The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-12-04

Paris. Dec 3.-There was no joint
session of the peace commission today.
The Americans had a three hours meet
PINS. The report from Berlin that Ger
many is negotiating for the purchase
Of the Caroline islands is confirmed
from several quarters, although Count
Won Moster-Ladenburg. the German
ambassador here, informed a CORE
spond5nt of the Associated Press that
he knew nothing at all about the mat
ter. The American commissioners are
inclined TO believe the report, and il is
looked upon as explaining the reluc
tance Of the Spanialds to give the
Americans an answer in regard to the
Carolines, as well as to the question Of
religious liberty there, and the latest
developments confirm the report that
the Spaniards have been instructed not
TO yield On these points.
The positions of the commissions,
says an American gentleman, is the
same as two card players, each study
ing his own hand and awaiting for his
opponents lead. In spite OF this tenn
porary halt in the negotiations, and
contrary TO general opinion, Judge Day,
president OF the American commission,
believes the treaty viii be signed next
week, but q. great deal of work was to
be done before the treaty is ready for
the signatures, as after ten weeks of
negotiations the only articles accepted
by the commissions are the three lead
ing ones, providing for the cession of
the Spanish colonies, and those only
in principle. and not in language.
The adjournment today was at Judge
Days request. as the long session de-
veloped q divergence of opinion. Had
the joint session been held the Ameri-
cans would not have entered il as
united body. The exact nature Of the
differences of opinion cannot be ascer-
tanned. but ii is believed some Of the
commissioners are in a more yielding
mood towards Spain than their col
leagues.
a There is no doubt that the Spaniards,
~ Monday, VIII report the arrival of
finer governments Instructions the
absence of which caused Fridays adj
journmenL Among on-lookers there is
a skeptcism concerning these instruc-
tons. 1t IS believed that they consu-
tute a diplomatic soapegoat, put for
ward by the Spaniards to cover the de-
lay necessary to them.
The question Of a cOaling station of
the United States in the Caroline is
lands is not likely to prove a serious
stumbling block. The Americans have
not made it one Of the demands, whose
granting Is essential to the conclusion
Of the treaty Of peace. Some of them
are enthusiastic in its favor, and none
Of them think Germany's negotiations
for the Carolines are likely to lead TO
complications between Germany and
the United States.
IN French official circles it is asserted
that under the pope's award Of 1885.
Germany already possesses certain
rights in the Carolines which would
prevent Spain from selling US one of
those islands. But this is a matter
which has already been investigated
by the Americans. who find that Ger
many's rights refer TO certain fishing
privileges Of German citizens and their
right to a coaling station. 20 be agreed
upon mutually between Spain and Ger
many.
All this was set out in our foreign
relations book of 1856. and there is
nothing to prevent Spain from selling
Us any Of the islands she chooses. She /
undoubtedly desires TO sell the group. /
and might be willing to transfer them I
10 the United States if her price is
paid. Americans familiar with the
question. consider that the Philippines /
an Ladrones furnish all the coaling |
h,hS necessary.