The San Francisco call., 1898-05-10

the following: Some desultory discus sion occurred at the Cabinet meeting to-day as to the character Of the gov ernment that should be given to the Philippines. The cabinet had been called together by the President, in ac- cordance with his usual custom, to read over his message to Congress on the battle of Manila Bay, and when the reading was concluded the talk turned to the establishment of some sort of government in the islands. A propo- sition was made to form a commission, consisting of Rear Admiral Dewey, Consul Wildman at Hongkong and Con- sul Williams, formerly at Manila, who would administer a government of the islands, but 1t was not adopted.
 decision was reached, being to lay the question aside until the army had started from San Francisco. The an- nouncement was made upon the conclu sion of the Cabinet meeting that it had finally been determined to send rein forcements to Rear Admiral Dewey. No coal or naval supplies will be sent as Rear Admiral Dewey has informed the department that there is supply of coal at Manila capable of lasting for an indefinite period and he has an am pie quantity of food supplies for his fleet. Ammunition will be carried to him by the cruiser Charleston, which will convoy the troops to Manila
 Chief Naval Constructor Hichborn said to-day that in view of the safety of the American warships instructions had been given revoling former orders for a collection of lumber, plate, steel and tools, which were to have been fn mil (.rab hoo of Picking. Naval Constructor W. L. Capps will go as the representative of the Construction Bureau to gather what information he can for future guidance of the Navy Department in the construction of new men-of-war.
 T expect, of course, that the line of HcerS on board Rear-Admiral DeWey'S fleet will send such information as they can secure, said the chief naval con- structor, "but MT. Capps, I am confi- dent, will be able to obtain information which will be of great value in the con- struction of future men-of-war and es- pecially of those authorized by the re- cent naval appropriation law"
 It has been definitely decided that an army of 5000 men will be sent under command of Major-Gen Merriam to assist Rear-Admiral Dewey in estab- fishing American sovereignty in the Philippines. The quartermaste gen. eral has already made the necessary arrangements for obtaining transports for this army. All the steamships of the Pacific Mail and Panama lines have been put at the disposal of the Government, and I am told that the entire number of ships will be ob- tained from these companies. The yes sels are fast and very large.
 At the Cabinet meeting to-day ar engagements were made for the eStab- liShment of a provost court at Manila. ,tr-% @< naval officer, who will have complete jurisdiction over the internal affairs of the Philippines. No appointments to this possible position has yet been made.
 In the general orders governing the volunteer army, issued to-day by the War Department, these troops were designated to be mobilized and em- parked at San Francisco for service in Manila:
 California, two regiments of infantry and two batteries of heavy artillery; Oregon, one regiment Of infantry; Washington, one regiment of infantry; Idaho, one regiment of infantry, and Utah, two batteries of light artillery and one troop of cavalry. These troops together with part of the Third Ar tiIlery and four companies of the Four teenth Infantry will constitute the army for the Philippines.
 Keenly alive to the possibility of the United States transferring the Philip pines to another power, Europe IS watching with interest the policy or this country with respect to their ulti- mate destination. It can be stated on high diplomatic authority that rather than the Philir pines should become the possession of any other nation, provid- | ed they cannot be returned to Spain, | Europe as a whole prefers that they l shall remain the property of the Amer1- |
 ~ Tx1r -snxrr of "a a hGr lute neutrality observed by Great Brit ain, as stated in the Herald. diplomats here regard 1t as practically impossible for the great powers to reach an agree ment for the exertion of pressure upon | the Washington Government, as re- suit of which 1t will withdraw from the Eastern islands. Such being the | case, Europe desires that the American flag shall continue to wave over the land which Rear Admiral Dewey has | conquered.
 I talked to-day with a high State De- partment official who keeps in close touch with the President and with members of the diplomatic corps in re- gard the disposition to be made of the islands He said:
 '.The Presidents policy with respect to the Philippines is undefined so far as their ultimate disposition is concerned. For the present they are under the con- trol of the military forces of this Gov ernment, and the status will finally be determined when the treaty of peace is signed One thing is certain, if the United States does not retain posses sion of all the islands, it will keep a coaling station in the far East for the benefit of American warships and American commerce. The administra- ton feels that Europe has nothing to do with the disposition of the conquer ed islands. think Europe feels the same way Great Britain and Japan are naturally delighted that the islands l shall have passed into American hands, | but France and Russia do not regard l the entrance of this Government into Eastern affairs with satisfaction, and commercial jealousy causes the Berlin Government to look at the matter in much the same way as do Russia and France
 
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