Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-09-16
NO DEVIATION
From or Modification Of the
United States Demands.
Peace ENJOYS Fully Instructed for
Their Dealings With Spain.
In Complete Accord With President and
Thoroughly Understand Duties.

washington, sept. l5.-Tne CABINET
met in special session, at 3 o'clock, this
afternoon. and adjourned, at 4. All Of
the members were present except
Secretary Alger. who is not in the city.
All united in the statement, made af-
ter the meeting, that they had agreed
to say nothing more of the result Of
the deliberations than that the peace
commissioners had been fully in
structed.
OF the nature of these instructions
they conveyed not a word. Each one
pointed out that to do SO would be ex-
tremely impolitic and would amount
to arming the Spanish commi ssioners
in advance against themselves. The
peace commissioners who were ap-
preached on the subject made a SINH
lar response, thus closing all official
avenues of information.
1t was said that the commissioners
were fully instructed" and it appeared
that the cabinet had patiently gone
over in the discussion with the COM
missioners. every subject that in their
opinion could be brought into the pro-
ceedings before the joint commission.
On each of these the American COM
missioners were made acquainted with
the views and wishes of the admins
tration.
1t is not to be understood from this
that the commissioners go under IRON
clad and Interchangeable instructions at
all points, for there is certain amount
of flexibility in the instruction, else.
as one of the cabinet members put it,
the President might just as well have
reduced his wishes to paper in the
form Of an ultimatum and have sent
that to Paris by messenger.
The peace commissioners are in no
sense mere mouth pieces, but having
chosen with the greatest care and con-
sideration five men in whom he puts
the most implicit confidence, the Presi-
dent feels that they are to be trusted
with the interests of the United States
1t Is not expected that they will have
free rein in the larger questions of
policy, but with ample opportunities
for consultations by cable and other
wise. there Is no reason why the COM
missioners should not be able to carry
out the desires of the administrators
and at the same time have the oppor-
tunity to somewhat shape these desires
by conveying information that they
may acquire.
For instance. it is expected that at
Paris. the commissioners will meet
Gen. Merritt, fresh from Manila and in
addition they will there have the bene-
fit of special representative from Adj
miral Dewey. This will be of the great
est value, for the commissioners are
not acquainted with the Philippines
question in detail and even the infor-
nation that is to be acquired from the
Spanish peace commits sioners is not to
be despised when it takes such an Of
fetal form that it can be relied upon
as to accuracy.
All the arrangements have been COM
pleted for the departure Of the commits
sion and its staff Most of the party
will leave Washington, at o'clock, to-
morrow afternoon, for New York. but
it is said some of the commissioners
may be detained, until the midnight
train. The Campania sails. at P. NJ,
Saturday. and explicit Instructions
have been given all the members OF the
party as to being on hand at that time.
Special baggage tags have been prin-
ted for the belongings of the members
and small paper paster showing red
and blue bars crossed on white back
ground gives handy way Of making
a Red. White and Blue" identification
of the personal and general luggage Of
the party.
A number of stout cedar chests have
been made to carry the books. pamph-
let's, typewritten papers, etc., forming
a part of the American case. The
chests are like shallow steamer trunk
so that they may be showed under the
berths and thus be available on the
passage over, instead of going with the
baggage in the hold of the steamer.
This will permit considerable work on
the trip and 1t is expected that the
commissioners will hold meetings on
shipboau. The party will go direct
from Liverpool to London and there
stop for days rest, then proceeding
to Paris by the way OF Dover ana
Calais.
Senator Frye called at the war de-
partment. during the afternoon. and
had a talk with Acting Secretary Mel
klejohn. While they were together
Representative William Smith of Mich
igan. who is a member of the House
committee on foreign affairs, joined
them.
In the course of a good natured ex-
change. Mr. Smith urged Senator Frye
to hold on to the Philippines as an
entirety. as we'll as all other territory
Of which we were possessed as a result
Of the war; Mr.. Frye automatically
avoided committing himself, beyond
remarking that this idea seemed to be
growing. As Mr.. Frye came from the
he was asked il he favored
= retention Of the Philippines, to which
he replied: Il never have given my
views on that to any human being"
Gen. Otis, today. cabled the war de-
partment. as follows:
Manila, Sept. Is.
Adjutant General, washington:
Affairs much more satisfactory. De-
mands Tor withdrawal insurgent forces
compiled with and all withdrawn or
today. except small forces
In outlying districts. which are not
Dbeying insurgent leader. Aguina,do
few days in, which to with
iraw them by dHehment. and punish
tcontII = 6eass !,
sssffs 49,