The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1898-10-07
MEMBERS ARE ALL present.
PEACE DISCUSSIONS BEGIN IN
CITY OF PARIS.
COURTESIES ACCORDED AMERICANS
First Meeting Taken Up with introduce
ions and Preiiminarioe-Hou the
Members Stand.

A special Of Wednesday from Paris
says; TheAmeriean and Spanish peace
commissioners are oil present
During the afternoon the American
commissioners assisted at their FIRST
formal function in France their re-
ception by the minister Of foreign af-
fairs, M. Delcasse.
At 3 o'clock the United States am
bassador, General Horace Porter, call
ed at the Continental hotel for the
Americans. He took three Of them in
TO his own carriage, and the remainder,
with Secretary Moore, followed in an
other carriage. through the Rue de
Rivoli, over the Place de 10 Concorde,
across the River Seine to the ministry
Of foreign affairs. M. Henri Vignaud,
the secretary Of the United States en-
bassy, led the way into the building.
General Porter, Judge Day and the
others followed.
Courtesies Extended.
The party was received Immediately
by M. Crozier, the chef de protocol,
who showed the Americans into the
ante-room Of the minister's chamber.
After q few moments Of waiting the
doors were opened and the party en-
tered the room occupied by the minis
ter of foreign affairs and were pre-
scented in turn to M. DelcaBse, who
cordially greeted the visitors and bid
them take seats. Through NJ. Wig
maud, who acted as interpreter, M.
Delcasse only speaking French, the
party chatted briefly upon generalities
and the minister finally assured The
commissioners of the great pleasure
experienced by France in the part she
has taken in effecting a suspension Of
hostilities between Spain and the
Uniced States.
Judge Day, as president of the
United States commission, responded.
He said the United States appreciates
the good offices of France and, after
NJ. Delcasse had expressed his pleas
ure at such recognition of the disin-
terested action of France, the inter
view ended and the Americans retired.
The first session of the United States
commission did not result in anything
being given out for publication.
Spanish Ambassadors Presented.
After the presentation of the Ameri-
can commissioners Senior Leon Y
Castillo, the Spanish ambassador, pre-
sented the Spanish commissioners to
NJ. Delcasse. The ceremonies were
exactly similar to those gone through
in introducing the members of the
American commission.
The Gaulois (newspaper) says: 'Tn
spite of the mystery surrounding the
matter, we are able from high source
to give an outline Of the position of
both commissions. While the Ameri-
cans have instructions which are much
more precise than those of the Span
iards, there is diversity of opinion in
regard to the Philippines. Senator
Gray is very ardent democrat, con-
sequently 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 sta
tion at the Philippines, possibly Cavite,
while others, like Senator Davis, adj
vocate the annexation of the whole
archipelago"
The Gaulois, however, believes that
the Americans, by mutual concessions,
will come to an agreement and that
will be all largely influenced by Major
Gsneral Merritt's reports on the situa-
ton.
The instructions to the Spanish
commission still, 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 situation
too much. Popular sentiment in Spain,
it is added. thinks it better to abandon
the Philippine islands than to keer
them under conditions rendering then
ungovernable.