Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1898-07-30
Spain May Have Our Answer
Before Nightfall.
LONG CABINET MEETING
Majority of the Pr.sit. nt's Advisors Said
toOppose the Retent ion OF the Phil
tppines. Terms Practically
decided Upon.
tlsv TelepraDh.,

ors OF the nature Of the response to be
made by the government to the Spanish
overture for peace brought no conclus-
ion, and the subject necessarily was
postponed for further consideration at
another meeting of the cabinet to be
held at 1899 tomorrow morning. Such
was The formal statement of the sit
uation made at the conclusion OF the
DAYS work by each member OF the
cabinet who was questioned upon tho
subject. ~ final conclusion, however,
is much nearer than this statement
would seem 10 Indicate, and indeed
there is little reason to doubt that an
agreement has been reached upon all
the substantial points at ISSUE and thac
what remains to be done tomorrow Is
rather to smooth away Inequalities and
adjust some very minor points Of diff
terence before making the answer ex-
pected by Nj. Cambon
The point under discussion during the
greater part OF the meeting was What
disposition should be made Of the Phil
ippnes. On the other issues unanimity
developed. There was to be independ-
ence demanded for Cuba. Porto Rico
was to be coded to the United States.
coaling stations were to be acquired ut
Guam. Lidrone Islands, and one in the
Caroline islands. These propositions
We're disposed of quickly, but when 1t
came to the Philippines some diversity
OF opinion was revealed. AS near as can
bs gathered this did not relate mainly
10 the retention OF the islands. On
that proposition the majority OF the
cabinet was speedily recorded in the
negative. But. accepting the broad
proposition that Spain was to be al
lowed to keep these possessions other
questions OF Importance developed. and
II was felt that these must be answered
definitely before the subject could be
disposed of. There was no question az
to the propriety of demanding a coal
Ing station in the Philippines and,
while there reasonably might be
difference Of opinion as to the location
and extent Of the station, little diff.
Guilty was expected to be found in solv-
ing that problem because the matter
could be referred to the naval war
board. who are competent to deal with
the subject. The perpleXing problem
was what form of government should
be Instituted in the Philippines, and
what should be the nature OF the guar
antee required of Spain that the new
government should be liberal and au-!z
tonornous in character. These two
questions hinged on the primary decis-
ion TO interfere at all in prescribing
4 change IN the conditions in the Phil
lpNincs. Some OF Thu. cabinet felt that
the Insurgents. under Aguinaldo hav-
ing acted Independently OF the United
States; from the very beginning OF the
lnsurrcctionary movements and having
lately shown a disposition to make
trouble for us. has no moral claim upon
the United States in the settlement OF
the terms of peace. On the other
hand it was urged that our govern
ncnt should lose no opportunity 70
extend its principles throughout the
world. and that this would be done
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-
ceelled all day.
Admiral Dewey can be called to
Washington later on to consult with
the administration as to the general
situation in the Philippines, the reforms
that are needed in the present form OF
government OF the islands. and the lo-&
cation that should be reserved for our
coaling station there.
A point which was quickly establish
ed was that there should be no ref
erence of any phase Of the question Of
the disposition OF the islands to any
concert or any Individual action by out
side powers. Another point that was
settled though there was no formal ac-
ton on it. was that no protest against
the continuance Of military or naval
operations pending the peace negotla-
tons would avail in the slightest that
there would be no armistice, no sus-
pension of operations nor any modifi-
cation whatever of present plans unit,
the Spanish government agreed TO the
terms proposed. Incident to the ces-
sion of Porto Rico and the recognition
Of cuban independence by Spain was
the decision that every veStige of the
Spanish government and authority In
the Caribbean and West Indian waters
must be removed, eifecting q material
acquisition of numerous Islands over
which the Spanish dag flies, one of the
most important Of which is the Isle Of
Pines Furthermore. his sweeping
change of authority from Spain to the
United States in our nearby waters Is
to be effective also as a quit claim of all
indebtedness assumed by the Spanish
government and charged by her to
those islands, so far as the United
States is concerned. and all commercial
treaties now existing between the
Spanish government and her possess
sions there and outside powers are ex-%
tinguished. Some discussion was held
as TO the proba bility OF Spanish accep-
tance of our terms. The views differed.
though it can be stated that several
of the influential members OF the cab
met believed that the terms substan-
TALLY agreed upon would not be agreed
to by Spain at once. While believing
that the proposition made should In all
reason constitute the minimum to be
considered, some expressed the belief
that Spain would not be Immediately
disposed to reach an agreement on
them.
One factor In the protracted discuss
sion of the Philippine problem was the
absence of adviceS as to the existing
situation there on this date, q point
of considerable Importance in the adj
justment Of the question. The uncon-s
tirmed dispatch reporting that Manila
had surrendered was read and COM
mented on as indicating that definite
action. rithout knowledge of the exact
situation Ut Manila, might cause
statement regarding conditions that did
not exist. The formal papers cryStaliz
ing the results of the two sessions to-
day Will be prepared by tomorrow.
final vote win then be had and the an
swer of this government is likely to a
be communicated TO Spain before night
fall.
The War Department expects IN
easy conquest of Porto Rico and. not
withstanding the oveltures for peace
made by Spain. the war will be pros
eculed vigorously in that island.
,rhe belief is genera, in the War De-
partment that General Merritt has Lam
ded in Manila. though no cable infor-#
z FL. 4 . b.