The age-herald., 1898-09-30
COMMISSIONERS
 HOLD CONFERENCE Representatives of the Two Coun-
 tries Are Far Apart. THE SPANISH INSTRUCTIONS Are Very Precise in Their Nature, and Are Believed to Be Opposed to
 the AmeIi ican Deman s in ..,.. the Far East.
THE SPANISH INSTRUCTIONS

Paris, September 29.-The United States peace commission held another conference this morning after which, accompanied by the Unied States ambassador, General Hor- ace Porter, they drove to the foreign office, where the commissioners met and break lasted with the Spanish commissioners. In addition to the commissioners and ambas- sadors, the minister of foreign affairs, M. Delcasse, had invited the three head of ficials of the French foreign office. the first secretaries of the embassy and General Hegron, secretary of the Elysee Palace.
 The breakfast at which the two peace commissions met for the first time today was a purely in4orrnal affair given by M. Delcasse in his private apartments at the foreign office. The Spanish commissioners arrived first, accompanied by the Spanish ambassador here Senor Leon Castillo, and the secretary of the Spanish embassy. The United States ambassador, General Horace Porter and Henri Vigaud, the sec retary of the United States embassy, ar- rived at the foreign office before the American commissioners and awaited them there The American party arrived on the strike of 12:30 the hour fixed, and the rap- ping Of a halbord by a doorkeeper the marble floor announced the arrival of the Americans, who were received in private saloon above M. Decasse's official quar- ters. The minister met and greeted each American in turn and then presented them to the premier, M. Brisson. Simui taneous- ly Senor Castillo stepped forward to greet General Porter, whereupon the two groups moved together and introductions to each other were effected by M. Delcasse
 After Senor Castillo and General Porter had a brief chat, the party repaired to the breakfast room, where M. Deleasse presid- cd in the center of a long table. On his riobt General pOrter and Gray, with a Spanish commissioner between them. On the left of M. Delcasse was the president of the Spanish commission, -Senor Montero Rios, with Senator Davis next to him and a Spanish commissioner the left of the senator. On the opposite side, facing M. Delcasse, was M. Brisson. On his right were Senor Leon Castillo Sena- tor Frye and Spanish commissioner. On the left of the premier were Judge Day, president of the American commission; a Spanish commissioner and Mir Whitelaw Reid Beyond these on either side, were the secretaries of the United States and Spanish embassies here and the French foreign office officials.
 The breakfast or luncheon, as it would he termed in the United States, occupied eighty minutes.
 Coffee and cigars were served in an ad- joining apartment, and after half an hour s further chatting the party broke up, both commissions leaving simultaneously with courteous adieus.
 The Americans regard the function as having been happy means of making the two sets of commissioners acquainted with each other It was planned with great tact by the French and was conducted with the utmost discretion
 The French newspapers continue to com ment upon the difficulty which the two commissions will have to face by reason of their divergent stations, beyond which, 1t is said, they cannot go
 Gil Bias says: "The Spanish government has given it's commissioners very precise instructions hey are to do their u umost to have it admitted that there can be no question of disputing the rights of Span ish sovereignty over Manila, the Island of Luzon, and the rest of the archipelago out side of the naval stations, which Spain will cede at the Marianne Islands
 "On the other ssde, the American com mision before leaving President Mckinley received from him very precise instruc- tions from which the commissioners can not depart.
 The following is the text of their instuc- tions:
 ''First-Spain cedes absolute sovereignty over the whole of the Island of Luzon.
 "Second-The other islands of the archi- pelago VII be replaced unler the domin- ion of Spain on condition that liberal gov ernment is accorded to the inhabitants.
 "Third-Complete separation of church and state in the Philippines.
 "Fourth-Spain cannot cede any other islands in the group to any foreign power, without America's consent.
 "Fifth-The United States shall enjoy for all time the same commercial privileges as the most favored nations, not excepting Spain herself"
 The Gfl-Blas concludes with remarking:
 "It Is therefore, 10 be feared that for un- happy Spain, the negotiations which open on the first of October will give no satis- faction"