The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-12-06
DIFFERENCE OF OPINION
Among the American
Commissioners.
The CAROLINE ISLANDS
The Subject Of this Divergence Of
views-Diferent Views to Their
many Negotiating with Spain for the
Purchase of These Islands-NO Ses.
sion OF the Peace Commissioners Yes.
terday-Spaniard rds do not Yield.
terday-Spaniards do not Yield.

Paris December 3.-There was no
joint session of the peace commission
today. The Americans had a three
hours meeting this morning. The re-
port from Berlin that Germany is ne
gotiating for the purchase of the Car
oline islands is confirmed from several
quarters, although Count Won Maun-
ster-Ladenburg, the German ambassa-
dor here, Informed a correspondent of
the Associated Press that he 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 Spaniards to give the Americans
an answer in regard to the Caroline is
lands, as we'll the question of reli-
giOus liberty there, and the latest de-
VelOpments confirm the report that the
SpaniardS have been instructed not to
yield on these points until they have
made a good bargain. The positions of
the commissioners, says an American
commissioner, is that of two card play
ers, each studying his own hand and
waiting for the opponents lead
In spite of this temporary halt in
the negotiations and contrary to gen
eral expectation, Judge Day, presi-
dent Of the American commission be-
l1eVes the treaty will be signed next
week; but a great deal of work must
be done before the treaty is ready for
the signatures, as after ten weeks of
negotiations the only articles accept
ed by both commissions are the three
leading ones, providing for the cession
| of the Spanish colonies and these only
| in principle and not in language.
The adjournment TODAY was at Tu6pa
Days request, as the long morning
| session developed a divergence Of Opin-
I ion. Had the Joint session been held
| the Americans would not have entered
| it as an united body. The exact ma
| ture of the differences of opinion can
| not be ascertained, but it is believed
| some Of the commissioners are in
! more yielding mood toward Spain than
their colleagues.
| There is no doubt that the Spaniards
| on Monday will report the arrival of
| their governments instructions, the
absence Of which caused Fridays ad-
! journment.
Among onlookers there is a skepti-
| cism concerning these instructions 1t
| is believed that they constitute a diplo-
| matte scapegoat put forward by the
! Spaniards to cover the delay neces-
! sary to them.
| The question of a coaling station for
|
! lands is not likely to prove q 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 not enthusiastic in it's favor and
| none Of them thinks Germany's nego-
| tiations for the Carolines are likely to
| lead to complications between Germa-
| ny and the United States.
In French official circles it is as
| certained that, under the pOpe's award
| Of 1885, Germany already possesses GER
| tain rights in the CarOlnes which
| would prevent Spain from selling us
| one of these islands; but this is a mat :
ter which has already been Investigate
| ed by the Americans. who find that
| GermanyS rights refer to certain fish
| ing privileges of German citizens and
| not to the right to coaling sation tC
| be agreed upon mutually between
| Spain and Germany.
| All this was not set out in our for
| eign relations book of 1886 and there is
| nothing to prevent Spain from selling
us any island she chooses. Americans
familiar with the question. consider
that the Philippines and the Ladrones
furnish all the coaling bases neces-
! sary in the Pacific.