The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1898-09-22
OUR FINAL PEACE TERMS.
Commissioners to Paris Receive the
Presidents Instructions.
NO DEVIATION Is PERMISSIBLE.

We VIII Keep Luzon and Insist Upon a
semi-Control Over the Other Philip
pine Islands. with Spain in Apparent
Charce-Spain May Retire Altogether
General Merritt's Views Needed.
WASHINGTON. D. C. (SpeciaD. 1.-The State
Department gave out the following state
ment concerning the discussion between
the members of the Cabinet and the Peace
Commission:
"The members OF the Peace Commission,
with the exception of Senator Gray, whose
absence was due to his inability to with
draw as counsel in case in which he was
engaged sometime before his appointment
as one OF the Peace Commissioners, have
spent the greater part OF Wedne sday and
Thursday in n free discussion OF the duties
with the discharge OF which they have
been intrusted by the President. Senator
Gray before sailing will have full confer
ence with the President and his associates.
"While, for obvious reasons, 1t was de-
termined that the nature OF the instruc-
tions as to the negotiations about to be en-
tered Upon should for the present be kept
secret and made known only after definite
results shall have been reached, it IS pos
sible to state authoritatively that the COM
mission goes to Paris fully prepared to fol-
low course OF action mapped out for 1t
as tho result Of the consultations OF the last
two days.
"At the very outset, 1t will be made clear
to the Spanish Commissioners that, as in
the case OF the preliminary protocol, there
can be no deviation from or modification OF
the demands made by the United States.
The decision reached by the President, after
a full consultation with the members Of the
commission, subsequently received the cor
dial and unanimous approval OF the Cab
met at a meeting held at 3 o'clock Thurs
day afternoon"
The instructions finally drawn up and ap-
proved by the President and his Cabinet at
this special meeting mean, in the opinion
of Washington expert Observers, "perman-
ent American control OF the Philippines"
Contrary to general expectations, the
Commissioners have been given one posi-
tive instruction in writing. 1t is:
"The full and unconditional cession OF
the island Of Luzon. on which the city OF
Manila is situated"
The President had this instruction re-
duced to writing, in order that the Ameri-
can Commissioners might iay it before the
Spaniards with absolute deAniteness and
insist upon it as preliminary to further
negotiations.
The disposition OF tho Philippines out
side Of the island OF Luzon Is left to the
discretion Of the Commissioners. Consid-
erable latitude will be given them, but on
the main point-the cession OF Luzon ISL
and-tEeir instructions are ironclad.
Cabinet official said that the insistence
upon Luzon Island would likely result in
an offer from Spain OF the entire group.
This would not surprise the President he
said.
All Spanish interests In the Philippines
are centered on Luzon Island, and with this
under the control eff the United States
Spain would be unable to maintain severe
ignty in the remainder.
II Spain should comply literally with the
American demands and cede Luzon, the
Commissioners are authorized to exact GER
tain trading privileges in the remainder OF
the Philippine group. They are directed
further to obtain an agreement from Spain
that none OF the islands shall be disposed
Of to ary foreign power. A joint protec-
torate may be suggested, in which event
the American Commissioners have absolute
power to accept such 4 proposition.
General Merritt will meet the CommiS-
sioners in Paris and his knowledge Of the
situation in the Philippines will influence
the view OF the Peace Commissioners as to
the character Of the government that they
will ask Spain to establish in the islands
outside Of Luzon.