The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-10-07
THE PEACE CoMMIssnON
All Reports n TO iss IL CoDjecsur.l
-Dewey,s opinion Laid BEFORE the
Am~erieans-No Certainty as to Lensth
Of the Negotiations

Of Ia Negotiations
Paris. October 5--The United States
peace commission held its usual ses-
sion today from 10 o'clock a. m. to /
o'clock p. m. The commissioners con
tinued the conference with Major Gen.
eral Merritt and practically concluded
an extended Of the Philippine
situation. Nothing could be learned as
to whether the general or Admiral
Dewey had recommended the retention
or the evacuation Of the Philippine is
lands by the American forces; but. IL
developed that Admiral Dewey handed
General Merritt a communication set
ting forth his judgment on the subject
and that the general submitted this to
the commission, with reports from the
American military officers at Manila
touching he condition prevailing in the
islands. General Merritt concluded
with a declaration OF his Judgment in
the matter n it may be said hat he
arrived in Paris hoping the United
States commission would press for the
possession Of the Philippine archepela-
go.
1t is also true that the disposition OF
the troops in the Philippine islands.
before General Merritts departure.
was such and was so ordered as TO
warrant the view that a large or COM
plete holding of the Philippine islands
by the United States was contemplate
ed.
Washington, October Sit can be
stated on authority that tn various
stories published relating to the work
Of the peace commission now in Paris,
wherever they assume to indicate a
failure of negotiations, a renewal of
hostilities and the dispatch of a naval
force to the Spanish coast are purely
speculative. AS a matter of fact, the
commission has not progressed so far
with its work as to warrant the at
tempt to draw a conclusion as to the
outcome. 1t is not even possible to
predict the length of the session with
any accuracy. The proceedings may
last one month or three. That will de-
pend entirely upon the view taken by
the American commissioners of the sit
uatiOn in Paris. If they are convinced
that the negotiations are being con-
Quoted with sincerity on the part of
the Spanish commission, there will be
no effort made to force them beyond
reason, but if it should appear hat the
Spanish position is not subject to
change; that it is irreconcilable with
the American demands, and that the
Spanish, knowing this, are simply pro-
longing the proceedings, our commits
siOners are likely to be promptly re-
called and this state of affairs may be
found to exist at any moment, either
within a week or three months, which
seems to be the limit of time allowed
in any calculation.
Very naturally Admiral Dewey is
n Of the most trusted counselOrs of
the American commissioners. Such in
formation as he has been able to col
lect has already been dispatched to
the commissioners in mailed reports
and in addition to his the authorities
here ave cabled certain extracts from
the admirals observations which are
believed to be of special Importance
just now. He has not directly sug-
gested that the whole group be taken,
nor that our claim be limited to Ma
| Mia bay, and the contiguous territory,
but he has called attention to one very
! important consideration which has
| seemed to escape general observation
! up to this time and which has been
laid before the American commission
ers. That is that with all the advan-
| tages in a commercial way possessed
by Manila the place is indefencible un-
less Subig bay also be held by the
| United States. This particular bay is,
| on the whole, regarded as being supe-
rior from a strategic point of view to
| Manila bay and the Spanish govern
ment has evidently been of the same
mind, for before the outbreak of hos
| tilities it was about to embar upon
an extensive scheme Of defensive
works in Subig bay.