Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-10-04
AERICAN PEACE COMMISSION HAS
MADE ITS DEMANDS.
$ANISH PUBLIC sTUPEFIED
fEPORT THAT AMERICA WANTS ALL
THE PHILIPPINES.
emand Has Been Referred to Madrid
Opinion Is Now Held That the
Peace Commission May Fin
ish Its Work Within
q Month.

d PARIS. Oct. 3.-Major General Merritt,
fwho commanded the American troops at
Manila. arrived here to-day from Mar
iseilles. He repaired to the Grand Hotel
de rAthenee. and declined to be interview
ed. as he was suffering from fatigue. The
general did not see the United States peace
commissioners before the opening of the
joint session to-day.
The American commissioners held a ses-
sion this morning at their own offices.
preparatory to the second meeting with tho
Spanish commissioners, which began at the
commissions rooms in the foreign Office
Immediately after their assembling there at
2 o'clock this afternoon.
The plan of work directed to be pre-
pared by the secretaries has not been per-
fected, as the secretary or the Spanish
commission did not arrive here until to-
day.
To-day's session lasted until o'clock at
which hour the commissioners adjourned to
meet at o'clock next Friday afternoon,
such interval being desirable and neces-
sary to allow separate consideration by
each commission of matters requiring such
course before the joint meeting. The in
teryal will be thus filed with work by each
commission, the ultimate results being 50
facilitated.
The secretary Of the Spanish commission
will arrive tonight, and the interval will
also be employed by the secretaries jointly
in maturing plans for the work and pro-
cedure. While the American commissioners
were at luncheon to-day, General Merritt
called at their hotel, but did not wait to
see them. He will call again tomorrow
morning to meet the members Of the COM
mission.
The Spanish and American commissioners
will be received tomorrow by President
Faure. The hour fixed fer the reception of
the Americans is AS in the afternoon Gen.
eral Merritt will accompany the Americans
TO this function, which will be held at the
Palais de Elysee.
The opinion Is now held that the work OF
the commissions may be finished within a
month from the present time
While 1t is the general impression that to-
days meeting was again devoted to pre-
liminaries, and that the adjournment to
Friday was taken only to enable the secre-
taries to draw up a schedule of work. the
representative of the Associated Press
learns that the session was highly import
ant, and that the Americans have made a
demand of such character that the Span
iards find 1t necessary to ask for an ad-
journment in order to enable them 70 con-
suit with the government at Madrid.
II Is believed that the question concerns
the Philippines and 1t is known that the
Americans ere highly pleased at having
so soon reached what they consider very
important phase of the negotiations. and
consider the two sessions thus far held as
very satisfactory to America. The fact that
a member of the commission expressed the
belief that work would be completed with
in month indicates a 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-government and that
the whole situation does not warrant
America in taking the responsibility for
the entire Philippines. 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 renewal of
hostiities.
MADRID. Oct s.-The reported intention
of the United States government to retain
the whole Of the Philippine Islands has
created almost state of stupefaction here
and II Is semi-officially announced that the
Spanish government has resolved to vigor-
ously combat any such action. which. II Is
claimed. the terms Of the peace protocol
preclude.