Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-10-04
He Explains Conditions in Philippines
to Peace Commission.
SEPARATE SESSIONS HELD TODAY
Gen. Porter Entertains the American
Commissioners at Dinner.
VIEWS OF PARIS NEWSPAPER

PARIS, October 4.-The morning was cold
and disagreeable, favoring indoor work. of
which each Of the peace commissions mas
plenty on hand.
The American commissioners determined
to devote today's session to conference
with Maj Gen. Merritt.
The session of the American commission
began at 10 o'clock and lasted until 1
o'clock in the afternoon. Gen. Merritt de-
tailed to the commissioners his personal
views and those of Rear Admiral Dewey
regarding the physical, geographical, moral
and political conditions prevailing in the
Philippine Islands.
Gen. Merritt Did Not Finish.
Gen. Merritts exposition of his personal
views and judgment of the Philippine Is
lands was not finished today. He will meet
the commission again tomorrow, when he
will continue to discharge his errand here
President Montero Rios of the Spanish
commission and his colleagues were busy
today with telegraphic and other CORE
spondence. Senior Rios denied himself to
all callers.
A newspaper, LIE Petit Bleu this morning
declares it has authority for the state
ment that it has been decided that an aH-
Justment relative to Cuba will be first dis
Cussed at the next meeting, owing TO inc;-
dents which have recently taken place in
the Philippine Islands.
The same newspaper remarks that Senior
Rios yesterday "hought three copies of
work on international law by one OF our
most eminent juristS.''
The Petit Bleu does not accept the view
that the work of the commission will be
concluded before December, but expresses
the belief that it will require a longer
time.
Gen. Porter to Give n Dinner.
The United States ambassador, Gen. Hor-
ace Porter. will! give a dinner in honor of
the Americans tomorrow afternoon, and
next week Gen. Porter will give a dinner
in honor of both commissions at the United
States embassy
The Spanish commissioners were received
this afternoon at o'clock by President
Faure at the Elysee palace.
The members of the Spanish commission
were introduced by the Spanish ambassa-
dor, Senior Leon Castillo, and Senor Rios
expressed the qualification of the commits
sion at meeting the president of France.
At 4:45 pm, Immediately following the
reception of the Spaniards. the members of
the American peace commission were re-
ceived by President Faure at the EIysee
Palace. Gen. Porter met the commission
ers on the steps of the Court of Honor and
they proceeded to the grand salon.
Judge Day Presented.
President Faure, surrounded by a few
members of his official household, received
Gen. Porter, who presented Judge Day and
the other members Of the commission in
turn after which Judge Day handed Pres
ident Faure a cable message from President
Mckinley. 1t was dated September 80 and
1t was addressed to His Excelency, NJ.
Faure. President of the Republic" and
was signed, William Mckinley, President
Of the United States" 1t read as follows:
'On this occasion when the commissions
of the United States and Spain are about
to assemble at the capital of France to
negotiate peace and when the representa-
tives of this government are receiving the
hospitality and the good will of the repub-
lie, beg to tender you my most friendly
personal greeting and the assurances of
my grateful appreciation Of your kind cour-
tesies to the American commissioners"
President Faure, in replying, courteoIsly
expressed his appreciation of the cordial
sentiments uttered and heartily recipro-
Gated them.