The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-09-15
RIGID RETICENCE THE RULE.
PARIS PEACE COMMISSIONERS CON-
FER AT WAR DEPARTMENT.


No Inkiing of the Governments Poll
icy Allowed to Escape Them. and
All Reports of the United States
Attitude Purely COnjecturaI-Pres-
ident to Dine the Commissioners
Tonight and They VIII Sail ON the
CampaniR From New York Satur-
day-Acquirement of All Philip
pine Territory May become Me-
cessity-GOvernmen Right to De-
termine the Islands Fate.
Washington, Sept. 4.-Three members of
the peace commission. Secretary Day, Sem
ator Davis and Whitelaw Reid. were in
conference for two hours at the state de-
partment to-day
Senator Frye, it was stated, would ar
rive tomorrow morning and join in the
conferences of the commissioners.
The plans of Senator Gray, the fifth
member. are not exactly known, although
he, too. is expected to JON his associates
in conference tomorrow.
The President will give a dinner at the
White House tomorrow night, at which
the commissioners will be the principal
guests. The commissioners will leave here
Friday, in order to take the Campania on
Saturday.
The meeting in Secretary Days office
to-day was for the purpose of going over
the whole question of the peace settle
ment. 1t is the first time Mr.. Reid has
exchanged views with his colleagues on
the subject.
The same rigid reticence which has thus
far prevailed continues to be observed, and
as the commissioners came from their
two hours meeting they positively declin-
ed to discuss any questions relating to the
commission. Leading members of the
commission stated positively all reports
relative to the instruction of the commits
sioners, or the attitude of the United
States, We're purely oonjectural. 1t is
pointed out that the interests Of this coun-
try might be seriously prejudiced if its
attitude was made known in advance of
the meeting al Paris, so that the commits
sioners have agreed among themselves to
authorize no statement of their views as
a body or as individuals.
of policy was agreed upon between the
President and his cabinet at their meeting
late yesterday afternoon; but there is
good reason for believing that the asser-
ton that the decision was definitely in
favor of not permitting Spain under any
conditions TO retain sovereignty over any
part of the Philippines is based on mis-
conception.
SIt is not doubted that the commission
will start the negotiations at Paris with
the assertion that We have conquered
Spain in the Philippines and the Span
ish sovereignty has already been forfeited
there.
This will not, however, necessarily sig
Nifty that it is the purpose of the admins
tration to retain possession of the entire
group of islands or to permanently de-
prive Spain of all her possessions in the
Pacific. 1t Is not believed that the admin
istration has gone beyond the determina-
ton to retain the whole of the Island of
Luzon, but it is understood to be the inten-
ton of the President to establish at the
outset the right OF this government to
determine the fate of the Islands and to
make the conditions under which govern
ment shall be established there
The matter of relinquishlng possession
of the rest of the islands is involved with
so many conditions to be considered that
1t is realized that it may by force of cir
cumstances become necessary to deprive
Spain permanently from all her posses
sions in that quarter
1t is understood not to be matter of
policy to acquire all this territory, but IT
may become a necessity.
The commercial and trade side of the
question, as involving the development
and expansion of our commerce in the Pa
cific, is occupying the chief attention in
connection with determining our policy.