The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1898-08-15
: PEACE
PROBLEMS.
Questions With Which the
Commission Must Deal.
THE PHILIPPINES PUZZLE
The Most Serious That Confronts
the Peacemakers.
THE CUBANS AND PORTO RICANS

THE CUBANS AND PORTO RICANS
Will Become Quite Rapidly Amsricanized,
It Is Believed, and Every Encouragement
For Them to Do So Will Be Given-To
Speedily Perfect the Postal Facilities Fol
Our West India Posscssions-Fi Regi.
ments of Immunes to Remain in Santiago
Washington. Aug. 15.-The White
House, war department and the navy
department yesterday resumed their
usual Sunday quietude, condition
which has not prevailed since the Maine
was blown up in Havana harbor, Feb.
Is. Secretary Alger was at the depart
ment few minutes, and also went
to the White House, but did not remain
long. General Corbin came into his Of
lce during the day and looked over his
dispatches, but did not remain con-
stantly on duty. as he has been doing.
There were few clerks about the de-
partments, but scarcely Sunday
passes in peace times that this does not
happen. The busy, warlike attitude
has entirely disappeared and Wash
ington has settled down to peace
basis.
The president believes that the most
serious problem which the peace COM
mission will be called upon ta>deal with
Is the Philippines. Before the commits
gi0n assemblies 1t Is hoped the affairs
Of Cuba and Porto Rico will be found
in such process of adjustment as to
leave little for the commission to con-
slider under that head. The absolute
REIMBURSEMENT by Spain of all sover-
eighty over the islands in the West In
dies will allow only the property ques-
ti0ns to be settled between the gov
ernments, that is. what Spain shall
take away and what shall remain as
captures of 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 by the United States alone.
The fact that the Philippines will pre-
sent the difficult trouble in the peace
negotiations has caused the administra-
tion to give it a great deal of careful
attention.
Several suggestions have been made
as to what shall be done, one being
the retention of the bay, city and har-
bor of Manila, just what the protocol
gives temporarily. Another Is that
Subig bay and sufficient amount Of ter
ritOry for naval and coaling station
be secured and the building un Of an
American city at that place begun.
Eiill another idea which Is being con-
sidered is the retention Of the Island
OF LuZon, the advocates Of that plan
believing that there would be trouble
between the governments which oc-
cupied portion Of the island with a
line of demarcation. such as would cX-
lss in the case Manila and the bay only
were retained The Island Of LuZon Is
the largest 6f~tt, group, and contains
about 100000 people. which are said
to be the better class in the Philippines
II Is believed however, that the ad-
ministration and the commission will
be greatly Influenced by the reports
which Admiral Dewey and General
Merritt will make on the subject Their
reports are expected before the COM
mission meets.
The final determination as to the
government of Porto Rico and the set
Element of the government Of Cuba are
problems for settlement. but the i'm
PRESTON prevails that these islands will
become quite rapidly Americanized.
and every encouragement for them to
do so will be given. Porto Rico will
be under militia y control for the pres
ent. Cuba also will be similarly gov
erned, but it is probable that American
reforms in the matter of government
will be such that the people of Cuba
Will see the advantage Of becoming an
nexed to the United States. 1t IL
thought the sanitary improvement OF
Havana and other cities. the manage
ment Of the municipalities and llber-
ality offered the country people will
be Of such character as soon to con-
vince the people that the changed con-
ditions are for their good
There has been little doubt about
soon settling the transfer of Porto
Rico, and the reception which the
American troops have received in that
island is a justification for the belief.
Porto Rico will be treated at once as
an American possession. The first
movement in this direction will he the
sending Of a delegation Of officials from
the postoffice department to Investigate
and report upon the mail facilities
there now and to make such recon-
mendations as they determine upon.
Mail routes, methods or transporta-
ton and the condition of postof1ices
generally in the island will be examin-
ed. Military postoilces Will be es-
tablished at once wherever troops are
stationed. and at such other points as
may be demanded by the interests Of
Americans and the people of the ISL
0nds, If the present offices are not
available. A similar course will be
taken in Cuba, but this is likely to be
delayed, as the immediate removal of
the Spanish and the occupation of the
United States is not expected.
No more troops will be sent to Gem
eral Merritt unless he asks for them It
Is believed at the war department that
the 5000 men now there are sufficient
to garrison Manila and the ground
which the United States for the pres
ent Will occupy. All of the troops that
were with General Shafter in the San
tiago campaign will be out of Cuba
by Friday Of this week. General Shaf-
ter will accompany them to Mcntauk
Point. There will remain in Santiago
I'VE regiments Of immunes TO do gar
fison duty. 1t Is yet possible that
battery will be sent to Santiago TO take