The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-07-30
Spaniards May Be Permitted to Retain All
the Group Except Coaling Station.
Naval Bases in the CarOnes and LadrOnes to Be De-
manded-No Money Indemnity-Cabinet to Meet
Again To-Day and Forward It's Answer.

WASHINGTON. July 29-Nearly FIVE
hours earnest discussion by the President
and his constitutional advisers of the nature
Of the response to be made by the govern
ment to the Spanish overture for peace
brought no conclusion, and the subject
necessarily was postponed for further con-
sideration at another meeting of the Cabi-
net to be held at half past 10 o'clock to-
morrow morning. Such was the formal
statement of the situation made at the con-
clusion of the days work by each member
of the Cabinet who was questioned on 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 the substantial points at
issue, and that what remains to be done to-
morrow is rather to smooth away inequali-
ties and adjust some very minor points of
difference before making the answer ex-
pected by M. Cambon
The point under discussion during the
position should be made of the Philippines
On the other issues unanimity developed
There was to be independence demanded for
Cuba; Porto Rico was to be ceded to the
United States; coaling station was to be
acquired at Guam, in the Ladrone islands
and another in the Caroline islands. These
propositions were disposed of quickly. but
when 1t came to the Philippines some di-
versity of opinion was revealed AS near
as can be gathered this did not relate main
ly to the retention of the islands; on that
proposition a majority of the Cabinet was
speedily recorded in the negative. But ac-
cepting the broad proposition that Spain
was to be allowed to keep these possessions
other questions of Importance developed,
and 1t was felt these must be answered def
nitely before the subject could be disposed
or There was no question as to the pro-
priety Of demanding a coaling station in the
Philippines, and, while there reasonably
might be difference of opinion of the loca-
tion and extent of this station, little diff
Guilty was expected to be encountered in
solving that problem because the matter
could be referred to the naval board. which
is competent to deal with the subject
THE GREAT PROBLEM.
The perplexing problem was what form of
government should be instituted in the Phil
ippines. and what should be the nature of
the guarantee required of Spain that the
new government should be liberal and an
tonomous in character. These two questions
hinged on the primary decision to interfere
at all in prescribing a change in the condi
tions in 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 insurectionary movement, and hay-
ing lately shown disposition to make
trouble for US. had no moral claim on the
United States in the settlement of the terms
of peace. On the other hand. it was urged
that our government should lose no oppor-
tunity to extend its principles throughout
the world, and that this would be done
best in the present case by requiring Spain
TO extend genuine autonomy to the Philip
pines. 1t was upon just such points as this
that the discussion proceeded all day.
A point which was quickly established
was that there should be no reference of
any phase of the question of the disposition
OF the islands to any concert or individual
action by outside powers. Another point
that was settled. though there was no for
NAL action in it. was that no protest against
the continuance of military or naval opera
tions. pending the peace negotiations. would
avail in the slightest; that there would b.
no armistice, no suspension of operations.
nor any modification whatever of present
plans until the Spanish government had
agreed to the terms proposed Incident to
the cession of Porto Rico and the recosni-
ton Of Cuban independence by Spain was
the decision that every vestige of Spanish
government and authority in the Caribbean
and West Indian waters must be removed.
effecting a material acquisition of numer-
Gus islands over which the Spanish flag
flies. Of the most important of which is
the Isle OF Pines.
WILL ASSUME NO DEBTS
Furthermore. this sweeping change OF au-