The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-07-30


hours of earnest discussion by the presi-
dent and his constitutional advisers of
the nature OF the response TO be made
by the government TO the Spanish over
lures for peace brought no conclusion
and the subject was postponed for fur
ther consideration. There is little reason
TO doubt that an agreement has been
at issue. and that what remains TO be
done is rather TO smooth away inequali-
ties and adjust minor points of difference
before making the answer expected by
Mr. Cambon.
The point under discussion during the
greater part Of the meeting was what
disposition should be made OF the Philip
pines. On the other issues unanimity
developed. There was to be indepen-
dence for Cuba; Porto Rico was TO be
ceded to the United States. and coaling
stations were to be acquired at Guam in
the Ladrone and the Caroline islands.
These propositions were disposed OF
quickly. but when IL came 10 the Philip
pines some diversity OF opinion was re-
vealed. AS near as can be gathered this
the islands on which proposition ma
Jority OF the cabinet was speedily re-
corded in the negative: but accepting the
broad proposition that Spain was to be
allowed to keep these possessions, other
questions of Importance developed and
II was felt that these must be answered
definitely before the subject could be
disposed Of. There was no question as
to the propriety OF demanding a station
sin the Philippines. and. while there
reasonably might be a difference of opin-
ion as to the location and extent of this
station. little difficulty was expected to
be encountered In solving that problem.
because the matter could be referred
fo'the naval war board whose members
are competent to deal with the subject.
The perplexing problem was what form
OF government should be Instituted In
the Philippines. and what should be the
nature OF the guarantee required of Spain
that Sthe new government should be
liberal and autonomous In character.
These two questions hinged on the
primary decision 10 interfere at all in
prescribing a change In the conditions
In the Philippines. Some members of
the cabinet felt that the insurgents an
der Aguinaldo. having acted indepen-
IDENTIFY Of the United States from the very
beginning OF the insurrection, and hav-
ing lately Ohown disposition to make
trouble for us, had no moral claim upon
the United States in the settlement of the
terms OF peace. On the other hand IL was
urged that our government should lose
no opportunity to extend its principles
throughout the world and that this could
be done In the present case by requiring
Spain to extend genuine autonomy to
the Philippines. IL was on such points
ms these that the discussion proceeded
all day.
A point which was quickly established
was that there should be no reference Of
any phase OF the question of the dis
position of the islands to any concert or
individual action by outside powers.
Another point that was settled. though
there was no formal action, was that no
protest against the continuance of mill
tary or naval operations pending the
peace, negotiations would avail in the
slightest; that there would be no armis-
tice, no suspension OF operations. nor
any modification whatever OF the present
agreed to the terms proposed. ~
Incidental to the cession.of Porto Rico
and the recognition of Cuban indepen-
dence by Spain was the decision that
every vestige OF Spanish government
and authority in the Caribbean and
West Indian waters must be removed.
effecting a-msterial acquisition of num-
erous islands over which the Spanish
flag flies, one OF the most important of
which is the Isle Of Pines. Furthermore
this sweeping change Of authority from
Spain TO the United States in our nearby
waters Is to be effective also as quit
claim OF all Indebtedness assumed by
Spain and charged by her TO those ISL
ands. so far as the United States Is con-
cerned and all commercial treaties now
existing between Spain and her pos
sessions there and outside powers are
, extinguished.
Some discussion was had as TO the
probability OF the Spanish acceptance OF
our terms. The views differed, though
II can be stated that several OF the most
influential members of the cabinet be-
jieved that the terms substantially
agreed on would not be accepted by Spain
at once. While believing that the prop
ositions made should In all reason con.
stitute the minimum to be considered.
some expressed the belief that Spain
would not be Immediately disposed To
reachsan agreement, on them. and that
possibly considerable time would elapse
before that government would be ready
TO yield. meantime seeking a compro.
mica vxf,fch IN .s,o n % orfad ua n not IN Ia
entertained for a moment. Others took
the ground THAT there was every indica-
tion that Spain had decided to make
terms. and that what was now proposed
would soon be acceded to to avoid fur.
ther disaster. -t
One factor In the protracted discussion