The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-07-30

Opportunity to Extend Hts Prin-
cipIes to That Part OF the World
Actions of AguinaIdo and His
Insurgcnt Followers Debar Them
From Moral Claim Upon America
Cabinet to Meet Again This
Morning.
WASHINGTON, July 29-Nearly sew
en- hours earnest discussion by the
president and his constitutional advis-
ers. of the nature of the response to be
made by the government to the Spanish
overture for peace, brought no conclu-
sion, and the subject, necessarily, was
poStpored for further consideration at
another meeting of the cabinet, to be
held at 1880 o'clock tomorrow morn
ing.
Such was the formal statement Of the
Situation at the conclusion of the days
-lwork, by each member of the cabinet
who was questioned upon the subject.
IA final conclusion, however, is much
nearer than this statement would seem
ltO indicate, and, indeed, there is little
been reached upon all the substantial
points at issue, and that what remains
to be done tomorrow is rather to
smooth away inequalities and to ad-
just scme minor points of difference be-
fore making the answer expected by
NJ. Cambon.
VEXATIOUS PROBLEM.
The point under discussion during
the greater part of the morning was
what disposition should be made of the
Philippines. On the other issues unani-
nifty developed. Thare was to be inde-
pendence demanded for Cuba; Porto
Rico was to be cedsd to the United
States, coaling stations were to be ac-
Quired at Guiana, in the Ladrone ISL
ands, and one in the Caroline islands.
These propositions were disposed OF
quickly, but when it came to the Philip
] pines some diversity of opinion was
revealed. AS near as can be gathered
this did not relate mainly to the reten-
( tion of the islands. On that p. opposition
"a majority of the cabinet was speedily
recorded in the negative, but accepting
the broad proposition that Spain was
TO be allowed 20 keep these posse -sions !
other questions naturally developed |
and It was felt these must be adjusted
before the subject was definitely dis |
posed of. There was no question as to |
the propriety of demanding a coaIing
station in the Philippines, and while
there reasonably might be difference
Of opinion as to the location and ex-
tent Of this station, little difficulty was |
expected to be encountered in solving
that problem, because the matter could |
De referred to the naval board, which |
was competent to deal with this SUBJ
ject.
FUTURE OF PHILIPPINES.
The question was as to what form of
government should be established in
the Philippines and what should be the
nature Of the guarantee required of
Spain that the new government should
be liberal and autonomous in character
These two questions hinged on the pri-
mary question to interfere at all in pro-
posing a change in the PHILIPPINES.
Z Some members of the cabinet felt thar
the insurgents, under Aguinaldo, hav-
lng acted independently of the United
States from the very beginning of the
insurrectionary movement and having
lately shown a disposition to make |
trouble for US, had 10 moral claim upon
the United States in the settlement of
the terms of peace On the other hand
it was urged that our government
should lose no opportunity to extend
its principles throughout the world. and
that this would be done best in the
present case by requiring Spain to ex.
tend genuine autonomy to the Philip
pines. 1t was upon just such points as
this that the discussion proceeded all
day.
:, a point, which was quickly estab-
1ished, was that there should be no
reference Of any phase of the question |
OF the disposition of the islands to any
concert or individual member Of the
powers. One point that was settled. |
although there was no formal action
upon it, was that no protest against |
the continuance of military or naval |
operations pending the peace negotIa- |
tions would avail in the slightest. |
There would be no suspension Of opera.
tions nor notifications whatever IN tha
present plans, until the Spanish gov
ernment had agreed upon the plans
proposed.
OFF THIS HEMISPHERE.
A result of the cession of Porto Rico