New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-09-15
PEACE COMMISSIONS WORK
PRELIMINARY CONFERENCES HELD IN
WASHINGTON
ALL THE MEMBERS NOT PREsENT-DIs-

CTSSING THE PHILIPPINE QUESTION.
Washington Sept. 14-Three members Of the
Peace Commisson-Secretary Day. Senator Da-
Wis and Whitelaw Reid-were in conference for
two hours at the State Department to-day
Senator Frye arrived in Washington late to-
night He will have an interview with the Presi
dent tomorrow. The plans of Senator Gray, the
fifth member are not certainly known. although
he is expected to join his associates in their
conferences tomorrow. The President will give
a dinner at the White House tomorrow night
at which the Commissioners will be the prin-
cipal guests all the members of the Cabinet in
the city also being present. 1t is said positively
that the dinner will be purely Of a social char
acter and that the reports that there will he a
full and final discussion Of the Philippine ques-
ton are unwarranted. The Commissioners will
leave Washington on Friday IN order to take
the Campania Saturday.
COMMISSIONERS REFUSE TO TALK
The meeting in Secretary Days Office to-day
was for the purpose Of going over tho whole
question Of the peace settlement The same
rigid rctcence which has thus far prevailed
continues to be observed. and the Commits
sioners came from the meeting they positively
declined to discuss any questions relating tn
their work. Leading members of the Commission
said positively that all reports relative TO the
instructions TO be given TO the Commissioners
the attitude Of the United States were purely
conjectural 1t is pointed out that the interests
Of this country might be seriously prejudiced If
its attitude was made known in advance ot
The meeting al Paris. so the Commissioners
have agreed among themselves 20 authorize no
statement ~ their views body or as ndi-
viduals
Senator Davis and Mr.. Reid also had con-
ference with President Mckinley. but II was not
a long one.
DANGER POINT PASSED
IT. official quarters much satisfaction was ex-
pressed today over the reports from Madrid
that The lower house Of the Cortes had passed
the Government bill accepting the terms " the
protocol The senate already has passed this
measure so that the last fear Of legislative op-
positlon 10 the transfer of cuba. the Ladrones
and Porto Rico IS past Tho authorities here
feel that this carries them by danger point as
u has been feared for some time that the ami
r1osities in the Cortes would lead to the defeat
~ the Sagasta Ministry on the question Of evac-
uating Spanish islands. either in one hrancn or
'he other
There is little doubt that general Inc ~
policy was agreed upon between the President
and the Cabinet AZ their meeting late Yesterday
afternoon. bat there is good reason Cor he'eNing
that the assertion that the decision was dennite-
" in favor OF not permitting Spain under any
conditions 20 retain sovereignty IN any part cl
the Philippine Islands is based on miscon'
certion. Tho Cabine, officers and members or
the Peace Commission refuse absolutely 20 dis
cpss the subject with Newspaper men and,
therefore whatever IS said is based more or less
on inference or rounda bout information II Is
not doubted that the Commission VIII beein IN"
negotiations AZ Parts with the assertion that the
United States has conquered Spain In the PM
ippines and that Spanish sovereignty mas al
ready been forfeited there This vii not. how
ever. necessarily signify that ~ Is the purpose
OF the Administration 70 retain possession oi the
entire group ~ Islands or permanently 70 de
prive Spain OF oil her possessions in the Pacihc
1.rzoN AT LEAST. TO BE HELD.
It's no, believed that the Administration has
eonA h.vond the determination 10 retain the
whole Of the island Of Luzon. but u is under
stood 10 he the intention of the President 10
establish a. tho outset the right Of this Gov
ernment to determine the fate Of the Islands
and 10 make the conditions under which gov
4rnn,Ant shall ba tablishcd there.
The matter Of relinqulshinG possession ~ me
r.st ~ the ISLANDS IS involved In so many con
ditions that il Is realized that 1t may by force
Of circumstances become necessary 10 dcpriv"
Spain permanently Of all her possessions In that
quarter II is understood not 20 be matter
OF polcv 20 acquire all this territory. but II
may become a necessity The ctmmercial ana
trade side Of ihe question as involving the de-
yelopment and expansion of American com
rnerce in the Pacific is occupying chief atten-
,ior IN connection with determining the Ad-
inlnistratione policy.