The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-09-29
Views of a Paris Newspaper ON the
ippines and Possible Results.
WHAT CUBA HAS COST SPAIN
NEARLY FOUR THOUSAND MILLION
PEsETAs THROWN AWAY.
EngIishmen Anxious to Know Out
ener to Retire-Treasure Found.

PARIS. Sept. 2S.-The United States
peace commission went into session at IL
o'clock this morning. During the afternoon
the commissioners assisted at their first for
NAL function in France-their reception by
the minister of foreign affairs, NJ Delcasse.
AT 3 O'Clock the United States ambassador,
Gen. Horace Porter, called at the Conti-
mental Hotel for the Americans. He took
three of them into his own carriage, and
the remainder, with Secretary Moore fol-
lowed in another carriage, through the Rue
de Rivoli, over the Place de la Concorde
across the River Seine to the ministry of
foreign affairs. M Henri vignaud, the Sec
retary of the United States embassy, led
the way into the building. General Porter,
Judge Day and the others followed The
party was received Immediately by M.
Crosier, who showed the Americans into
the ante-room of the minister's chamber
After few moments of waiting the doors
were opened and the party entered the room
occupied by the minister of foreign affairs.
and We're presented in turn to NJ. Delcasse,
who cordially greeted the visitors and bid
them take seats
Through NJ Vignaud, who acted as in
terpreter (M. Delcasse only speaking
F'rench), the party chatted briefly upon
generalities and the minister finally assured
the commissioners of the great pleasure
experienced by France in the part she has
taken IN erecting a suspension of HOSTILE
ties between Spain and the United States
and expressed the hope of having the pleas
ure OF meeting the American commissioners
and the Spanish commissioners at break
fast Tomorrow. M. Delcasse added that
AFTER having thus brought the two commits
sions together and Offering them the hospi-
talities OF the Salon for the conference the
French government would efface itself
Judge Day. as president of the United
States commission, responded He said the
United States appreciates the good offices
of France. and after M. Delcasse had cx-
pressed his pleasure at such recognition of
the disinterested action of France, the in
tecview ended and the Americans retired.
The minister of foreign affairs, at 1890
p. m tomorrow, will give a breakfast at
the Foreign Office to the United States and
Spanish commissions, thus bringing them
together for the first time The session of
the United States commission to-day did
not result in anything being given out for
publication.
After the presentation of the American
commissioners Senior Leon Castillo. the
Spanish ambassador, presented the Spanish
commissioners to M. Decasse. The cere-
monies were exactly similar to those gone
through in introducing the members of the
American commission.
Both General Porter and Senior Castillo
the United States and Spanish ambassadors.
will be present at Tomorrow S luncheon.
The Gaulois says: I'm spite of the mys-
terry surrounding the matter, we are able,
from a high source, to give an outline of
the position of both commissions While
the Americans have instructions which are
much more precise than those of the Span
iards, there is diversity of opinion in re-
gard to the Philippines. Senator Gray is a
very ardent Democrat, and consequently.
belongs to the party which repudiates ex-
pansion He opposes all annexation, and his
opinion, therefore, totally differs from that
of the other four commissioners, some of
whom would be content with a coaling sta
tion at the Philippines, possibly Cavite.
while others, like Senator Davis advocate
the annexation of the whole archipelago.',
The Gaulois, however, believes that the
Americans, by mutual concessions, will
come to an agreement and that they will
all be largely Influenced by Major General
Merritt's reports on the situation. The in
structions to the Spanish commission. ac-
COIulAS W TIE OdulOlS, are, DTleIy, TO hold
out and make the best terms possible
Madrid is well aware. it appears, that the
conferences, at the best, only have to
please the Spanish people. and the only
hopes entertained are that the Americans
will not abuse the situation too much. Pop
ular sentiment in Spain, it is added, thinks
it better to abandon the Philippine islands
than to keep them under conditions render
ing them ungovernable.