The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1898-10-04
THE PEACE COMMISSION.
The Joint Sessions Adjourned Un-
til Friday Next.
IMPORTANT AMERICAN DEMAND.

1t Is Believed Our Representatives
Have Assumed an Attitude That
Makes 1t Necessary For the Span
iards to Consult with Madrid.
Paris. Oct. 4.-The American peace
commissioners held session yester-
day morning at their own offices. pre-
paratory to, the second meeting with.
the Spanish commissioners, which be-
gan at the commissions rooms in the
foreign office Immediately after their
assembling there at 2 o'clock in the
afternoon. The session lasted until
O'clock at which hour the commission
ers adjourned to meet at o'clock next
Friday afternoon, such interval being
desirable and necessary to allow sepa-
rate consideration by each commission
of matters requiring such course before
the joint commission. The interval will
be thus filled with work by each COM
mission the ultimate results being thus
facilitated.
The secretary Of the Spanish commits
sion arrived last night and the interval
will also be employed by the secretaries
Jointly in maturing plans for the work
hIlu pIOCcuuIS, WI lAC <AuiSiltdh
commissioners were at luncheon yes
terday General Merritt called at their
hotel, but he did not wait to see them.
He called again this morning to meet
the members of the commission.
The Spanish and American commits
sioners were received this afternoon by
President Faure. General Merritt ac-
companied the Americans to this func-
tion. which was held at the Palais de
Elysee.
The opinion Is now held that the
work of the commission may be fin
ished within a month from the present
time. While 1t Is the general impress
sion that. yesterdays meeting was
again devoted to preliminaries and that
the adjournment to Friday was taken !
only to enable the secretaries to draw
up a schedule of work, the representa-
tives of the press have learned that the
session was highly important, and that
the Americans have made demand of
such character that the Spaniards
found it necessary to ask for an ad-
journment in order to enable them to
consult with the government at Mad
rid.
1t is believed that the question con-
Germs the Philippines. and it Is known
that the Americans are highly pleased
at having so soon reached what they
consider very important phase of the
negotiations, and consider the two ses-
sions thus far held as very satisfactory
to America. The fact that a member
of the commission expressed the belief
that the work would be completed
within a month indicates happy
frame of mind.
In the Spanish camp great hopes are
built on what they believe General
Merritt will advise. namely. that the
Philippines are incapable of self gov
ernment, and that the whole situation
does not warrant America in taking
responsibility for the entire Philip
pines. The Spaniards are quite ready
to give whatever America asks in the
way of coaling stations, but will re-
sist more to the verge of a renewal Of
hostilities.
The Spanish commissioners are cold.
ly courteous and seemingly unl1inching
in their no surrender attitude respect
ing the Philippines. They apparently !
fully appreciate the difficulties in
America regarding the army misman-.
agement and the resulting natural de- .
sire to get the work of the commits
sion concluded most speedily These
circumstances encourage the Spaniards
to remain obdurate.