The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-10-02
FIRST MEETING OF COMMISSIONS.
Next Session 10 Take Place Monday
Afternoon at O'clock.

Next Session 10 Take Place Monday
Afternoon at O'clock.
Paris, Oct. 1.-The american and Span
ish commissions assembled for their first
business session at o'clock this after
noon in the rooms assigned to them for
their deliberations at the French foreign
Office. A special entrance is set apart for
the use of the commissioners in order to
furnish them with every privacy and con-
venence possible.
The entire suite of rooms may be de-
scribed as being of massive appearance
Handsome crystal chandeliers hang from
the ceilings and the walls are wholly pan
eled with gobelin tapestry. In the center
of the hall and extending nearly the length
OF the apartment is a massive rosewood
table, covered with a red velvet table
cloth and having around 1t large, hand
some chairs for the use of the commits
sioners Before each chair Is a large
leather-bound portfolio and tray upon
which are pencils, an ink eraser. a file
hook, quill and steel pens, china ink
well and sponge cup.
This apartment is carpeted with maroon
and gold and the walls and ceilings are of
deep olive and gold. Ii contains five great
windows draped with silk and priceless
lace curtains They overlook the beautiful
private bdiutbH VI Allt iOitlSu iliIiEtSi
which contain exquisite 5tatuary and some
rare trees and shrubs.
The foreign Office authorities have who'll
ly turned over the suite of rooms describ-
ed to the peace commissioners. Even the
keys of the apartments were handed to
the commissioners to-day and orders were
issued that no persons, even French off,
cials, are to be allowed to enter the rooms
while the commissioners are using them
The session of the commissions lasted
ninety minutes.
The next session will take place Monday
afternoon at o'clock.
Both commissions maintained secrecy as
to their proceedings.
The Americans were the most prompt
in arriving at the foreign office. The
members of both committees met In the
refreshment room and there renewed the
acquaintance begun on Thursday, after
which they proceeded to the conference
chamber.
During the session, which lasted ninety
minutes, as already cabled. the inter
course was conducted satisfactorily
through the American official Interpreter,
Mr. Ferguson. The Spanish Interpreter
was not present.
IL was agreed upon by both commits
sions that no account of the proceedings
should be revealed, and 1t Is understood
there Will be a conference obviating the
choice of a presiding officer.
The conversation to-day was conducted
in Spanish and in English by the respec-
tive commissions.
Responding to the invitation of the Paris
Chamber Of Commerce to dine the Ameri-
cans secretary. Moore, has addressed the
following letter to the president of that
body:
81 beg to inform you that the peace COM
missioners, after the consideration of your
polite invitation this morning, regret 10
find themselves obliged to decline it. While
they greatly appreciate the courtesy, their
official duties are of so pressing a nature
that they are compelled for the most part
to deny themselves the pleasure Of so.
cial entertainment"
There was no formal conference. The
members talked In groups before they took
their places at the tables and continued tc
talk in pairs after they were seated. There
were no speeches and the entire session
was devoted to mapping out the future
work But, even on this point nothine
definite was arranged. The two seoretaris,
were ordered 10 draw up a programme
which will be submitted later to the com.
missions.