The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-08-26
PEACE COMMISSIONERS MEET.
SENATOR'S DAVIS AND FRYE CON-
FER WITH THE PRESIDENT.

Secretary Day Called Upon by Them.
Remaining Two Commissioners to
he Announced by saturdny-VVin
start for Paris between sept.
and 15-Questions ns 10 the Policy
10 he Pursued by the COmmission-
erS DiscuSsed-Much Data BEING
Gathered-seVernI Days Required
to Prepare the American Side OF
the Case.
Washington. Aug. 25.-The first meeting
of the majority of the American peace
commissioners took place to-day at the
state department, when, at 70 o'clock,
Secretary Day was joined by Senators
Davis and Frye
Prior to this the senatorial membership
of the commission had conference Of
two hours with the President Secretary
Day was not present al the White House
meeting, so that after getting the views
of the President, the senator's went to the
state department and for an hour and a
quarter remained closeted with Secretary
Day.
Assistant Secretary Moore. who is like
ly to accompany the commission to Paris
in an advisory capacity, was present part
Of the time.
Mr.. Macarthur, first secretary of tho
American legation at Madrid under Gen.
Woodford was also called an.
As result OF the meeting II can be
stated with posItveness that Messrs.
Day, Davis and Frye are members of the
peace commission. It is understood that
the remaining two members have been
selected and viii be announced by Satur-
day.
At meeting to-day the general plans
OF the commission as to proceeding to
Paris were talked over and an under
standing had that the start be made be-
tween Sept 1 and 15
The date was left open to permit further
conference with all the members of the
commission.
No definite arrangements have been
made thus far as to securing quarters in
Paris, but this will be left 10 Ambassador
Porter the Spanish ambassador at Paris
and the French officials
The sessions will be held In the Salon
des Ambassadors, through the courtesy oe
the French government. Aside from these
formaliues the commissioners went into
some of the more serious questions of tho
policy which viii come before them. Much
of the preliminary work has been done
by the state department officials such os
the collection Of the documents, treaties,
books and maps. which viii be used by
the commissioners abroad.
The commissioners expect to be occu-
pied for several days in a discussion OF
the most important matters to come be-
fore the tribunal and in the preparation
Of the American side Of the case.
The question whether the negotiations
with the Spanish commissioners would 10
In the English or French language Will
not be determined prior to the arrival OF
the commissioners in Paris. II Is a mat
ter that must be settled by all the COM
missioners and will not be determined nr-
btrarly by the American commissioners
in advance of the meeting.
Owing to reports current to-day that
only three American commissioners would
be appointed, It was stated authoritative
~ this afternoon that the commission
would consist OF five members and that
one Of the commissioners would be DEM
ocrat
The meeting Of the three commissioners
to-day will be the only one Of a concerted
character until Sept. g. when the five
commissioners win come to Washington
for final conference before sailing for
Paris