The record-union., 1898-07-30
Disposition Of the Philippines the
Point at Issue.
Independence of Cuba and the Ceding OF
Porto Rico to the United States, With
Cod!lng Stations in LadrOne and
CarOIireS Determined Upon.


hours earnest discussion by the Pres
ident and his constitutional advisers
on the nature of the response to be
made by the Government to the Span
ism overture for peace brought no con-
clusion, and the subject necessarily vas
postponed for further consideration at
another meeting of the Cabinet TO be
held at 1920 tomorrow morning. Such
was the formal statement of the situa-
ton made at the conclusion Of the day 5
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 agreem ent 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 differences 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
Philippines. On the other issues una
nimity developed. There was to be
independence demanded for Cuba;
Porto Rico was to be ceded to, the Uni
ted States; coaling stations were TO be
acquired at Guam in the Ladrone Isl
ands and one in the Caroline Islands
These propositions We're 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 rhe re
tention Of the islands, for on that prop
osition a majority of the Cabinet was
speedily recorded in the negative. But
accepting the broad proposition that
Spain was to be allowed to keen 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 thece
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
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 na-
fure OF the guarantee required OF Spain
that the new government should he
liberal and autonomous in character.
These questions hinged on the primary
decision to interfere at all in prescrih
ing change in the condition Of the
Philippines. Some members Of the
Cabinet felt that the insurgents under
Agu1naldo have acted independently of
the United States from the very be-
ginning Of the insurrectionary move
ment. and having lately shown a dis
position 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
Government should lose no opportunity
to extend its principles throughout the
world and that this would be done best
TO extend genuine autonomy to The
Philippines. 1t was upon just such
points as this that the discussion pro-
ceeded 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 in
it. was that no protest against the con-
tinuance of military or naval operations
pending the peace negotiations would
avail in the slightest; that there would
be no armstice: no suspension Of OPP
erations, nor any modification whatever
of present plans until the Spanish Gov
ernment had agreed to the terms pro-
posed.
Incident to the cession of Porto Rico
and the recognition of Cuban independ-
ence by Spain was the decision that
every vestige of Spanish Government
and authority in the Caribbean and
West Indian waters must be removed.
effecting material acquisition of nu-
merous islands over which the Spanish
flag 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 near
by waters is TO be effective also as q
quit claim of all indebtedness assumed