The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1898-07-28

For the Islands a Perm nput pOCaCo-
Slon-out government MOI disposed 10
Press Spain For n Heavy Indcmnitv
unless Ihere Should BE Further Stub
born Resistance on the Part of That
NoNeinirent'
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wasbirgtop Univ rho initiation
of o,,o,,,,r,, Co.. 80, t,,,.. t,,,a 49, 80
'N' VI e"SPei'uihs III d l"i Se IlcaSute'
loI 'ile 'lihe pealhs at least interest III
the military and naval situation
Ihoush IL is known through the open
admission Of members OF the admins
tratlon that the present peace phase
would remain unchanged until after to-
| days cabinet meeting, there was still
eVinced a disposition to discuss this
matter In it's every aspect. Naturally
! the first point of inquiry was the exact
shape taken by the Spanish presenta-
tion. Curiosity on this point remained
ungratiied, and must probably so con-
tinue for some days to come, the presi-
dent having decided that nothing more
definite than the statement issued from
the White House on Tuesday shall be
given to the public at this time. The
motive is prudential one and the
president has even gone so far as to
suggest to the Madrid authorities the
expediency of keeping the text of the
Spanish overture from publication at
this time.
The next point of interest was the
character and extent of the demand
likely TO be made by the United States
as the condition of peace. 1t is felt THAI
the terms of peace, both from Spain
and the United States may be some
days off, as there doubtless Will be con-
siderable diplomatic fencing at the
outset before the actual point of stat
ing terms is reached. There will be
much discussion In all likelihood also
regarding an armistice, for 1t is the dis
tinct purpose of the Spanish authorities
to secure a suspension of hostilities
pending the negotiations for peace. 1t
may be that the application will be
granted, but If so It will be only under
the most effective safeguards to pre-
vent loss of any advantage to the |
United States, and upon binding |
pledges that certain well defined OBJ |
1ects are to be conceded to us.
1t is virtually admitted by leading
members Of the administration that
upon only one point in peace negotia-
tions is there likely to be serious fric-
tion and that relates to the future of
the Philippines. AS to Cuba and Porto
Rico. our government feels that there
is a reasonable certainty of encounter
ing little opposition to our demands.
The Spanish government might in
sist upon the proposition thrown out
by the vatican, namely that the United
States shall annex Cuba, the ostensible
purpose being to secure full protection
for the Spanish element left in the
island, but while this would be a vexa-
tious point 1t would yield to adjust
ment.
AS to the Philippines there is full |
expectation of greater difficulties to be |
surmounted There is reason to believe |
that these difficulties, like the Cuban
settlement, will be rather internal than
international in their character, at |
least from the outside. The president |
is firmly of the opinion that the United |
States has no use for the islands as a
permanent possession. The gravest
problems of the government would re-
suit were the attempt to be made to
annex them, owing to the heterege-
neous and I'll favored character of the |
large population of the island, while |
any effort to unite with other powers |
in joint administration might be fair
ly expected to result as unsatisfactory
as the tripartite agreement between the
United States, Great Britain and Ger
many for the government Of the Sa-
moan group. However, there are evil
dences that a large element in the
United States are of the opinion that
the islands should be acquired by the
United States, and 1t is hoped by the
president that before 1t comes to the
formulation officially of the United
States demand, public sentiment in this
country through newspaper discussion
and otherwise Will have so far crysta-
lized as TO enable the government to
perceive the popular demand clearly.
There Is little reason TO doubt that
spain has made up her mind to give up
Cuba 1t Is almost equally certain that
Spain recognizes that she must consent
also TO the abandonment OF Porto Rico.
with these two vital points passed
there Is every disposition here not to