The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-10-04

Bringing About the First Meeting OF
the Two Commission I'm This In.
formal Way-The Function a Very
P:eaxant aud Tasteful Atfair-Com-
ment Of the Paris Press ON the Diff
cuItes Confronting the Joint Com
mission.
Paris. September 29.-The United
States peace commissioners held an
other session this morning, after
which they drove to the foreign office,
breakfasted with the Spanish commits
sioners. In addition to the commission
ers and the ambassadors, the minister
Of foreign affairs, NJ. Delcasse, a
invited the three head officials of the
French foreign office, the first secretar-
les of the embassies and General Heg-
ron, secretary of h Elysee palace.
The breakfast was purely informal,
given by NJ. Delcasse in his private
apartments at the foreign office. The
Spanish commissioners arrived first,
| accompanied by the Spanish ambassa-
DOR mere, oCuoI A/ScA >o0NiAoy "N~
| the secretary of the Spanish embassy.
The United States ambassador, Gen
| eral Horace Porter, and Henri Wig
maud, the secretary of the United
States embassy, arrived at the for
eign office before the American COM
| missioners and awaited them there.
The American party arrived on the
! stroke of 1890 o'clock, the hour fixed.
| They were received in a private salon
above NJ. DeIcasse's official quarters.
The minister met and greeted each
| American in turn and then presented
| them to the premier, M. Brisson.
| simultaneously, Senior Castillo stepped
forward to greet General Porter, where
upon the two groups moved together
introductions to each other were
| effected by M. Delcasse.
After Senior Castillo and General
| Porter had a brief hat the party re-
paired to the breakfast room, where
M. Delcasse presided in the centre of a
long table. On his right were General
Porter and Senator Gray, with a Span
ish commissioner between them. On
| the left of NJ. Delcasse was the presi-
| dent of the Spanish commission, Senior
| MOntero Rios, with Senator Davis next
to him INC a Spanish commissioner on
! the left of the senator. On the OppO-
site side, facing M. Delcasse, was NJ.
BrissOn. On his right were Senior Leon
y Castillo, Senator Frye and a Span
ish commissioner. On the left of the
premier were Judge Day, president of
the American commission, a Spanish
| commissioner and Mr.. Whitelaw Reid.
Beyond these, on either side, were the
| secretaries of the United States and
| Spanish embassies here and the French
foreign officers next.
The breakfast, or luncheon as it
would be termed in the United States,
occupied eighty minutes. Coffee and
cigars We're served in an adjoining
J apartment and after half an hours
further chatting the party broke up,
both commissions leaving simultane-
] OuSly with courteous adieus.
The Americans regard the function
as having been a happy means Of max
ing the two sets of commissioners &C
| Quainted with each other. It was plan
ned with great tack by the French and
conducted with the utmost discretion.
The French newspapers continue to
| comment upon the difficulties which
\ the two commissions have to face by
| reason of their divergent instructions
| beyond which, it is said, they cannot
go.
The Gil Bias says 1.-THE Spanish
| government has given it's commission
ers very precise Instructions. They
art to do their utmost to ave it ad
mitted hat there can be no question
of disputing the rights of Spanish
sovereignty over Manila, the island of
LuZOn and the rest of the archipela-
! go, outside Of the naval stations which
I Spain will ced at the Marianne is
lands. On the other side, the American
commission, before leaving President
Mckinley, received from him very pre-
else instructions, which the commits
siOners cannot depart from. The fol-
lowing is the text of their instructions:
Il. Spain to cede absolute sovereign
ty Over the Whole of the island of Lu-
zOn.
"2. The other islands Of the archi-
pelago will be placed Under the domin-
ion of Spain on condition that a, lib
eral government is accorded to the in
habitants.
80. Complete separation of church
and state in h Philippines.
a. Spain cannot cede any other is
lands in the group to any foreign pow
er without Americas consent.
rs. The United States shall enjoy
for all time the same commercial privi-
1eges as the most favored nations, not
excepting Spain herself"
The Gil Bias concludes with remark
ing: 1T is, therefore, to be feared
that for unhappy Spain the negotia-
ions which open on the 1st Of October
will give no satisfaction"
Statesville Landmark: Section is of