Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1898-09-12
DONS RECEIVE ORDERS
Porto Rican International Com.
mission Gets TO Work i'm
Due Time.
sAGAsTA's INSTRUCTIONS AT HAND
Reach San Juan Yesterday and the Two
Military Commissions Can Now Arrange
Evacuation-Our Cuban Commission at
Havana-TOday the Day to Begin the
Talk = Returning Volunteers Warmly
Welcomed at Western Homes.


Havana-Today the Day to Begin the
Talk - Returning Volunteers Warmly
Welcomed at Western Homes.
San Juan, Porto Rico. Sept. 1.-THE
Alfonso XIII arrived yesterday morning
from Barcelona bringing instructions
for the Spanish commissioners, with
mail and passengers. The Alfonso XIII
steamed into the harbor amid the boom
ing of the forts and the shore batteries.
The arrival of the instructions ends
what might have been called a strained
situation. The. first joint meeting of
the evacuation commissioners was held
In the council chamber of the palace
Saturday. 1t was exceedingly formal.
Major General Brooke, Rear Admiral
Schley and Brigadier General Gordon,
accompanied by their personal staffs,
drove to the palace, where they We're
formally presented to the Spanish COM
missioners. General Ortega. Brigadier
of Marine Vallerino, and Senor Aguila
auditor of war. The presentation was
made by Captain General Macias. Both
commissions then retired to the spacious
council room, where credentials We're
exchanged.
DOns Explains Their Embarrassment
The Spanish commissioners were most
courteous. They explained that their
embarrassment was due to the fact that
their instructions had failed to arrive,
though expected on the Alfonso XIII.
overdue since Friday. They assured
the American commissioners of their
confldnce that the instructions would
arrive during the day or yesterday and
suggested an adjournment until today
at , o'clock. to which the American
commissioners promptly agreed. The
American commissioners also agreed to
the suggestion that the sessions of the
commission should be secret, as many
questions of diplomatic character might
arise, which, if given publicity. might
emil arrass the work.
Our Commission Reaches Havana
Havana, Sept. 12.-The United States
transport Resolute, having the United
States Cuban evacuation commission
on board, entered the port shortly after
a. m. Saturday. Immediately after
the arrival of the Resolute, which
reached here flying some white bunting
forward and admirars ensign from
her E-ainmast. she was visited by the
commander of the French gunboat
Fulton. VINO boarded the Resolute in
full uniform. Shortly afterward a gov
ernment launch ran alongside the Reso-
lutte. She had on board DR.. Congosto,
the secretary general of the govern
IileHl, OeheTdl SOidnO, Ife CnleI Oh SIdII,
representing Captain General Blanco.
and Major Garcia Benitz. of the general
staff. Their visit lasted fully an hour.
Call on Captain General BIancO.
At 9:15 the American commissioners.
accompanied by the Spanish officers
re presenting Captain General Blanco,
landed at La Machina wharf and ar
rived at the palace at $40. where the
captain generals body guard presented
arms as they appeared. Captain Cen
eral Blanco dressed in full uniform, re-
ceiVed the commissioners in the recep-
tion room, where. after the formal pre-
seEtations had taken place and the off,
cial courtesies had been exchanged. they
sat down ard conferred for about twen-
ty minutes. The United States commits
sioners left the palace shortly after 10
O'Clock