The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-07-30


hours of earnest discussion by the
president and his cabinet of the ma
ture of the response to be made by the
government to the Spanish overtures
for peace brought no conclusion end
the subject necessarily was postponed
for consideration at another meeting
of the cabinet to meet at 10:30 O'Clock
tomorrow. Such was the formal state
ment made at the conclusion of the
days work by a member of the cabinet
who was questioned upon the subject.
A final conclusion, however, is much
nearer than this statement would seem
to indicate, and indeed there is little
reason to doubt that an agreement has
been reached on all substantial points
at issue and that what remains to be
done tomorrow is rather to smonrh
away inequalities and adjust some ve-y
minor points OF difference before max
ing the answer expected by NJ. Cam
bon.
The point under discussion during
the greater part of the meeting was
what disposition should be made of the
unity developed. There was to be m
dependence demanded for the Cubans;
Porto Rico was to be ceded to the
United States; coaling stations were to
be acquired at Guam, in the Ladrone
islands, and one in the Caroline islands
These propositions were disposed Of
quickly, but when it came to the Philip
revealed. AS near as can be gathered,
this did not relate mainly to the retan-
tion of the islands, for on that propo-
sition a majority of the cabinet was
speedily recorded in the negative But,
accepting the broad proposition that
Spain was to be allowed to keep these
possessions. other questions of import
ance developed, and 1t was felt that
these must be answered definitely be-
fore the subject could be disposed of.
There was no question as to the pro-
priety of demanding the coaling sta
tion in the Philippines. and while there
reasonably might be a difference Of
opinion as to the location and extent
of this station. little difficulty was ex-
pected to be encountered in solving
that problem because the matter could
be referred to the navy board, who are
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 If
Spain that the new government should |
be liberal and autonomist in character. |
These questions hinged on the primary |
decision to interfere at all in prescrib- |
ing a change in the conditions in the |
Philippines. Some members of the |
cabinet felt that the insurgents under |
having acted independently |
Of the United States from the beginning |
Of the insurrectionary movement, ana /
having lately shown a disposition to
make trouble for us. had no moral |
claims upon the United States in the
settlement of terms of peace. On the
other hand, ii was urged that our gov
should lose no opportunity 10
extend it's principles throughout the
world and that this would be done best
m the present case by requiring Spain
10 extend genuine autonomy to the
Philippines. 1t was upon just such
points as this that the discussion pro-
,eeded all day.
A point which was quickly estab-
ished was that there should be no ref
renee of any phase Of the question of
he disposition of the islands to any con-
ert or individual action by outside
'owers. Another point that was set
led, though there was no formal action
n 1t, was that no protest against the
ontinuance of military or naval opera
ions pending the peace negotiations
would avail in the slightest: that there
Fould be no armistices: no suspension
Z operations, nor any modification
Fhatever of present plans until the
panish government had agreed to the
erms proposed. Incident to the cession
D Porto Rico and the recognition of