Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1898-08-03


United States government to the
Spanish overture for peace this after
moo was at last placed in tile hands
of Cambon, the French ambassador.
to be transmitted to the government
Of Spain. 1t was half past four
O'Clock this afternoon before the
minister had received the answer,
and as it makes about LOO words
in all and must be reduced to diplo-
matte cipher, and then transmitted
by cable, the Madrid authorities
probably will not receive it until
some time tomorrow. At half past
ten this morning, in accordance with
the agreement reached yesterday,
the members of the cabinet began to
assemble at the white house, but it
was nearly IL o'clock before they
were all present and ready to resume
their discussion at the point where 1T
was interrupted yesterday by ad-
journment. Secretary Day had pre-
pared a draft of the answer based on
the expressions of his colleagues in
the cabinet yesterday, and it Wa ex-
pected that only a short time would
be consumed in going over this and
turned out otherwise, however.
Probably over night new factors had
suggested themselves or fresh in
%fiuences had been brought to bear,
for the cabinet was soon engaged in
an animated discussion of the
Philippine islands.
On h other points of the answer
there was no disagreement and
these propositions were ratified as
they stood yesterday. Cuba to be
freed: Porto Rico to be ceeded to the
United States; one of the Landrone
islands (probably Guam) to be ceded
to the United States as a coaling
station; all Spanish military forces
in the West Indies to be withdra wn,
with formal REIMBURSEMENT by Spain
of her sovereignty over any posses
sions among those islands. AS to
the Philippines the cabinet agreed to-
the following points: That Manila
bay, with the city and surrounding
territory should be retained in the
possession of the United States at
least for such length of time as is
necessary to devise and put in opera
ton some plan for the future govern
men of the entire group.
After that point came the main
divergence of opinion, and all sorts
of propositions were put forward
and urged by individual members as
the best means of dealing with the
future of the islands.
In the very midst of the discussion
in which an element that had strong
ly urged the necessity of protecting
A~guinaldo in any settlement we
should arrive at his supporters re-
ceived a severe check through the re-
ceipt of a c~ablegram from Admiral
Dewey stating that the insurgent
chief assumed a defiant attitude, and
Admiral Dewey expressed the
opinion that the United States
would be obliged to make war upon
the insurgents. This would necessi-
tate the requirements of $780, 600
troops to subdue the islands. While
this did not bring about a complete
dismissal of the proposition to take
the insurgents into account in settl-
ing the terms of peace it did have
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
peace negotiations have been salts
factorily adjusted, meaning by that
that the matter goes over until the
last Spanish flag disappears from the
western hemisphere and the Ameri-
a flag is hoisted to stay over the
coaling stations we require in
Micronesia. The discussion lasted
two hours and a quarter, before the
cabinet hit upon the best course for
the United States to adopt. 1t was
finally decided that what we desire
could be best done by the appoint
ment of a joint commission limited
in it's representation to the govern
ments of the United States and
Spain which commission to endeavor
to settle the details of the govern
ment of the Philippines, and de-
termine what treatment shall be ac-
corded the insurgents, the United
States army and navy meanwhile
occupying Manila and Manila bay
and thus retaining q position to en-
force speedily the verdict that shall
be finally reached by the commission.
ScAaAhMg's Best soda is
used in SehiAhMg's Best
baking powder-must be
good.
SchaNing's Best