Evening star., 1898-12-03
REPORT Is BELIEVED
Germany's Negotiations for Purchase
Of Caroline Islands.
CONTINUATION COMES FROM PARIS
American Commissioners Also Give
Credence to the Story.
CAU S SES OF ANXIETY

PARIS. December 3.-There will be no
joint session of the peace commission to-
day The Americans had a three hours
meeting this morning.
The report from Berlin that Germany is
negotiating for the purchase of the Caro-
line Islands is confirmed from several quar-
tiers, although Count Won Munster-Leden-
burg, the German ambassador here. in
formed a correspondent of the Associated
Press that ne knew nothing at all about
the matter.
The American commissioners are inclined
to believe The report and it is looked upon
as explaining the reluctance of the Span
iards to give the Americans an answer in
regard 10 the Caroline Islands. as we'll as
the question of religious liberty there, and
the latest developments confirm the report
that the Spaniards have been instructed not
10 yiald on these points until they have
mad, "a good bargain.
Delays Likely.
II is beginning to be recognized here that
the chances are against the conclusion of
The work of the peace commissioners in
Paris in time for the Americans to take the
steamer Of the 10th instant for home
The officials are not discouraged at the
outlook. however knowing that the delay
admits of a reasonable explanation at some
points For instance. there has been some
difficulty in reaching an agreement as to
tn disposition of the public property in the
Philippines, including war material, guns
an stores.
1t seems. however. likely now that the
commissioners Will agree to adopt a plan
fo- the disposition of these claims based
upon the procedure that governed in the
case of the Spanish properties in Porto
Rico II will not be necessary. it is hoped
70 send a joint evacuation commission to
Tlg. dor De-
ba. but simply TO adopt the plan followed
by the Porto Fican commission in the dis
position Of the Spanish stores and proper
ties in the Philippines.
Causes of Anxiety.
Il is sermised thai the American commits
sioners have been much more concerned by
Spanish ovartures looking TO the allowance
Of exceptional advantages for Spanish COM
merce with Cuba and Porto Rico than
about ether matters of negotiations which
really seemed TO be OF larger consequence
Pr"bab bly, the explanation of this is the
realization on the part of the commission
er~ that any agreement on their part to
"pncede such special advantages might not
only arouse the opposition of the CONNER
clal classes Of the United States but bring
U9pn the United States government a series
~ demands from the great commercial ma
ions Of the world with which We have
t!=aty relations for the allowance. of SINH
lar concessions under the operation of what
.S Known as the most favored nation clause
lu those treaties.
Much of the feeling exhibited by the Ger
man press towards the United States gov
eminent was directly tracea BILE to A denial
by the State Department of just such a
CAIN preferred 10y Germany to be excepted
from the operations of the Counteryailing
DUTY clause in the sugar sections of the
American tariff act, on the ground that
c'Aer nations were permitted TO send their
sugar 10 the United States free from this
uuty. and the State Department has always
avoided, wherever possible, any action that
N!Sht cause further conflicts of this kind