The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-08-02

Washington, July 30.-After a day Of
anxious deliberatiOn and important
consultation, the reply of the United
States government to the Spanish over
lures for peace this afternoon was at
last placed in the hands Of M. Cambon,
the French ambassador, to be by him
transmitted TO the government of
Spain. It was 4:30 o'clock this after
noon before theminister received the an
swer and as it makes about 100 words
in all and must be reduced to the dip
lomatic cypher and then transmitted
by cable, the Madrid authorities prob
ably will not receive it until some time
tomorrow (Sunday)
At 1920 o'clock this morning, in ac
COrdance with the agreement reached
yesterday, the members of the cabinet
began to assemble at the White house,
but it was nearly II o'clock before they
were all present and ready to resume
their discussion at the point where it
was interrupted yesterday by adjourn
ment. Secretary Day had prepared a
draft of the answer, based on the ex-
preSSiOns of his colleagues yesterday,
and it was expected that only a short
time would be consumed in going over
this and giving it formal approval 1t
turned out otherwise, however. Prob
ably, over night, new factors had sug-
gated themselves, or fresh influences
had been brought to bear, for the cab
met was soon engaged in an animated
discussion of the Philippine islands
settlement. On the other points of the
answer there was no disagreement and
thnxy
stood yesterday, namely, Cuba to be
freed; Porto Rico to be ceded to this
country; one of the LadrOne islands
(probably Gaum) to be ceded to the
United States as a coaling station, and,
as an intermediate step all Spanish
forces in the West Indies to be with
drawn, with the formal REIMBURSEMENT
by Spain of her sovereignty overany
possessions among these islands. No
war indemnity will be demanded.
AS TO THE PHILIPPINES.
AS to the Philippines, the cabinet
agreed upon the following point: That
Manila bay, with city and surrounding
territory should be retained in the pos
session of the United States, at least
for such a length of time as is neces-
sary to devise and put in operation
some plan for the future government
of the entire group.
After that point the main divergence
of opinion began and all sorts of prOpo-
SitiOns were put forward and urged by
individual members as the best means
of dealing with the future of the is
lands.
In the very midst of the discussion
the element that had strongly urged
the necessity Of protecting Aguinaldo
in any settlement we should arrange,
received a severe check through the
inf Of ooh Loo frnr n oiyo1
Dewey, stating that the insurgent chief
had assumed a defiant attitude and Ad-
miral Dewey expressed the opinion
that the United States would be obig-
ed to make war upon them, the insur-
gents, necessitating the requirement of
$50. 900 troops to subdue the islands.
While this did not bring about a
complete dismissal of the proposition to
take the insurgents into account in
settling the terms of peace, it did have
the effect to cause an agreement
upon the proposition to defer action
upon the question as to the disposition
of the islands until the other phases
of the peace negotiations have been
satisfactorily adjusted, meaning by
that. that the matter goes over until
the last Spanish flag has disappeared
from the western hemisphere and the
American flag is hoisted to stay over
the coaling stations we require in Mi
Cronesia.
A JOINT COMMISSION.
The discussion lasted two hours and
a quarter before the cabinet hit upon
the best course for the United States
to adopt. II was finally decided that
What we desired could be best done by
the appointment Of a joint commission,
1lrnlted in its representations to the
governments of the United States and
spain. which commission is to endeavor
TO settle the details of the government
or the Philippine islands and determine
what treatment shall be accorded the
insurgents, the United States navy and
army meanwhile occupying Manila and
Mania bay, and thus retaining a posi-
ton to enforce speedily the verdict
that shall be finally reached by the
commission.
AS the cabinet meeting adjourned
the members went off to their Inncheons
with pleasant consciousness that
they had succeeded in disposing prop-
erlY Of the very difficult problem. AS
sistant Secretary John Moore. who
had been called in to the meeting at
the last moment, went hastily to the
state department 20 put the views of
the president and cabinet in the proper
diplomatic form
NOTICE TO THE FRENCH AMBAS-
SADOR
Notice was sent to the French am
bassador that the president would be
pleased to hand him personally the
reply Of the United States government
at 2:30 o'clock this afternoon.
1t was expected that this cerefony
would occupy only few minutes; that
the ambassador would take the note
and Immediately would take the note