The age-herald., 1898-10-05
MERRITT GIVES HIS VIEWS
Advises EnVOyS of the United States Re-
 sarding the Philippines.
EXCHANGE OF CORDIAL MESSAGES
Between the Presidents of the Two Great Republics of the Earth Saenz Discusses the Great
 Future of America.

Paris. October 1.-The morning was cold and disagreeable favoring indoor work. of which each peace commission has plen on hand. The American commission deter mined to devote today's session to con- ference with Major-G General Merritt. The session of the American commission began at 10 o'clock and lasted until 1 o'clock in the afternoon. General Merritt detailed to the commission his personal views and those of Rear Admiral Dewey regarding the physical, geographical moral and po- litical conditions prevailing in the Philip pine Islands. General Merrtts exposition of his personal views and judgment of the Philippine islands was not finished today. He will meet the commission a~ain tomor- row, when he will continue to discharge ms errand here President Montero Rios or the Spanish commission and his colleagues were busy today with telegraphic and oth- CT correspondence.
 The United States ambassador, General Horace Porter, will give dinner in honor of the Americans tomorrow afternoon, and next week General Porter will give din- ner in honor of both commissions at the United States embassy.
 The Spanish commissioners were received at o'clock this afternoon by President Faure at the Elysee palace. The members of the Spanish commission were ntroduc-o a by the Spanish ambassador, Senor Leon Castillo and Senor Rios expressed the qualification of the commission at meeting the president of France.
 Received by Faure
 At 4:45 D. m., immediately following the reception of the Spaniards, the members of the American commission were received by President Faure. General Porter received the guests on the steps of honor, and they proceeded to the grand salon. President Faure surrounded by the official house. hold received General Porter, who present- ed Judge Day and the members of the commission in turn, after which Judge Day presented President Faure cable message from President Mckinley. It was dated September IS, and was addressed to His Excellency, President Faure of the Repub- lie of France" and was signed William Mckinley, President of the United States It read as follows:
 "Now, when the commissions represent ing the United States and Spain are about to meet at the capital of our sister repuphc to negotiate peace, and when the repre- sentatives of this government are receiving the hospitality and the good will of the re- pubic, I beg to tender you my most friend- ly greeting and the assurance of my grate- ful appreciation of your kind courtesies to the American commissioners.
 President Faure, in replying, courteously expressed his appreciation of the express sions, and declared that he reciprocated them.
 President Faure said that everyth ng pos sible would be done for the comfort or the commissions and concluded with say ing:
 "As the name of Lafayette is held dear in the United States so Is Washington re- vered in France"
 The president then added that he would immediately transmit directly to Presi- dent Mckinley his reply to the latter's cordial message.
 The following is the text of President Faure's cable message to President Nc Kinley:
 Faure's Reply
 "I have had great pleasure in receiving the American plenipotentiar es to the Hispano-American peace commission Dur ing the course of an audience, MT. Day read the telegram which you so graciousy sent me. I am very much touched by the sentiments which your excellency has been kind enough to express and l heart- fly thank you for them. I hope the Amer ican commissioners VII have kind recol- lections of their sojourn in Paris, which I shall try to render agreeable to them and l sincerely hope for happy termination or the pacific work of the commission"
 La Patrie this evening prints an inter- view said to have been had with General Rafael Cerero Saenz, of the spanish peace commission, in which he is represent ed as saying:
 "Peace between Spain and the United States will complicate all the eastern ques- tions The day upon which the prehmi- naries are signed the first chapter ln the new history of Europe will be commenced, as the United States henceforth will play
 In ferent parts of the world will be the thea ter.
 Spain Did Not Want War
 s.Jt has been pretended that the Spanish wanted war or at least allowed herself to be dragged into it. This IS a mistake. since the United States has long coveteu our colonies. They introduced separatist and autonomic ideas into Cupa' lucas whieai were not shared by majority of the in- habitants of the island. Influences of all kinds have been brought into play to ex- cite risings, and hence resulted war, the consequences of which may seem EeJudf- cial to ourselves ana may aHect all Eu- ropean interests.
 ."The North Americans on their side will be compelled to create at once the naval forces demanded by the situation brought about by ourselves. The stronger the United States are the more their friend ship will be sought after, and the more also their rivalry will be feared by all Eu- ropean nations.
 Look at the extreme Orient where France, Russia, Germany and England are powerful rivals. If the Americans install themselves in the Philippines the situation will be greatly modified, and that they will not hesitate to seek the friendshil of Ja- pan and England to the detriment of all other nations. It will be for America a truly privileged situation, but the diplo- matic role will be rendered proportionately more difficult"