Evening star., 1898-09-14
Instructions to Commissioners Re-
garding the Philippines.
BUT ONLY LUZON TO BE RETAINED
What is Believed to Be the Atti-
tude of the Administration.
RETICENCE IS OBSERVED

The greatest precautions are being taken
to prevent the character of the instructions
to the peace commissioners from becoming
known. There is doubt that a general
line of policy was agreed upon between the
President and his cabinet at their meeting
late yesterday afternoon. but there is good
reason for believing that the assertion that
the decision was definitely in favor of not
permitting Spain under any conditions T.
retain Sovereignty in any part of the Phil
iPpine Islands IS based on miscOnccptio1
of the purposes of the administration.
The members Of the cabinet and members
CT the peace commission who are here re-
fuse absolutely to discuss the subject with
newspaper men. ana therefore whatever is
said is based more or less on inference or
roundabout information.
The Claim of the United States.
1t is not doubted that the commission will
start the negotiations at Paris with the
assertion that We have conquered Spain in
the Philippines ana that Spanish sovereign
y has already been forfeited there This
Will not, however. necessarily signify that
il is tine purpose of the admins tratlon 10
retain pCSseSSiJ III of the entire group OF
islands or to permanently deprive Spain OF
all nyr possessions in the Pacific. II Is not
believed that the administration has gone
beyond the Determination 10 retain the
WhOle OF the Island of Luzon, but IL is un-
derstgCd TO be the intention of the Presi-
dent TO establish at the outset the right OF
this government 10 determine the tate OF
the islands and 20 make The conditions un-
der which government shall he established
II ere This must be done in order that. if
Spain is permitted to retain sovereignty
over any part Of the group can have
sGnl' thing to say as to the sort of govern
Hent she is to give the people. and also
that We may have say a % the transfer
by Spain of any island or Islands 10 a for
eIgn power
Ey the enforcement of the Monroe doe
triEc we claim a certain voice to the
ta;c OF the Islands in thc imme late vicir-
ity Of our coast and forming part of this
heEAi~t t'hvre, but this does not extend to
the o'aer side OF The earth 50 as to include
tt- philippines. In order 10 establish the
right 10 dictate 20 Spain what sort Of gov
trrmeut she must give thu Islands if per
mlfi-d 20 regain her sovereignty or to have
any voice in the disposition of the territory
by her in the future the conquest of the
islands must be conceded and this right of
a N0lc- aS TO the fate Of the islands he
made condition of their recess o. TO Syaf7
II Is believed 10 he from this point of view
thdt the commissioners will be instructed
10 insist upon the claim of conquest rather
tEan from desire on the part of the ad-
ministration to retain possession of the en-
TIRE group of Islands.
Position of the President
Undoubtedly public sentiment will have a
great deal TO do with determining what
shall be done, but it is known that the
president. as an original proposition. is not
IN favor of holding more than the one is
land The matter of relinQuishing possess
sion or the rest Of the islands is involved
IN so many conditions to be considered thar
IL IS realized that it may by force of cir
cumstanCes become necessary to deprive
SPAN permanently of all her possessions in
that quarter. 1t is understood not to he a
matter OF policy to acquire all this terri
tory, but II may become d necessity
Our Commerce in the Pacific
one thing that seems to have been def
Mtely determined is that Spain shall not be
permitted 10 regain such a degree of au-
th"rity over the Islands as to be able to
govern or dispose Of them at her pleasure
without regard To the wishes Of the United
states The commercial and trade side of
tAe question, as involving the DEVELOPMENT
anu expansion Of our commerc" in the Pa
cInc, = occupying chief attention in con
Aectlpn with determining our policy.