The silver lance., 1898-08-05
NO ANSW eR YET.
Cabinet Discussing Terms to Be onered &c
Spain.


Cabinet Discussing Terms to Be onered te
Spain.
Washington, d. c., July 29.-Nearly
five hours of earnest discussion Dy tne
President and his constitutional advis-
ers of the nature of the response to be
made by the government to spanish
overture for peace brought no conciu-
sion, and the subject necessarily was
postponed for further consideration at
another meeting of the Cabinet to be
held at 1870 O'Clock tomorrow morn
ing.
Such was the formal statement of the
situation made at the conclusion OF the
days work by each 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 smooth
away inequalities and adjust some
very minor points of difference before
making the answer expected by Nj.
Cambon.
The point under discussion during the
greater part of the meeting was what
disposition should be made of the Phil
ippines. On the other issues unanim-
ity developed. There was to be inde-
pendence demanded for Cuba; Porto
Rico was to be ceded to the United
States; coaling stations were to be ac-
quired at Guam. in the Ladrone is
lands, and one in the Caroline islands.
These propositions were disposed of
quickly, but when it came to the Phil
ippines some diversity of opinion was
revealed. AS near as can be gathered
this did not relate mainly to the re-
tention of the islands, for on that prop
osition a majority of the Cabinet was
speedily recorded in the negative. But.
accepting broad proposition that
Spain was to be allowed to keep these
possessions, other questions of import
ance developed, and it 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 difference of
opinion as TO the location and extent of
this station. little difficulty was expect
ed to be encountered in solving that
problem, because the matter could be
referred to the Navy Board, which is
competent to deal with the subject
The perplexing problem was, What
form of government should be insti-
tuted in the Philippines, and what
should be the nature of the guarantee
required of Spain that the new govern
ment should be liberal and autonomous
in character? These questions hinged
on the primary decision to interfere at
lV.ale hi in, .1.z
conditions of the Philippines.
Some members of the Cabinet felt
that the insurgents under Aguinaldo.
having acted Independently of the
United States from the very beginning
of the insurrectiOnary movement, and
having lately shown a disposition to
make trouble for us, had no moral
claim upon the United States in the
settlement of terms of peace. On the
other hand, it was urged that our gov
ernment should lose no opportunity to
extend its principles throughout the
world, and that this would be done
best in the present case by recurring
Spain to extend genuine autonomy TO
the Philippines. 1t was upon Just such
points as this that the discussion pro-
ceeded all day.
point which was quickly established
was that there should be no reference
OF any phase of the question to 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 on it. was
that no protest against the continuance
OF military or naval operations pend
ing the peace negotiations would avail
IN the slightest; that there would be
no armistice. no suspension of opera
tons, nor any modification whatever
OF the present plans until the Spanish
government had agreed to the terms
proposed.
incident to the cession of Porto Rico
ana the recognition of Cuban indepen
dence by Spain, was the decision thar
every vestige of Spanish government
ana authority in the Caribbean and
west Indian waters must be removed
erecting material ACQUISITION of
numerous islands over which the Span.
lsh nag flies. one of the most important
OF which is the Isle of Pines. Further.
more, the sweeping change of authority
from Spain TO the United States Of
nearby waters is to be effective also
as quit claim of all Indebtedness as
sumed by the Spanish government and
charged by her to those islands. so far
as the United States is concerned and
all commercial treaties now existing
between the Spanish government and
her possessions there and outside now
ers are extinguished.