The Portland daily press., 1898-10-05
MERRITT TELLS HIS STORY
Details Personal Views Regarding
Conditions in Philip ines.
HELD FIRST CONFERENCE WITH
PEACE COMMISSION.

President Faure Yesterday-A Gable
Message From President Mckinley
Presented to Him-The French Ex-
ecutive's Reply.
Paris, October 4-The American peace
commissioners devoted today's session
to conference with Major Gen. Merritt,
who detailed to the commissioners his
miral Dewey regarding the physical,
geographical and political conditions
prevailing in the philippine islands.
Gen. Merritt will meet the commission
again tomorrow.
President Rios of the Spanish commits
sion and his colleagues were busy today
with telegraphio and other correspon-
dence. Senior Rios denied himself to all
callers.
A newspaper, LIE Petit Bleu, this morn
ing, declares it has authority for the
statement that it has been decided that
ian adjustment relative to Cuba will
be first discussed at the next meeting ow-
ing to incidents which have recently tax
en- place in the Philippines. The sam
newspaper remarks sthat Senor Rios yes
terday "bought three copies of work on
International s..law, byi,one of our most
eminent jurists.''
The Petit Bleu does not accept the view
that the work of the comm issions will
be concluded before December, but ex-
presses the belief that it will require
longer timer The UnitedfStates ambassa-
dor, Gen. Horace Porter will give din
ner in honor of the American commission
tomorrow afternoon, and next week Gen.
Porter will give dinner in honor OF both
commissions at the U. S. embassy.
The Spanish peace commissioners were
received this afternoon at O'Clock by
President Faure at the Elysee palace.
The Spanish commissioners were present.
ed by the Spanish ambassador. Senior
Leon Castillo, and Senior Rios expressed
the qualification of the commission at
meeting President Of France.
At 4. 45 p. M, the members of the Ame-
rican peace commission were received by
President Faure at Elysee. Gen. Porter
met the commissioners on the steps OF the
court OF honor and they proceeded to the
grandisalon. President Faure, surround
ed by few members Of his official house
hold, received Gen. Porter. who presented
Judge Day and the other members OF
tina United States commission in turn,
after which Judge Day presented presl-
dent Faure with a cable from President
Mckinley. 1t was dated September ~,
and read as follows:
stOn this occasion when the commits
sions of the United States and Spain are
about to assemble at the capital of France
to negotiate peace and when the repre-
sentatives of this government are reoely-
ing the hospitality and good will OF the
republic, I beg to tender you my most
friendly personal greeting and the assur-
ances of my grateful appreciation OF your
kind courtesies to the American commits
sioners.
President Faure in replying, very
courteously expressed his appreciation of
the cordial sentiments uttered and heartl-
ly reciprocated them.
President Faure further remarked that
everything possible would be done for
the comfort of the commissioners and ne
concluded with saying graciously; "As
the name of Lafayette is held dear IN the
United States. SO is the name OF WASH
ington reyered in France.
The President then added that he
would Immediately transmit dlrecDiy TO
President Mckinley his reply to the lat
ter's cordial message.
The following is the text OF President
Faure's cable message to President Nc
Kinloy:
ssI have had great pleasure in receiv-
ing the American plenipotentiaries to the
INSTRUMENTATION peace commission.
During the course of an audience Mr..
Day read the telegram which you SO
gracefully sent me. am very much
touched by the sentiments which your ex-
celIency has been kind enough to express
and l heartily thank you for them.
hope the American commissioners will
have kind Tecollections of their sojourn in
Paris, which I will try to render agree
able to them and l sincerely hope for
happy termination of the pacific work
of the commission.
La Patrie, this evening, prints an in
terview said to have been had with Cen
eral Rafael Cerero y Saenz Of the Spanish
peace commission, in which he is repre-
sented as saying:
"Peace between Spain and the United
States will complicate all the eastern
questions. The day upon which the pre-
liminaries are signed. the first chapter in
the new history of Europe will be com
menced as the United States henceforth
will play a preponderant role in events Of
which different parts of the world Will be
the theatre.
ssIt has been pretended that Spain
wanted war. was at least, allowed herself
O be dragged into it. This is mistake,
since the United States have long covetea
our colonies. They introduced separatl I
and autonomic idea into Cuba; IDEAS
which were not shared by majority OF
the inhabitants of the island. Influences
of all kinds have been brought into play
to excite risings and hence ensuea Ohe ne
war, the consequences OF Whion alaI i,iay afsect M
so preiudicial to ourselves anu may fAoo'
all European interests. A,; o;,s,
tsThe North Americans on thelf slGe,
will be compelled to create at once the
naval forces demanded by the situation,
brought about by events. The stronger
the United States ere. tne more tnell
friendship will be sought after, and the
rrie rrora also their rivalry will be feared by
all European nations.
"I,ook at the extreme orient where
France. Russia, Germany and England
are powerful rivals. If the Americans in
| stall themselves in the Philippines, the
| situation will be greatly modified; and
| they will not hesitate to seek the friend
ship of Japan and England to the detri.