The herald., 1898-11-02
A CABINET SESSION
Failure Of Peace Negotiations Causes
No Fear

WASHINGTON, Nov. 1.-The Cabine
today devoted most OF its attention to con
sideration of questions in connection will
the administration OF affairs in Cuba ant
Porto Rico. The administration feature O
the Philippine question also received some
attention. Nothing has been heard from
the commission at Paris as to yesterday
proceeding, and it is realized that nothing
is to be expected in the way of develop
ments until Fridays session.
While the Cabinet gave little attention
today to the peace negotiations at Paris,
there is no longer any doubt as to the gen
eral purposes of this government to retain
the entire Philippine archipelago, If after
final balancing or accounts, VIZ, the cost OF
the war to the United States, on one side,
and our acquisitions on the other, it is
found that any compensation is due the
Spaniards, it will be made i'll a lump sum.
1t is pointed out that at the time the pro-
tocol was signed the United States did not
have and had not since acquired any part
of the Philippine Islands outside of Manila
city and harbor, and that the United States
has never entertained purpose to acquire
any territory by the power of conquest.
What the United States will insist upon is
that she must be fully reimbursed for every
dollar expended by her on account of the
war, and in the statement will be included
an amount sufficient to cover all payments,
present and prospective, on account of pen
sions incidental to the war. No bonds,
other than local or municipal, will be paid
or assumed by this governments. The ques-
tion of the status of the municipal obliga-
tions is fully settled by international law.
They must be recognized as valid and bind
ing by the conquering power, and hence it
is assumed that the United States will nat
raise any question on this point, but prompt
ly consent to guarantee their final pay
hot 1t
would consent to pay to Spain cannot even
be estimated, but when the final account
is rendered, it is believed that the balance
due Spain will be small, probably not ex-
ceeding S25,000,000 or S30,000,0 600 The be-
lief still prevails among the majority that
the Spaniards will accept the terms laid
down by the United States and that what
ever delay occurs before that result is
reached will be chargeabe only to the pur-
pose of the Spaniards to secure the best
terms, to extort the last possible million
dollars before accedng to our demands
possibility of the disagreement of the
commissioners and the failure of the confer
ence, however, is now contemplated with
greater equanimity than at an earlier stage
of the negotiations The administration has
satisfied itself that Spain is neither able nor
willing to resume hostilities on any scale
that would make her a dangerous oponent
to the United States.
Therefore, supposing the Paris conference
fails, all that would be imposed upon our
government is an immediate duty to take
complete military possession of the Philip
pines.
This, it is believed could be accomplished d
by the United States, without loss of life, or
time. The last vestige of, Spanish military
power in the islands is that under Colonel
Rios, commander-in- chief of the Visayas
islands, and deputized authority in charge
of all Spanish territory not directly within
the control of the United States, in the Phil
ippine islands. His force is insignificant
from military point of view and it is
doubted if he couldlhold his own against the
insurgents had the Tagals been allowed by
Admiral Dewey to make Manila the base of
an expedition directed against the Spanish
commander.
CUBAN QUESTIONS
So far as Cuba is concerned, the difficulty
might be more serious, but even in Cuba
the Spanish military forces are NOT in con
dition to offer prolonged resistance to The
American conquest of the island, and with
the Spanish navy at the bottom of the sea
they could not be reinforced by troops from
Spain. Therefore. about the worst that
could happen would be the necessity imposed
upon us' of struggling along without the sig.
nature of treaty of peace, but in full nos.
session OF all the territory we desire; and
that such conditions can exist without dam.
age to the material interests of the United