Evening star., 1898-07-30

port properly such a station as the United
States will require. They point also to the
difficulty that would be encountered in de-
Tending station which does not occupy
the whole Of the island upon which 1t Is
located. On the other hand, 1t is pointed
out that there are several hundred thous-
and semi barbarous inhabitants of Luzon,
whose government would oblge the United
States to keep a considerable military and
naval force always on and about the is
land, without proper recompense.
The statement of General Merritt con-
tanned in his cablegram this morning, that
he would probably need all the troops tnat
had been assigned to him, was regarded
as little onimous Of trouble to come,
though whether this is to be with the
natives or is incident to the siege of Manila
is not evident. The generals dispatch was,
it is supposed, brought to Hong Kong on
the British gunboat Plover, and as he
makes no mention of the reported sur
render of Manila, although his dispatch
undoubtedly is tie latest from the
Philippines, that report is now looked upon
as at least premature. 1t is noticeaole,
too, that Dewey in his telegram made no
reference to the reported surrender.
The Meeting Resumed.
The cabinet met at 1890 o'clock, having
been unable to finish it's work before 1t ad-
journed at $50 o'clock yesterday afternoon.
Four. hours and a half were given yester-
day to discussion of the answer to Spain
This and the time spent today shows now
momentous have been the questions at is
sue and how important the estimate put on
them by the President and his official ad-
e.
ginning of the war with Spain has the cab
met spent this time on any question. once
before a session was held in the morning,
and again in the afternoon, but 10 ad-
journment was taken until the next day.
All the members were present on time ex-
eept Secretary Day, who, however, had
been with the President earlier in the morn
ing and had gone back to his department
to complete some work to lay before the
cabinet.
Senators Proctor and Elkins called to see
the President just before the cabinet met.
They had called in relation to political
matters.
Senator Elkins said, however, that he
took it for granted that Spain would follow
tradition by refusing our demands, killing
loses more before she gives up to the in
evitable. The senator is on record in
speech in the Senate as favoring the re-
tention of the Philippines by this country.
Discussing Words of the Reply.
The cabinet adjourned about 10 o'clock,
having devoted nearly three hours wholly
to the question of the wording OF the note
to be addressed to Spain. The discussion
was about the question Of verbiage, the
terms being well understood.
Cabinet members. on leaving the session.
said that it would be useless 20 talk of the
terms. as it had been agreed to give out
synopsis of the answer at o'clock. The
whole note, about LOO words, would not,
as a matter of courtesy, be made public at
this time. .---..
Manila to He Held.
The general terms of the reply to Spain
are that she shall surrender her sovereign
t. over Cuba, Porto Rico and the adjacent
islands and shall Immediately remove her
military forces therefrom; that the United
States shall take possession of one of the
Ladrone Islands as a coaling station, and
that the United States will then consent
to the appointment of joint commission
to pass upoa the general peace proposition.
ircluding whether the United States shall
retain possession of the Phil-
ippine Islands or shall surrender all ex-
cept coaling STATEN.
In the meantime the United States is to
take possession of and hold the city and
bay of Manila and to retain the same under
a military government until the terms Of
peace have been agreed upon.
The cabinet is divided as to what will be
the action of Spain, but the prevailing opin-
ion is that the Spanish ministry will reject
the terms.
The retention Of Manila, bay and vicinity
pending the result of the negotiations with
Spain is ample notice of the intention of
this country to permanently retain a coal
Ing station or probably more in the Philip
pines.
AS the whole question of the Philippines
is left open for commission to decide,
the position of this country as to their own
ership is officially open. This policy will
De presented to the commission by Presi-
dent Mckinley If Spain agrees to our terms,
but the opinion of the cabinet at this mo-
ment is unfavorable to permanently re-
tanning the islands,
This opinion, however, is open to change.
An attepmt of Germany or any other Eu-
ropean country to dictate about the Phil
ippines would, in all probability, lead to
complete revulsion of the present feeling
Spains refusal to accede to what are re-
garded fair terms would also 1t Is thought,
change the attitude of the cabinet. The
is a delicate one, and Spain may
not have common sense enough to know
that the propositions now made are easier
than she will ever get again.
Ambassador Cembon Informed.
Secretary Day sent NJ. Cambon, the
French ambassador. a courteous note re-
questing him to call at the White House
at o'clock to receive our reply to Spain's
peace note, delivered by him last Tuesday
The French ambassador left the embassy
shortly before o'clock, accompanied by
his first secretary, NJ. Thiebaut, and drove
in surrey to the White House. The am
bessador had laid aside his usual alpaca
coat and straw hat and, with the formal
ity usual in diplomatic calls on the Pres
ident, he was In semi-dress attire with silk
hat and black Prince Albert. NJ. Thiebaut
also wore the conventional silk hat and
long coat Of such formal occasions