The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-12-04

DAY THINKS TREATY WILL BE
SIGNED NEXT WEEK.
DIFFERENCE OF OPINION DEVELOPED
Examination of Witnesses by War investigating
Commission Brings Out a Few New
Points. The Condition of
the ST, Louis.
the ST. Louis.

the St. Louis.
Paris, Dee 3.-There was no joint
session of the peace commission today.
The Americans had Il three hours
meeting this morning.
The report from Berlin that Ger
many is negotiating for the purchase of
the Caroline Islands is confirmed from
several quarters, although Count VonI
Munster-Ladenburg, the German AM
bassador here. informed correspondent
of the Associated Press that he knew
nothing at all about the matter. TheI
American commissioners are inclined toI
believe the report, and it is looked upon
as explaining the reluctance of the Span
iards to give the Americans an answer
in regard to the Caroline Islands, as well
as the question of religious liberty there,
and the latest developments confirm the
report that the SpanardS have been in
structed not TO yield on these points
until they have made a good bargain.
The positions of the commissions. says
an American commissioner, is that of
two card players, each studying his own
hand and waiting for the opponents
lead.
In spite of this temporary halt in
the negotiations and contrary to general
expectation, Judge Day, President of the
American commission, believes the
treaty will be signed next week. But
= great deal of work must be done be-
fore the treaty is ready for the sigma
lures. as after ten weeks of negotia-
tions the only articles accepted by both
commissioners are the leading ones, pro-
viding for cessiOn of the Spanish colo
nies and these only in principle and not
in language.
The adjournment today was at Judge
Days request. as the long morning ses-
sion developed a divergence of opinion.
Had the joint session been held the
Americans would not have entered it as
a united body.
The exact nature of the differences of
opinion cannot be ascertained, but it is
believed some of the commissioners areI
in more yielding mood toward Spain
than their colleagues.
There is no doubt that the SpaniardS
on Monday will report the arrival oil
their Governments Instructions the ab-
sence of which caused Fridays adj
journment.
Among onlookers there is IL skepti-
cism concerning these instructions. ltl
is believed that they constitute diplo
matte scapegoat put forward by The
Spaniards to cover the delay necessary
to them.
The question of Il coaling station for
the United States in the Caroline Is
lands is not likely to prove serious
stumbling block. The Americans have
not made il one of the demands whose
granting is essential to the conclusion of
the treaty of peace Some of them are
not enthusiastic in its favor and none
of them thinks Germany's negotiations
for the Carolines are likely TO lead toI
complications between Germany and the
United States.
In French official circles it is assert
ed that, under the Pope's award of 1888,
Germany already possesses certain
rights in the Carolines which would pre-
vent Spain from selling us one of these
islands But this is matter which has
already been investigated by the AM
ericans. who find that Germany's rights
refer to certain fishing privileges ofI
German ctllNelS anu lhSil iiSA" ="
coaling station to be agreed upon mu
tuaIly between Spain and Germany.
All this was set out in our foreign fell-
tions book of 1896, and there is moth
ing to prevent Spain from selling usl
any island she chooses.
Americans familiar with the question,
consider that the Philippines and the
I4adrones furnish all the coallng bases
necessary in the Pacific.
THE WAR INVESTIGATION.
Washington, Dee. 3.-At to-days ses-
sion of the war investigating commission
the examination of Captain Machay
who was in charge of transports OF the
Santiago expedition, was continued. He
said the question of disembarking the
troops upon the arrival of the transports
was carefully considered before the ex-
pedition left Tampa, but owing to the
haste with which the arrangements were
made it was not possible to procure stern |
anchors for mOoring purposes for all |
the vessels. Captain MacKay also SUI |
perintended the embarkation OF the |
troops which came north from Santiago |
after the surrender and he Indignantly |
denied many of the published statements |
regarding the filthy condition OF the |
transports There had been plenty OF |
ice for the ships at Santiago, malnly
supplied by the Red Cross, and he hau |
personally superintended the loading OF |
the supplies for the ships. lie hlmselt |
came north on the Seneca. She was |
crowded with sick soldiers from Siboney ]
IN ,I.,.s A. fltA