The herald., 1898-09-29
FIRST FORMAL function
TO BE FOLLOWED BY ANOTHER
THIS MORNING
SPANIARDS AND YANKEES
Will P-eakfast Together as the First
Step ward Solution Of the
Pc Problem
Associated Press Special Wire.

Pc e Problem
Associated Press Special Wire.
PARIS. Sept 2S-The United States
peace commission went into session at II
o'clock this morning.
The session today did not result In any
thing being given out Off publication. Dur
In gthe afternoon the American commits
sioners assisted at their first formal func-
tion In France. At o'clock the United
States ambassador. General Horace Por-
ter, called at the Continental hotel Off the
Americans. He tooks three of them In to
MS own carriage aA4 the remainder with
Secretary Moore. followed in a carriage to
the ministry of foreign affairs. Henry
Vignaux. secretary of the United States
embassy. led the way into the building
The party was received Immediately by NJ.
Crozier the chef d'protocole, who showed
the Americans into the anteroom of the
minister's chamber. After few nome N is
OF waiting the doors were opened and the
party entered the room occupied by the
minister of foreign affairs and were pre-
sented in turn to NJ. Del Casse, who cor
take seats.
NJ Vignaux acted as interpreter. NJ Del
Case speaking French only1 The party
briefly chatted on general subjects and the
minister finally assured the commissioners
OF the great pleasure experienced by
rnn"e IN the Pc rt she has taken neffect-
ing a suspension OF hostilities between
Spain and the United tSates. and expressed
the hope Of having the pleasure Of meeting
the American commissioners and the Span
fish commissioners at breakfast tomorrow.
NJ. Del Case added that after having thus
brought the two commissions together and
offering them the hospitalities OF the salon
de conference, the French government
would efface itself.
Judge Day, as president Of the United
States commission. responded. He said the
United tSates appreciated the good offices
OF France. and after NJ. Del Casse had ex-
pressed his pleasure at such recognition of
the disinterested action of France, the in
terview ended and the Americans retired
The minister of foreign affairs. at 1890
p. m. tomorrow, will give a breakfast at
the foreign office to the United tSates and
Spanish commissions, thus bringing them
together for the first time.
After the presentation OF the American
commissioners Senor Leon Castillo. the
Spanish ambassador, presented the Span
ish commissioners to NJ. Del Casse. The
ceremonies were exactly similar to those
gone through with in introducing the mem
bers fthe American commission.
Both General Porter ana Senor Castillo.
the United tSates and Spanish amba ssa-
doris, will be present at tomorrow's lunch
con.
Gaulois' Guesses
The Gaulois says: I'm spite Of the mys-
terry surrounding the matter. we are able,
from a high source. to give an outline Of
the position of both commissions. While
the Americans have Instructions which are
much more precise than those of the Span
iards, there Is a diversity of opinion in
regard to the Philippines. Senator Gray
Is very ardent Democrat. and conse-
Quently belongs to the party which repudi-
ates expansion He opposes all annexation.
and his opinion. therefore, totally differs
from that Of the other four commission
ers, some of whom would be content with
a coaling station at the Philippines, pos
sibly Cavite, while others, like Senator
Davis, advocate the annexation Of the
whole archipelago"
The Gaulois, however, believes that the
Americans, by mutual concessions, will
come to an agreement and that they will
all be largely Influenced by MaJor-General
Merritt's reports on the situation. The in
structiors to the Spanish Commission, ac-
cording to the Gaulois, are. briefly, to hold
out and make the best terms possible
Madrid is we'll aware, 1t 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. 1t is added,
thinks 1t better to abandon the Philippine
j Islands than to keep them under condi-
tions rendering them ungovernable.
Merritt's Progress
PORT SAID, Egypt, Sept. 2s.-Ma1or-
General Merritt, U. S. A., Major strother
aide de camp, and Captain Howell, the
Generals secretary, passed here today on
board the steamer Arcadia on their way
to Marseilles and Paris.
Information Coming
WASHINGTON, Sept. 2s.-General Mer-
ritt's report of the battle of Manila has
been received at the war department and
Will be made public in a few days. Along
with the report Of General Merritt and
appendices on the land battle of Manila.
General Green brought to Washington
the report of Admiral Dewey, which is to
be sent to Paris for the information of
the peace commissioners on the political
Importance of the islands, the character
Of the people, and other matters that NAV
properly be regarded as having a bearing
upon the disposition of the islands Secre-
tary Long, to whom the report was deliv.
cred by Assistant Secretary Allen when he
came to the navy department today, said
this afternoon that no one but the presi-
dent could assume the responsibility of
making 1t public.
Peace Makers Hopes
TURIN, Italy, Sept. 2S.-The peace con-
eress now in session here has passed a
resolution expressing tb1 hope that the
6panish-American negotiations at Paris
will prove the means of uniting the two
nations by a permanent treaty of arbitra-
Mon.