Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-10-04
ALL COMING OUR WAY.
Our Commissioners Much Pleased With Pro.
gress Of Peace Negotiations.

Paris, Oct. 3-Major General Mer-
rift, who commanded the American
troops at Manila. arrived here. this
morning, from Marseilles for the pur-
pose of giving the United States peace
commission the benefit of his oa,serva-
tions in the Philippine islands. He re-
paired to The Grand Hotel De Lathe
nee and declined to be interviewed as
he was suffering from fatigue. The
general did not see the United States
peace commissioners before the open
ing of the joint session. today
The American commissioners held a
session. this morning, at their own Of
fees, preparatory to the second meet
ing with the Spanish commissioners,
which began at THE commissions
rooms in THE foreign office Immediate
ly after their assembling there at
O'clock, this afternoon.
The plan of work directed to be pre-.
pared by THE secretaries has not been
perfected. as thesecretary of the Span
ish commission did not arrive here UNI
til today.
The American commissioners will be
received by President Faure at
O'Clock ON Tuesday afternoon.
Today's session lasted until o'clock,
at which hour the commissioners adj
journed to meet at,2 o'clock,1next Fri
day afternoon. such interval being de-
sirable and necessary to allow separate
consideration by each commission Of
matters requiring such course before
the joint commission. The secretary
of the Spanish commission will ar
rive, tonight.
anvin sSes,, Avc
We're at luncheon, today, Gen. Merritt
called at their hotel but he did not
wait to see them. He will call again.,
tomorrow morning, to meet the MEM
bers of the commission. The Spanish
and American commissioners will be
received, tomorrow, by President
Faure. The hour fixed for the recep-
ton of the Americans is 4.45 o'clock
p. NJ. Gen. Merritt will accompany
the Americans to this function, which
will be held at the Palace De L'Elysee.
The opinion is now held that the
work of the commission may be finished
within a month from the present time.
While it is the general impression that
today's meeting was again devoted to
preliminaries and the adjournment to
Friday was taken only to enable the sec
lttdile9 W uTiW up a ScneQule OF work,
the reporter of The Associated Press
learns that the session was highly i'm
portant and that the Americans have
made demand of such character that
the Spaniards found it necessary to ask
for an adjournment In order to enable
them to consult with the government at
Madrid.
1t is believed that the question concerns
the Philippines. and 1t is known that the
Americans are highly pleased at having
SO soon reached what they regard as a
very important phase of the negotiations
and consider the two sessions thus far
held as very satisfactory to America. The
fact that a member of the commission
expressed the belief that the work would
be completed within month indicates a
happy frame of mind.
In the Spanish camp great hopes are
built on what they believe Gen. Merritt
will advise, namely, that the Philippines
are incapable of self-government and that
the whole situation does not warrant
America in taking the responsibility for
the entire Philippines The Spaniards are
quite ready to give whatever America
asks in the way of coaling stations. but
will resist more to the verge of a renewal
Of hostilities.