The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-07-27
TERMS OF PEACE.
Probable That Money Indem-
nifty Will Not Be Demanded.

Washington, July 27.-As to the terms
to be imposed by the United States
as the price Of peace, it seems probable
that our state department is again
about to give the diplomats of the old
world a lesson in straightforward deal
ing, abandoning the devious paths of
old time diplomacy and striking straight
forwrad and without double dealing or
hair-spIitting toward the object in view.
In such negotiations conducted on the
broad and high plane which has char
acterized the attitude of the United
States government from the very be
ginning OF the controversy with Spain
which led up to the war there viii be
little chance of the successful exercise
Of what is termed Spanish diplomacy
There viii not be any disposition
shown to take undue advantage Of the
position of a defeated and helpless ma
ton but to justify and secure the in
dulgent treatment that the United
States IS now in a temper to accord,
the Spanish negotiations must be hon
estIy, fairly and openly conducted As
far as can be gathered. our government,
has in a general way prepared itself
TO announce the outlines of the c0udi-
tiOns IL will seek 10 impose in peace It
IS not deemed proper now officially to
make any public statement Of these,
but much light is thrown upon the sit
Uation by unofficial utterances- 1t
dent has notyet committed himself be-
yond recall in this matter and that he
is prepared to give heed TO the councils
Of the leaders OF the party and of the
people
Generally stated two propositions
seem included in all lists Of demands;
namely, first the absolute Independence
of Cuba. with the provision that the is
land shall be dissolved from response
biIity for any debt heretofore charged
against ii by Spain. The last clause. II
IS expected. viii cause some friction IN
asmuch as it IS certain to arouse TO des-
perate resistance certain European
holders of bonds issued by Spain based
on the revenues of Cuba The second
proposition is the absolute Cession Of
Porto Rico TO the United states IKE
wise unencumb by a liability for
any bonded Indebtedness It is believ-
ed that Spain has practically made up
her mind to this condition before Insti-
tuting the Overtures for peace
Another point upon which the United
States il is believed will insist is the
cessiOn of certain cOaling stations IN
the Ladrones and Caroline lslands,prob-
ably Guam islands in the former and
zap island in the latter, and perhaps
one other in q different quarter OF the
world not yet designated
These territorial concessions It IS
expected will be regarded as sufficient
by our government as compensation
for the expenditures made by this cOun-
try without q specific demand for mon
is the one which promises TO give more
trouble than any other, namely, the
settlement of the Philippines There is
reason to believe that the president
himself has not determined how this
subject shall be treated
A coaling station is wanted there but
beyond that It may be that he viii not
care to 60 AT entirely different atti-
tude might have been assumed by our
government, but for the course adopted
by the insurgents under AguinaIdo.
which it is asserted leaves the United
States under no moral obligation TO
care for his people The revolution in
the Philippines began some time prior
to the outbreak of the war between
the United States and Spain Since the
war the insurgents have assumed a.
very i'm perlOus attitude have conduct
ed their military operations without
particular reference 10 the wishes of
the American commander, Admiral
Dewey; have been generally intractable
in their relations with our troops and
sailors and finally have set up an inde-
pendent government OF their own abSO-
IuteIy without reference to the United
States
These things it is held here are quite
sufficient to absOIve our government
from any responsibility for what hap
pens TO AguinaldO in the future, though
OF course, 1t IS not meant by this to as
sert that it has definitely made up its
mind to relinqUish all claims TO the is
lands beyond the cOaIing stations al
ready referred to-
Touching the question Of indemnity,
viii not be in the mood to abandon any
claim on this score. If Spain. by further
resistance Obliges 1t to go to heavy ex-
pense in sending naval expedition to
Spain and of continuing a large
scale the military movements now IN