The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1898-08-22
LANGUAGE OF DIPLOMACY
Commissioners Will Use Both
English and Spanish.
THE APPOINTMENTS DRAG
How the Work of Framing Treaty
VIII BE Carried on In Paris
Rather n Tedious Process Con-
ference of the Military Commits
sions-POIitics an Obstacle.

Some interest has been manifested in
the question as to the language that will
be used in the peace negotiations. Here
tofore. French has been regarded as the
language of diplomacy. OF late years,
however. the English tongue has spread
to the uttermoSt corners of the earth.
and English is now the language of
great majority of the Caucasian race.
This has led to a superstition that English
might be the medium of communication
between the commissioners of the United
States and Spain in conducting the peace
negotiations.
The fact of the matter is that both Eng
lish and Spanish will be used. The COM
missioners of the two powers will not
sit together, as so many people suppose.
The American commissioners viii hold
session. at which they will prepare
written statement of views. which will be
submitted on the following day. in trans
lation, to the commissioners of Spain
Then the Spaniards will frame reply
which our commissioners will read in
translation. Thus the conference will
been reached. English will be used in the
negotiations. certainly. but not exclusive
ly- The fact that French will not be used
at all is an encouragement in the belief
that English will finally become the Ian
guage of diplomacy.
There were no additions yesterday TO
the list of peace commissioners, although,
as has been the case every day since the
protocol was signed. the air was full of
rumors of appointments. Secretary Day
paid brief visit 10 the White House in
the morning. when he had a few minutes
conversation with the President. but IL
was stated that his visit had nothing TO
do with the selection of commissioners.
The statement, widely published in
Western papers, that the President was
finding difficulty in procuring a represen-
| tative Democrat to serve on the commits
sion. was secuted by officials in the State
| Department, who asserted that more Re
pubIicans than Democrats had declined 10
serve.
The reason generally assigned fer the
| numerous declinatlOEs was that most oil
| the . atesmen invited to serve nave
| political interests of great Importance
| this Fall. and they do not dare to neg
| lect them: that both sides expect TO VIII
/ on war issues, and that. while the honor
! of being a member of the peace com
/ mission is one 10 be coveted under ordin'
/ airy circumstances, more permanent re
| suits are 10 be obtained by getting II
Ion the ground floor with the victoriou:
! hosts. to whichever side they may be
| long.
AT the War Department it was SAID
that no meeting had yec been held o
the Cuban and Porto Rican war commits
| sioners. who are 10 arrange for IN
I % i=lan hN- he
| iards 1t is known. however, that IN
| President has talked win all of tn
commissioners who have arrived in TN
city, and that early in the week he vii
have conferences with Atmirals Schle,
and Sampson Until those two officer
arrive and have been conferred witt
nothing definite viii be given out a
TO The plans of the two commissions, be
yond what is already known