Omaha daily bee., 1898-11-02
CABINET FEELS NO ANXIETY
Not Essential That Peace Treaty Should
Be Signed
WILL HOLD ALL OF THE PHILIPPINES
Failure of the Paris Conference TO
Agree Would work Little Hard
ship Upon the American
Government.


Agree Would work Little Hard
ship Upon the American
Government.
WASHINGTON, Nov. 1.-whle the
cabinet gave little attention today to
the peace negotiations at Paris, there
is no longer any doubt as to the general
purposes of this government to retain the
entire Philippine archipelago. If, after final
balancing of the account. viz: the cost OF the
war to the United States on one side and
our acquisitions on the other, II is found
that any compensation is due the Spaniards
Il viii tc made in a lump sum. 1t is pointed
out that at the time that the protocol was
signed the United States did not have and
had not since acquired any part OF the Phil
iupine islands outside of Manila city and
harbor, and that the United States mas
never entertained "A purpose to acquire any
territory by the power of conquest. What
the United States will insist upon is that
it must be fully reimbursed for every dollar
expended by 1t on account of the war, and
in the statement will be included an amount
sufficient to cover all payments, present and
prospective, on account Of pensions incl
dental to the war
amount, other than local municipal bonds,
will be paid or assumed by this government.
| The question of the status of municipal OBJ
! legations under circumstances like the pres
! ent is fully settled by international law.
They must be recognized as valid and bind
| ing by the conquering power. and hence 1t
is assumed that the United States will not
| raise any question on this point, but
promptly consent to guarantee their final
settlement. What sum of money this gov
erument will consent to pay Spain cannot
| even be estimated, but when the final ac-
| count is rendered 1t is believed that the
balance due Spain will be small. probably
not exceeding S25,000,O 900 or $30,O00O0u.
| Little Anxiety Regarding Conference.
The belief still prevails among the major
| ity of the cabinet that the Spaniards will
accept the terms laid down by the United
| States and that whatever delay occurs be-
| fore that result is reached viii be chargeable
only to the purpose of the Spaniards to Sc
| cure tho best possible terms; TO extort the
last possible million dollars before acceding
to our demands. The possibility of dis
| agreement of the commissioners and failure
of the conference, however, is now contem-
plated with greater equanimty than at an
earlier stage of the negotiations. The ad-
minisrration has satisfied itself that Spain
is neither able nor willing to resume hostili-
ties on any scale that would make it q
dangerous opponent to the United States
Therefore, supposng the Paris conference
falls, all that would be imposed on our gov
ernment Is an immediate duty to take COM
plete military possession Of the Philippines
This it is believed could be accomplished BY
kstr, ~ ~ aLsls.s.. Is. ti.as - 49,. ~ ..l
vestige of Spanish military power in thu
Islands is that under Colonel Rios. com
mander- in chief of the Vizcaya islands, ant
by deputized authority in charge OF all Span
ish territory not directly within the contro
of the United States in the Philippine
| islands. His force is Insignificant from
military point Of view and 1t is doubtful /
he could hold his own il the insurgents hat
been allowed to make Manila the base o
operations against the Spanish commander
; So far as Cuba Is concerned the difficult,
might be more serious, but even in Cuba tn
Spanish military forces are not in condition
to offer prolonged resistance to the Amer
lean conquest of the island and with tn
Spanish navy at the bottom of the sea the
could not be reinforced by troops fror
0 Spain. Therefore about the worst that coul
happen would be the necessity imposed upo
us of struggling along without the signatur
: OF treaty of peace, but in full possessio
OF all the territory we desire, and that sue
, conditions can exist without damage
material interests is shown by the histor
OF the Spanish-Amerlcan republics whic
reyolted from spain's rule
g, So far as the cabinet discussion toda
touched upon Cuba and Porto Rlco it wa
, the purpose to develop views as to the bes
= means OF collecting the revenues and Gus
= toms, providing some means of equaliziu
20 the duties which will be collected local.
- upon imports from the United States a
. well as from other countries, and, provdin
u for the peaceful and satisfactory government
" of the cities and towns until such time a
: congress shall have ordered otherwise.
May Employ Native Police.
is It is the intention OF the president t
l. maintain military government in bot
"A Cuba and Porto Rico for the time being bu
ia his purpose Is also to mitigate the harsht
W features OF such form of government so IA
,s as lies within his power. For instanc,
=, there was taken into serious consideration
"A view put forth by Secretary Alger, that
:. would be we'll in Cuba to use the Cuba
- soldiers, who seemed to be fitted for sue
- work, as a local police force or gendarm
= possessed in a measure Of both the powt
y OF the police and soldier. There are sever;
strong arguments which the War depar
" ment has put forth as sufficient to justit
J." the adoption OF this course.
In the first place honorable and profitab
- employment would be given to a cons
u cradle proportion OF the Cuban soldiers, WI
u might otherwise, in the absence OF indivlt
,n ual employment. drift into evil courses
l. become dissatisfied and dangerous eemel
De in the community. In the second plac
these men, being thoroughly acquaintC
locally with places, the habits OF the Spar
s ish hAmericans and the language. would
more serviceable as police than America
- roldiers. Already some OF the evils atten
ing the employment OF the latter have be,
experienced at Manila and Santiago the r
suits being sometimes comical and a 9th
A. times serious in the misunderstanding tn
o; arose between the soldiers and the people
,er =.
YIlNQN RlhIS ARE IlEl IL