The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-08-22
The Matter, However, Is Consid-
cred of Minor Importance.
what Disp0sttfon VIII He Made Of
the Philippines Dope nds Not ON
the Terms Of the Capitulat tion to
Dewey and Merritt. but ON the
Peace Commissioners, who Will
Have Complete JurfsAictiOn Over
the Whole Sabject-The President
Cables ConEratulatiOns to Manila.

WASHINGTON. Aug. N.-Cond:tions
about the great state. war and naval build
ings practically have assumed their nor
NAL aspect. Only few Clerks were on
duty in the principal bureaus today. ana
they did only a few hours work.
Acting Secretary OF the Navy Allen said
this evening. this has been the quietest
day in his department since the destruc-
ton OF the Maine. During tire afternoon
he received sixteen dispatches. fourteen OF
which related 20 the movement Of vessels.
arrivals or departures. the remaining two
referring to matters OF the merest detail.
Not q word was received during the day
from Admiral Dewey. notwithstanding the
fact that cable communication with Ma
Mia had again been opened.
Among the war officials the terms Of the
capitula;ion OF Manila, as cab.ed by Gen.
Merritt, was a topic OF discussion. No
light has been thrown upon the terms by
Gen. Merritt. He cah'ed the terms them
selves. expecting. probably. 10 forward by
mail the construction placed upon them
by the American and Spanish officers a.
Manila.
Unofficial advices from Manila received
previous 10 tho arrival OF the text Of the
terms indicated that the capstulasIon OF
The city included the surrender OF the Phil
lippines. and that Spanish sovereignty over
tho entire archipelago was. temporarily.
at least. a, an end. This view Is not sus-
tained by the conditions OF the surrender
as cabled by Gen. Merritt, and IL may be
said II is not the view taken by the best
informed officials OF the administration.
While some OF the war authorities last
night were inclined 10 the opinion that the
articles of capitulation are necessarily
temporary ard naturally somewhat elias
tic and their paraseology might be con-
strued 10 mean the surrender of Spanish
control over the entire Philippine group.
the prevalent opinion now is that they
mean precisely what they say, and that
the surrender includes only the city OF Ma
Mia and It's immediate surroundings. or
suburbs. as IL is expressed IN the articles.
1t can be said au.horltatively that the
presden: Is qute satisfied with the terms
as made by Gen. Merritt and Admiral
Dewey.
Their instructions afforded thefn consid-
eralJe latitude for individually Of action,
the presidcn. feeling confident that they
would secure the best possible terms under
The circumstances. That they have done
50 he Is certain. II is pointed out that the
terms OF the capi,u.atlon of Manila can
have bit little effect upon the action on
the Paris peace commission In any event
The protocol as signed By the accredited
representative or tise governments OF The
United States and Spain provides for the
cessson OF the cify. hay ard harbor OF Ma
..iia to the United States and leaves 70 the
raa~a osrnrr, lssion 70 determine the disrosi
tjor and government oe the Philippine isl
ands. Whether. therefore, Spain ts To re-
tain her sovereignty over the Islands Is
question TO be decided by ,he Paris COM
mission. Tie action ot the commission is
cirrs.frscYihed by the provisions os fhs
,,-oeo.Ao, while the terms OF The caoitu's-
ton os Manila. X to suggested, can have
very little yno~s sartosis effect upon the
commissions work than those Of the ssse-
render o. Santiago.
Rear Admiral Sampson and Rear ~
rYirsI Schley are expected 20 arrive IN
e.h.nx,ssr, sf,.r,e time tomorrow The ap-
po9ntrrer. q tha tao a1rui:als respectively
an .he Cuban ard Porto REc8n commits
s:ors necessarily ~riE cause 'a@rn 20 he de-
.arhea temporarily FROM their pFes''fs'
s,rur1a-3s TIE f8e+aehynert, Il II said ~
.ha naval authorities. afIl ~ only tegrs-
fsora-y. In ,ha ah@ersoe q Admiral sar'p-
son. Commodore Philip wi.I have corn-
rrarl # the squadron o. vessels IN Se~
YORK. Repairs an ths ships wiil ae pushed
wg.h ysgor. ard os rapidly as ssassihis they
viii ,.s r,sft IN exre!Isr1 con6tion for SEA
du:v III either was Or peace No esferrrsi-
nation has yst f~en resrbes ~ tEe naval
aastea~ftsss CD n. question of r.2~gaaAzsHg
.4se naval sg@sayor4s 81 q yse&ef footing -
y5egv q ths rer conditions wnisa rex CON
egses tha United safes 4 is searceiy
gs~sv .ha. any cc-ssseFasle changes VII
- made before ssleces<ssll fervsssrzfSoss -
RE rerz..rw geaes nsgstia<issss ssssa have
t>~n reached
YDssss~g RE @Ay e.x os sAe e~lcssls - tne
~as Department wese 81 t%s-z- Gsxss soF
lc~gwr saaa al houg os twe. i.-:-e
-czrssne business was transacted. bat shs
e6actaan eonsrsnx wwe sal.ns . -