The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-09-15
TWO HOURS CONFERENCE.
Three of the Peace Commissioners
Discuss Their Instructions.

Three of the Peace Commissioners
Discuss Their Instructions.
Associated Press Dispatch.
WASHINGTON, Sept. l4.-Three members
Of the peace commission-Secretary Day,
Senator Davis and Whitelaw Reid-were in
conference for two hours at the State De-
partment to-day, Senator Frye it was
stated, would arrive tomorrow morning
and join in the conferences of the commits
sioners. The plans Of Senator Gray the
fifth member, are not exactly known, al
though he, too, is expected to join his asso-
ciates in their conferences tomorrow. The
President will give dinner at the White
House tomorrow night at which the COM
missioners will be the principal guests, all
the members of the Cabinet in the city also
being present. 1t is stated positively that
the dinner will be purely of a social char
acter, and the reports that it will serve the
purpose of full and final discussion of the
Philippines question are unwarranted. The
commissioners will leave here Friday in or
der to take the Campania on Saturday.
The meeting at Secretary Days Office to-
day was for the purpose of going over the
question of the peace settlement. 1t is the
first time Mr.. Reid had exchanged views
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 sitting they
positively declined to discuss any questions
relating to the commission. Leading men,
bers of the commission stated positively that
all reports relative to the instruction of the
commissioners on the attitude Of the United
St9tes were purely conjectural. 1t is point
ed out that the interests of this country
might be seriously prejudiced it its attitude
Of
at Paris. SO that the commissioners have
agreed among themselves to authorize no
statement of their views as body or as
individuals.
In official quarters much satisfaction was
expressed to-day over the reports from
Madrid that the lower house of Parliament
had passed the government bill accepting
the terms of the protocol. The upper house
has already passed the measure, so that
the last fear of legislative opposition to tile
transfer of Cuba, the Ladrones and Porto
Rico is over. The authorities here feel that
this carries them by danger point as it
has been feared for some time that the
anlmosities in the Spanish Cortes would
lead to the defeat of the Sagasta Ministry
on the question of evacuating the Spanish
islands either in one branch or the other.
There is little doubt that general lire of
pollcy was agreed on between the President
and his Cabinet at their meeting late yes
terday afternoon. but there is good reason
for believing that the assertion the deci-
sion was definitely in favor of not permit
ting Spain under any conditions TO retain
sovereignty in any part Of the Philippine
islands is based on a misconception. The
members of the Cabinet and the members
of the peace commission refuse absolutely
to discuss the subject with newspaper men,
and, therefore, whatever is said is based
more or less on inference or roundabout in
formation. 1t is not doubted that the COM
mission will start the negotiations at Paris
with the assertion that we have conquered
Spain in the Philippines, and that Spanish
sovereignty has already been forfeited
there. This will not, however, necessarily
signify that it is the purpose Of the admin
istration to retain possession Of the entire