New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-08-15
PROBLEMS OF PEACE.
SUGGESTIONS AS TO \ POLICY IN THE
PHILIPPINES.
CUBA AND PORTO RICO EXPECTED TO BE-
COME RAPIDLY AMERICANIzED.


WASHINGTON. Aug 1.-THE President believes
that the most serious problem which the Peace
Commission viii be called upon to deal with is
the Philippines. Before the commission as
senbles il * hoped the affairs of Cuba and
Porto Rico will be found in such process OF ad-
iustment as to leave little for the commission
10 consider under that head. The absolute re-
unoulshment by Spain of all sovereignty over
the islands In the West Indies Will allow only
the property questions to be settled between
tho Governments: that !s what Spain shall
take away and what shall remain as captures
~ war and the protection Of Spanish subjects
and their property in the islands The greater
questions growing out Of the war, as relating
to cuba and Porto Rico. will have to be dealt
with bv III. United states alone. Tne fact lhat
the Philippines will present the dfhcuit proplem
in the peace negotiations has caused the Az
n1lnlstration to give 1t Great deal OF caFeIuI
attention.
ccvo-ol SUGGESTIONS have been made as to
what shall be done. one being the retention oi
the bav city ana harbor of Manila Just Wha'
the protocol gives temporarily. Another Is that
sutic Rav and a sufficient amount OF territory
for a naval and coaling station he secured ana
the building UP + an American city at that
rlace begun: still another idea when IS pelns
considered is the retention OF the entire island
Of I.uzon, the advocates OF that plan beAeNlh6
that this would obviate trouble which might
arts. Letwc,n the governments if only part of
the island were occupied with line OF deinar'a-
,,on such as would exist in case Manila and the
hay ONLY were retained. The Island or LuZoh l.
the largest Of the group. and contains about
three r,lllion people. who are said to be the
better class in the Philippines.
II is believed. however that the Administra-
,iou ard the commission Will be greatly in
nuoucod by the reports which Admiral Dewey
and General Merritt viii make on the subject
Their reports are expected before the commits
sion meets.
ISLANDS WILL BECOME AMERICANIHED
The final determination as to the government
Of Porto Rico and the settlement OF the govern
ncnt of cuba are problems for settlement, but
thc impression prevails that these Islands VIII
heroine RAPIDLY Amcricanized and every encour-
agcment for them to 30 so VIII be gwen. Porto
Rico will be under military control for the pres
ent. Cuba also Will be similarly governed but
# IS probable that American reforms in the
matter - government VIII be such that the peo-
ple Of cuba will see the advantage of becoming
annexed To- the United states. 1t is thought
tn. sanitary Improvement Of Havana and other
cities IN, inanagelnent Of the municipalities
and lib.ralitv offered the country people VIII he
of such character as soon to convince the people
that the changed conditions are for their Sood.
Th.r. has been little doubt about soon set
Ting Tho transfer # Porto Rico. ana 'he r.
c.ption which the American troops nave re-
c.ived in that island is a justification for the
belief that Porto Rico will De treated al once
40 an American posse ssion. The irst move
uent I'm this direction will be the sendns OF i
delegation OF officials from The Postoihce De
rartnont 10 investigate and report upon the
mail facilities there now and To make sucn
recommendations AS they determine upon
Mali routes methods " Transportation and the
conditions of postonices generally in the island
viu b. examined Military postonices will be
established at once wherever troops are sta
,i,n.d and a. such other points as may he
demanded lv the interests II Americans and
3D.. u..,t.l. ~ the islands. II the present offices
aro no. available
4 similar .urs. viii Voc taken IN cuba. but
this is na,Iy 20 he delayed as the immediate
removal or the Spanish and the occupation by
the United States are not expected
SO MORE TROOPS FOR MERRITT,
Vo NOR. troops will boo sent TO General Mer-
ri,t unless he asks for them. 1t is believed al
tho War Department that the sixteen thousand
men now there are sufficient 70 garrison Manila
and the ground which the United states VIII
occupy for the present All Of the troops tha'
were with General Shaftcr In the Santiago cam
raign Will b. odt OF cuba 10y Friday or TINS
week General Shafter VIII accompany them TO
Montauk Point There will remain at Santiago
five regiments Of immunes to do garrison duty.
I, IL vet possible that battery VIII be sent 10
Santiago to take tho place OF the batteries
which arc TO be removed. General Miles mas
about fifteen thousand men In Porto RICO Ihey
Will be sufficient for the occupation OF 'he Isl
and and perhaps more than are needed ailer
the Spanish evacuation. The remainder or the
troops Will remain in the various camps 10
which they have been assigned for the present
though something may be done looking toward
diminishing the number when II becomes ap-
parent that they are no longer needed
The Government will dispose Of the transports
that have been in use as fast as they can pe
released and are no longer required for ser
vice.
All vessels Of the Navy that can be spared
from service i'm the West Indies will be ordered
to ports I'm the States where the men will have
a brlof holiday The big battle-ships Of the
fleet will be put In drydoch az soon as possible
,nd undergo such repairs may be necessary.
There is scarcely vessel Of the Navy that does
not need docking 1t is expected that the large
dock in the New-York yard Will be ready to re-
ceive the ships in about two weeks. The auxil-
iary vessels of the Navy which Will not be used
for the permanent Navy will be disposed Of IA
soon rs they 90 out of commission. probably be-
ing sold at auction.
ORDERS TO GONERNOR-GENEKAIS
Madrid. Aug 1.-THE Governor Generals OF
Cuha and Porto Rico have acknowledged the