The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-10-04

Paris, Oct 3.-Major General Merritt,
who commands the American troops at
Manila, arrived here today from Mar
seilles. He repaired to the Grand Hotel
de FAthenee and declined to be inter-
viewed, as he was suffering from IA
tigue. The general did not see the
United States peace commissioners be-
fore the opening of the joint session to-
day.
The American commissioners held a
session this morning at their own Off
ces, preparatory to the second meeting
with the Spanish commissioners, which
began at the commissions rooms in the
foreign Office at o'clock this afternoon
The plan of work directed to be prepar-
ed by the secretaries has not been per-
fected, as the secretary of the Spanish
commission did not arrive here until to-
day. The American commissioners will
be received by President Faure at .
o'clock Tuesday afternoon.
Today'S session lasted until o'clock;
at which hour the commissioners ad-
journed to meet at o'clock next Fri
day afternoon, such interval being de-
sirable and necessary to allow separate
consideration by each commission of
The interval will be thus filled with
work by each commission, the ultimate
results being so facilitated. The Sec
retary of the Spanish commission will
arrive tonight and the interval will also
be employed by the secretaries jointly
in maturing plans for the work of pro-
cedure.
While the American commissioners
were at luncheon today, General Mer-
ritt called at their hotel, but did not
want to see the commission. He will
call again tomorrow to meet the men,
bers.
The Spanish and American commits
sioners will be received tomorrow by
President Faure. The hour fixed for
the reception of the Americans is 3:45 In
the afternoon. General Merritt will ac-
company the Americans to this func-
ton, which will be held at the Palais de
Elysee.
The opinion is now held that the work
of the commissions may be finished
within a month from the present time.
While it is the general impression
that todays meeting was again devoted
to premliminary work and that the ad-
journment to Friday was taken only to
enable the secretaries to draw up a
schedule of work, the representative of
the Associated Press learns that the
session was highly important and that
the Americans have made a demand Of
such character that the Spaniards find
it necessary to ask for an adjournment
in order to enable them to consult with
the government at Madrid
1t is believed that the question con-
Germs the Philippines, and it is known
that the Americans are highly pleased
at having so soon reached what they
consider very important phase of the
and consider the two SeS-
sions thus far held as very satisfac-
tory to America. The fact that mem
ber of the commission expressed the be-
lief that work would be completed with
in a month indicates a happy frame of
mind.
In the Spanish camp great hopes are
built on what they believe General
Merritt will advise, namely. that the
Filippinos are incapable of self-govern-
ment, and that the whole situation does
not warrant America in taking the re-
sponsibility for the entire Philippines.
The Spanish commissioners are quite
ready to give whatever America asks