The times., 1898-09-29
THE PEACE COMMISSION.
A French View of Our Delegates
lnHIrucIi0nN.

Paris Sept 2S,-The United States
Peace Commission went into session at
II o'clock this morning
The Gaulois says today: "'In spite Of
the mystery surrounding the matter we
are able, from a high source, to give an
outline of the position of both commits
eions. While the Americans have in
struoions which are much more precise
than those of the Spaniards. there is a
diversity OF opinion in regard TO the Phil
ippines. Senator Gray is a very ardent
Democrat, and, consequently. belongs to
the party which repudiates expansion. He
opposes all annexation, and his opinion
therefore. totally differs from that of the
other four Commissioners, some of whom
would be content with coaling station at
the Philippines possibly Cavite, while
others, like Senator Davis, advocate the
annexation of the whole of the archipeIa-
CO.
The paper, however, believes that the
Americans. by mutual concessions, will
come 10 an agreement. and that they will
all be largely influenced by Mai. Gen Mer-
rftt's reports on the situation
The instructions to the Spanish Com
mission. according TO the Gaulois. are.
briefly, to hold out and make the best
terms possible. Madrid is we'll aware. it
appears, that the conferences. at the best.
only have to please the Spanish people,
and the only hopes entertained are that
the Americans will not abuse the situa-
tion too much. Popular sentiment in
Spain thinks 1t better to abandon the
Philippine Islands than TO keep them
under conditions rendering them ungov-
ernable.
During the afternoon the American
Commissioners assisted al their first for
NAL entertainment in France-their re-
ception by the minister of foreign affairs,
NJ. Delcasse. AT 3 o'clock the United
States ambassador, Gen. Horace Porter.
called at the Continental Hotel for the
Americans. He took three of them into
his own carriage, and the remainder, with
Secretary Moore. followed in another car
rfage, through the Rue de RivoH. over
the Palace de la Concorde, across the
River Seine, to the ministry of foreign
affairs. NJ. Henri Vignaud. the secretary
of the United States embassy, led the way
into the building. Gen. Porter, Judge
Day. and the others following The party
was received Immediately by NJ Delcasse,
who cordially greeted the visitors.
Through NJ. Vignaud, who acted as in
terpreter, NJ. Delcasse only speaking
French, the party chatted briefly upon
generalities, and the minister finally as
sured the Commissioners of the great
pleasure experienced by France in the
part she has taken in effecting suspen-
sion of hostilities between Spain and the
United States, and expressed the hope of
having the pleasure of meeting the
American Commissioners and the Spanish
Commissioners at breakfast tomorrow.
M. Delcasse added that after having thus
brought the two commissions together
and offering them the hospitalities of the
Salon de Conference, the French gov
ernment would efface itself.
Judge Day, as. president of the United
States Commission. responded He said
that the United States appreciates the
good offices of France, and after NJ. Del
casse had expressed his pleasure at such
recognition of the disinterested action of
France the interview ended and the
Americans retired.
The minister of foreign affairs. at l2:3G
p m. tomorrow, will give a breakfast at
the foreign office TO the United States
and Spanish Commissions, thus bringing
them together for the first time. The ses-
sion of the United States Commission to-
day did not result in anything being given
out for publication.