The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-10-05
MERRITT DETAILS HIS VIEWS.
HE RECITEs THE CONDITIONS IN
THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS.

Paris Papers Do Not Believe That
Peace VIII he Concluded Before
Observation-Disclosures Fnure Re-
ceives the Commissioners and Is
Presented IA Message From Presi-
dent Mckinley, to Which He Re-
piled by CabIe-Gen. Rafael Ger
zero Saenz Thinks Peace BE-
tween Spain and the United states
VIII COmpIicate All Eastern Cues
lions.
Paris, Oct. 4.-The American peace com
missioners devoted to-days session to
conference with Maj. Gen Merritt, who
detailed his personal views and those of
Rear Admiral Dewey regarding the phys
ical, geographical, moral and political con-
ditions prevailing in the Philippine Islands.
Gen. Merritt's exposition of his personal
views and judgment of the Philippine
Islands was not finished to-day. lie vii,
meet the commission again tomorrow,
when he will continue to discharge his err
rand here.
President Montero Rios of the Spanish
commission and his colleagues were busy
lO-Quy Will lGlSSidplllC anu OlilGE COtIC-
spondence Senior Rios denied himself to
all callers.
A newspaper, lie Petite Bleu, this morn
ing declares it has authority for the
statement that it has decided that an ad-
justment relative TO Cuba win be first dis
cusSed at the next meeting, owing to in
cidents which have recently taken place
in the Philippine Islands. The same news
paper remarks that Senior Rios yesterday
bought three copies of a work on inter-
national law by one of our most eminent
Jurists."
La Petite BIeu does not accept the view
that the works of commissioners will be
concluded before December, but expresses
the belief that it will require a long TIME.
The Spanish commissioners were receiv-
ed this afternoon by President Faure at
the Elysee Palace. The members of the
commission were introduced by the Span
ish ambassador, Senior Leon Castillo, and
Senior Rios expressed the qualification of
the commission at meeting the President
of France.
AT 4:45 p. m, Immediately following the
reception of the Spaniards the members
of the American commission were re-
ceiyed by President Faure at the Elysee
palace. Gen. Porter mel the commission
ers on the steps of the court of honor,
and they proceeded to the grand salon.
President Faure, surrounded by a few
members of his official household, received
Gen. Porter, who presented Judge Day
and the other members of the commission
in turn after which Judge Day presented
Faure with a cable message from Presi-
dent Mckinley 1t was dated Sept. 80, and
read as follows
ION this occasion, when the commissions
of the United States and Spain are about
to assemble at the capital of France to
negotiate terms. of peace and when the
,t.,tf of
ceiving the hospitality and the good will
of the republic, I beg to tender you my
most friendly personal greeting and the
assurances of my grateful appreciation of
your kind courtesies to the American COM
missiOneTs."
President Faure, in replying, courteous
Iy expressed his appreciation of the cor
dial sentiments uttered and heartily recip-
rocated them.
President Faure said that everything
possible would be done for the comfort
of the commissioners, and concluded with
saying:
"As the name Of Lafayette is held dear
in the eCnited States, So is the name of
Washington revered in France"
The President then added that he would
Immediately transmit directly to President
Mckinley his reply to the latter's cordial
message.
The following is the text Of President
Faure's cable message to President Nc
Kinley
81 have had great pleasure in receiving
the American plenipotentiaries Of the His
pano-American peace commission.
During the course Of an audience Mr..
Day read the telegram which was so gra-
ciously sent me. 1 am very much touch
ed by the sentiments which your excel
lency has been kind enough TO express,
and / heartily thank you for them. 1
hope the American commissioners will
have kind recollections Of their sojourn
in Paris, which l shall try TO render
agreeable to them, and / sincerely hope
for happy termination Of the pacific
work Of the commission"
La Patrie this evening prints an inter-
view said to have been had with Gen
Rafael Cerrero y Saenz, of the Spanish
commission, in which he is reported as
saying:
peace between Spain and the United
States will complicate all the Eastern
questions. The day upon which the pre-
liminaries are signed the first chapter in
the new history of Europe will be COM
menced, as the United States Will hence
forth play preponderant role in events
Of which different parts Of the world will
be the theater."