The herald., 1898-07-30


debt the only questions to be dealt with
| the terms on which the United States would
willingly cease hostilities could be stated
without hesitation or embarrassment.
with the American plans and purposes in
the Far East so poorly defined and so
difficult of determination the task of draw
irg terms on which peace between the
countries may be restored in that quarter
| of the globe seems a most puzzling and
| exactng one.
Indeed, it may have been the Interior
motive of Spanish diplomacy in asking the
| United States to suggest terms of peace to
| force the President into a declaration of
| American intentions in the Far East
which might be used to embroil this coun-
| try with other powers whose apprehen-
sions have been aroused at the prospective
appearance of the United States as new
factor in Far Eastern policies With this
country's campaign against the Spanish
forces at Manila but half ended, and with
| the political and military situation in the
| Philippine group still absolutely chaotic
the American demand has apparently moth
| ing to gain by anticipating developments
| there by expressing to the world the views
it holds as to the ultimate control and gov
eminent of the islands Indeed. the hope
| is expressed by men of all shades of opinion
| that if a definite statement is made to the
| Spanish Cabinet of the condition which the
| United States deems essential to the restor-
alton of peace, the right will be reserved
| by this country to deal with the Philippines
| in the light of the fuller knowledge which
will come from the complete conquest and
| occupation of Manila and the whole Is
| land of Luzon.
In connection with the peace negotiations
some significance was attached to the fact
| that the members of the War Board con-
| ferred with Secretary Long in his office just
| before that official left for the Cabinst
meeting. While these conferences are fire.
quent there was disposition to regard this
particular one as having a bearing on the
present negotiations, AS Captain Mahan and
| the other naval strategists composing this
board would be able to give valuable ad-
vice on the strategic value and necessity of
coaling stations in the Philippines, La
drones and other points on the highway to
| the Orient.
Secretary Day has clear idea as to what
| he desires and when he left the State De-
partment today for the White House he
had his views outlined and ready for sub
mission to the Cabinet in documentary
| form.
1t may be that the Secretary's presenta-
ton of the case will be so clear and conclu-
| sive as to induce the remainder of the
| Cabinet to assent at once to the program
he has outlined, in which case it will be en-
tirely possible to return an answer to the
Spanish government through M. Cambon
within the course of the day. The Presi-
| dent has not, so far as can be learned,
| changed in any degree his disposition to
take the American people into his conf
| dence in dealing with this most difficult
and delicate subject, and about the only re-
straint that Is imposed upon publicity at
this stage is that caused by the observance
of the amenities of the diplomatic ex-
change.
| Thus 1t will be necessary to communicate
to the French Ambassador the decision of
the administratio before the same can be
made public. This Is the rigid requirement
| of diplomatic courtesy. and to fail In this
| apparently trivial point would be to invite
| remonstrance that might end in the serious
interruption of the negotiations. 1t is
said that the governments response will
be handed to- NJ Cambon, whence it may
| fairly be inferred that the Ambassador is
to call in person for 1t a the White House
as soon as he is notified that the answer Is
ready The simple matter of handing this
communication to the Ambassador may in
volve quite important results. In the event
of its being sent to him or handed to him,
| this act will be In the nature of finality
and there will be nothing remaining for the
Ambassador to do but to forward the COM
munication to Madrid. If, on the other
hand, he is invited to the White House
10 ha mt