The leader. [volume] (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1895-1905, 1898-08-03
CONSIDERED IN CABINET.
The Terms and Conditions Upon
Which the United States
Will Agree to Peace.
THE CABINET PRACTICALLY A UNIT.
win Govern the DIctation of
Terms. but UnfsitcrIng Firmness win
Characterize the Demand for Compli-
ance-Outside Powers win Not Have
Voice In the Settlement.

voice In the settlement.
WAsHINGroNs July 30.-Nearly five
hours earnest discussion by the presi-
dent and his constitutional advisers OF
the nature of the response to be made
by the government to the Spanish
overture for peace, brought no con-
clusion and the subject necessarily was
postponed for further consideration at
another meeting of the cabinet to be
held at 1890 this morning. Such
was the formal statement OF the situa-
tion made at the conclusion of the
days work by each member OF the
cabinet who was questioned upon the
subject.
A Substantial Agreement Reached.
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 upon all the substantial
points at issue, and that what remains
| to be done to-day is rather to smooth
away inequalities and adjust some very
| minor points of difference before max
ing the answer expected by NJ. Cam
bon.
What of the Philippines?
The point under discussion during
the greater part of the meeting was
what disposition should be made of the
Philippines. On the other questions
unanimity developed. There was to
be independence demanded for Cuba;
Porto Rico was to be coded to the
United States; coaling stations were
to be acquired at Guam in the Ladrone
islands, and one in the Caroline is
lands.
Were Quickly Disposed or.
These propositions were disposed of
quickly, but when it came to the Philip
pines some diversity of opinion was re-
vealed. As near as can be gathered
this does not relate mainly to the re-
tention of the islands. On that propo-
sition a ma jority of the cabinet was
speedily recorded in the negative.
But, accepting the brond proposition
that Spain was to be allowed to keep
these possessions,
Other Questions of Importance Developed,
and it was felt that these must be an
swered definitely before the subject
could be disposed OF. There was no
question as to the propriety of de-
manding coaling station in the Phil
ippines, and, while there reasonably
might be a difference of opinion of the
location and extent of this station, lit
tie difficulty was expected to be en-
counted in solving that problem.
because the matter could be referred
to the naval board, who are comp stent
to deal with the subject.
The Claims of the Philippine Insurgents.
Some members of the cabinet felt
that, the insurgents under Aguinaldo.
having acted Independently of TIE
United States from the very beginning
of the insurrectionarv move, and hav-
ing lately shown q disposition to make
trouble for us, had no moral claim
upon the United States in the settle
ment of the terms of peace. On the
other hand, it was urged that our gov
eminent should lose no opportunity to
extend it's principles throughout the
world, and that this would be done
best in the present cas-. by requiring
Spain to extend genuine autonomy to
the Philippines.
Outsiders VIII Have No Voice In the Settle
ment.
A point which was quickly cstab-
lished was that there should be no ref
erence of any phase of the question of
the disposition of the islands to any
concert or individual action by outside
hnt pnt-
tied, though there was no formal ac-
ton on it, was that no protest against
the continuance of military or naval
operations, pending the peace negotia-
tons would avail in the slightest;
that there would be no armistice, 10
suspension of operations, nor any mod.
itication whatever OF present plans I'M
I'll the Spanish government had agreed
to the terms proposed.
Every Vestige of spanish Authority Must
Cease.
Incident to the cession of Porto Rico,
and the recognition of Cuban indie
pendence by Spain was the decision
that every vestige of Spanish govern
mcnt and authority in the Caribbean
and West Indian waters must be re-
moved, effecting material acquisition
of numerous islands over which the
Spanish flag flies, one of the most i'm
portant of which is
The Isle OF Pines.
Furthermore, this sweeping change OF
authority from Spain to the United
States in our nearby waters is to be
effective also as a quitclaim of all in
debtedness assumed by the Spanish
government and charged by her to
those islands, SO far as the United
States is concerned, and all CONNER
cial treaties now existing between the
Spanish government and her posses
sions there and outside powers are ex.
tinguished.
Probability of Sp inish Acceptance.
Some discussion was had as to the
proba bility of the Spanish acceptance
OF our terms. The views differed,
though it can be stated that several of
the more influential members of the
cabinet believed that the terms sub
stantially agreed on would not be ac-
cepted by Spain at once. While be-
lieving that the proposition made should
IN III TtdSOu constitute the
to be considered, some believed that
Spain would not be Immediately dis
posed to reach an agreement on them,
and probably considerable lapse of
time would ensue before that govern
ment would be ready to yield.
One Factor in the Protracted Disc ussion
of the Philippines problem was the
absence of advices as to the existing
situation there on this date, point
that might be of considerable import
ance in the adjustment of the ques-
ton. The unconfirmed dispatch re-
porting Manila had surrendered was
read and commented upon as indica-
ting that definite action without the
knowledge of the exact situation at