The silver star., 1898-08-04
NO ANsW lar YET.
Cabinet Discussing Terms to 10 offered tc
Spain.


Cabinet Discussing Terms to 10 offered tc
Spain.
Washington. u. c., July 20.-NearIy
five hours OF earnest discussion by the
President and his constitutional advis-
ers of the nature of the response to be
made by the government to Spanish
overture for peace brought no conclu-
sion, and the subject necessarily was
postponed for further consideration at
another meeting of the Cabinet to be
held Mt 10:30 o'clock tomorrow morn
ing.
Such was the formal statement of the
situation made nt the conclusion of the
days work by each member of the
Cabinet who was questioned upon the
subject
A final conclusion. however. is much
nearer than this statement would seem
to Indicate. and indeed there is little
| reason to doubt that an agreement has
been reached on all substantial points
at issue, and that what remains to he
| done tomorrow Is rather to smooth
away inequalities and adjust some
| very minor points of difference before
| making the answer expected by NJ
| Cambon.
The point under discussion during the
| greater part of the meeting was what
| disposition should be made of the Phil
| ippines. On the other issues unanim-
| ity developed. There was to be indie
pendence demanded for Cuba: Porto
Rico was to be ceded TO the United
States; coaling stations We're to be ac-
| quircd mt Guam. in the Ladrone is
lands, and one in the Caroline islands
these propositions We're disposed of
| quickly. but when 1t came to the Phil
II Of
revealed. As near as can he gathered
| this did not relate mainly TO the re-
tenton of The islands for on that prop.
osition majority of the Cabinet was
| speedily recorded in the negative But,
accepting broad proposition that
| SPAIN was to he allowed to keep thes,
| possessions. other questions of import
ance developed. and it was felt that
| these must be answered definitely be
Tore the subject could be disposed of.
There was no question as to the pro.
| priety of demanding the coaling sta
ton in the Philippines, and. while there
reasonably might be difference of
opinion as to the location and extent of
this station. little difficulty was expect
ed TO be encountered i'm solving that
proplem. because the matter could he
referred 10 the Navy Board. which js
l
The perplcXing problem was, What
form OF government should be instl-
tuted In the Philippines, and what
shouid be the nature of the guarantee
required of Spain that the new govern
ment should he liberal and autonomous
In character? These questions hinged
on the primary decision to Interfere nj
all In prescribing in change in the
conditions of the Philippines.
Some members of the Cabinet felt
| mat the Insurgents under Aguinaldo.
| having acted independently OF the
United States from the very beginning
or the insurrectionary movement, and
having lately shown n disposition To
make trouble for us, had no moral
claim upon the United States in the
| settlement of terms of peace. On the
other hand. II was urged that our gov
erhment should lose no opportunity TO
extend It's principles throughout the
world, and that this would be done
best In the present case by recurring
spain TO extend genuine autonomy 10
the Philippines. 1t was upon lust such
points as this that the discussion pro
ceeded all day.
| n point which was quickly established
was that there should be no reference
OF any phase of the question to the dis
P".iiuh VI lne isihIluS 10 any concert
or individual action by outside powers.
Another point that was settled. though
there was no formal action on II. wns
that no protest against the continuance
OF military or naval operations pend-
ing the peace negotiations would avail
IN the slightest; that there would ba
no armisticc. no suspension OF opera.
lions, nor any modification whatever
OF the present plans until the Spanish
government had agreed to the terms
proposed.
| incident to the cessiOn OF Porto Rico
ana the recognition of Cuban indenen.
dence by Spain. was the decision thnt
every vcstigc OF Spanish government
ana authority In the Caribbean and
west indian waters must he removed.
erecting material acquisition of
numerous islands over which the span.
isl flag files. one of the most Imiortnnt
OF which Is The Isle of Pincw Further.
more. the sweeping change OF authority
from Spain TO the United States OF
nearby waters II to be effective also
ms quit clnim of all Indebtedness ms.
sumcd by the Spanish government and
chnrged by her TO those islands, No fnr
ns the United States IL concerned. ana
all commercial treaties now existing
between the Spanish government nnd
her possessions there and outside nov.
crs nrc extlngtIslied.