The times., 1898-06-08
THE TIDE OF CONFLICT
The President and Cabinet Form.
ulatiRg a Foreign Policy.
NOT YET FULLY DECIDED
Cuba and Porto Rico to Be Held,
But the Philippines Present
More Serious Problem, Which Has
Not Iet Been Sofyed-War to BE
ReIentIessly Pressed to Finish.

Anticipat ting the momentous events that
are expected to occur during this week
of war, and considering the high signifi-
cance of things that have but lately
transpired in West Indian waters. the
Cabinet at its session yesterday fully APP
preciated the urgency of finally deter
mining state policy concerning the ac-
QUESTION of Spanish possessions. 1t can
be stated on high authority that the Ad-
ministration has squareiy faced the issue,
with the result that policy hitherto held
in uncertain embryo has been fully out
lined and determined upon.
Porto Rico, when taken, will be held
and permanently occupied as American
territory. Under no consideration will it
ever revert to Spain.
Cuba, also, VIII be held as American
territory until il can be handed over to
a new Cuban Republic. which shall have
first demonstrated a satisfactory stabil-
ity, equal To the responsibility of govern
ing free and independent people. What
reimbursement this Government shall de-
mand for freeing the island from Spain
has yet to be decided
This is the official state policy so far as
il concerns Porto Rico and Cuba, and
was finally determined al yesterdays
Cabinet meeting.
the Philippine problem Is not easily
4lSl1OEtG OF ne administration IS sun
undecided On this issue and viii give it,
self ample time fai. deliberate considera-
tion OF a ques' hich shall either in
sert the wedge oI American conquest in
foreign waters or uuench perhaps for
ever sent ment now growing with the
people TO prosecute every advantage of
| territorial expansion.
Members of Congress are daily besieg-
I ing the President for an expression Of his
/ plans concerning the final disposition of
/ the Philippine question In the House
particularly. there is a rapidly growing
sentiment in favor of re- aiming possession
OF the islands. which. en- the part OF some,
amounts to an enthusiastic fervor when
contemplating the spectacle OF this Gov
ernTnent entering upon a policy. If no.
really Of conquest in the fast. q lea:t
4 of becoming an element in the future
history of the Orient
1t Is almost certain that this sentiment
/ Is supported by a majority in the House,
/ not being confined by any means to either
side of the chamber, and these things are
/ being pressed upon the attention of The
/ President There are business interests.
also. that will attempt 10 exercise an in
/ tuence over the ultimate disposition OF
] the Philippine question and * would not
/ come in the nature of a surprise should
! the Administration declare its purpose Of
/ claiming to America the territory now
held under the frown of Dewey's guns.
! During its session yesterday the Cabi-
| net considered important official advices
1 from Gen. Nelson A. Miles, which were
laid before il by Secretary Alger. These
I advices We're denied publicity. and very
little thas is authentic can be given of
their true significance
II is known. however, that Gen. Miles
reported the readiness of a second army
OF invasion to sail for Santiago and a
hT~-1
Just as an evidence of the strict censor
ship exercised by the War Department
over its movements. II may be remarked
that not until forced to defend Itself
against the numerous attacks called forth
by the alleged unfitness of troops now
mobilized in the South for the West In
dian invasion did the department admit
that light uniforms and other TROPICAL
camp supplies had been forwarded TO the
I various points of rendezvous in Florida.
1t now appears that hammocks Canvas
uniforms and other such supplies have
been forwarded 10 the troops mob,izsd
in the South awaiting the word of com
mand to sail on the invasion campaign.
OF course only small percentage of the
troops have yet been equipped for a trop-
ical campaign. but they are sufficient tor
a very formidable army of invasion and
viii be dispatched to the scene of action
at once. while those left behind are be
ing rapidly provided for
The advices from Gen. Miles also hear
valuable information of the relative
strength and weakness of the Spanish
and rebel land forces in Cuba and Porto
Rico. II is the evident purpose of tie
Administration to conduct the war Inde.
pendent Of insurgent assistance as far rs
practicable. and hence the information
containet in Gen. Miles's advices viii be
acted upon only 50 far as it is concerned
with the Spanish forces.
With each succeeding day the Admin
istratiOn grows more and more confident
Of the ultimate success of the plan ot
campaign now in operation, and expects
the present week to completely revolu.
tionize the tide Of conflict.