liberal and autonomous
in character. These questions hinged
on the primary decision to Interfere at
all in prescribing a change in the con-
ditions in the Philippines.
Some members of the cabinet felt
that the insurgents under Aguinaldo.
having acted Independently of the
United States from the very beginning
of the insurrectionary movement and
having lately shown a disposition to
make trouble for us had no moral claim
on the United States in the settlement
of the terms of peace
On the other hand it was urged our
government should lose no opportuni-
ty to extend its principles throughout
the world and that this could be lone
best in the present case by requiring |
Spain to extend genuine autonomy to
the Philippines. 1t was upon Just such
points as this that the discussion pro-
ceeded all day.
A point which was quickly establish
ed was there should be no reference
to any phase of the question of the dis
position of the islands to any concert
or individual action by outside powers
Another point that they settled was
that no protest against the continue
ance of military or naval operations, |
pending peace negotiations, would
avail in the slightest; that there would
be no armistice, no suspension of op-
erations, nor any modification. what
ever, of the present plans until the
Spanish government had agreed to the
terms proposed. Incident to the ces-
sion of Porto Rico and the recognition
of Cuban independence was the decis-
ion that every vestige of Spanish gov
eminent and authority in the Carib-
bean and West Indian waters must be
removed, affecting the material acqui-
sition of numerous islands over which
the Spanish flag flies. one of the most
important Of which is the Isle of Pines.
Furthermore, the sweeping change of
authority from Spain to the United
States OF nearby waters is to be effec-
tive also as a quitclaim of all indebt-
edness assumed by the Spanish gov
eminent and charged by her to those
islands. SO far as the United States is
concerned, and all commercial treaties
now existing between the Spanish gov
eminent and her possessions there and
with outside powers are extinguished.
One factor in the protracted discus
sion Of the Philippines problem was
the absence OF advices as to the exist
ing situation there on This date a noint