The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-12-03
WANT TO HEAR FROM MADRID.
ROTH PEACE COMMISSIONS ARE
AWAITING INSTRUCTIONS.

GDnniards Want the Treaty COnclud-
ed first and Minor Matters Dis
cuSsed Afterwards-UncIe Sans
New Subjects to Have All Their
Rights and Privileges Secured to
Tbem-FuIfIIment of All Existing
Wall Contracts to BE Guaranteed.
Paris. Dec. 2.--The Joint session of the
peace commissions to-day lasted two
hours. No real progress was made, as
the Spaniards are awaiting instructions.
Spain's proposition for commercial priv
jleges in the West Indies was not settled
and was scarcely considered to-day. The
Americans have also asked for instructions
on certain matters. The Caroline Islands
questions were not considered, and the
joint commission adjourned until Satur-
day.
To-day's session was a repetition virtu-
ally of several earlier meetings. When,
after two hours of discussion taking
wide range. the Spaniards We're pressed
for definite statements, they pleaded that
they had not received instructions from
Madrid. Thereupou the Americans declar-
ed in diplomatic phraseology. that 1t was
useless to waste time in debate with men
who were not empowered to make bar
gains Although adjournment was taken
ill tomorrow, it is probable there will be
a further postponement till Monday.
The Spaniards' version of to-days ses-
sion is that they asked to have the treaty
concluded first and then that the minor
matters be discussed. According TO
American sources, the Spanish members
endeavored to draw hints as to how far
the Americans were willing to compromise
demands under discussion without disclos-
ing what concessions Spain was willing to
make.
As the negotiations proceed the prospects
of consuming much time increases. Sew
eral very important propositions, present.
ing many phases, invite discussion and
must afterwards be embodied in the agree
ments This task of embodying may be
long drawn out, every word and comma
requiring consideration.
on the questions unsettled which do
not concern territorial or financial inter
ests, both commissions display laudable
anxiety to promote the welfare of the in
habtants involved. An American commits
sioner remarked to the correspondent of
the Associated Press:
I'VE realize that these people are to be-
come our subjects, and we desire to Sc
cure for them all their rights and privi-
leges. We keep in mind the interests of
Spanish citizens in the territories chang
ing hands as we'll as of others.
our Spanish friends exhibit a willing
ness to cooperate in the work of guar
anteeing the rights of the people they are
losing, a willingness that must command
our respect, for we realize that they
might make the task much more difficult
if they were disposed to display a re-
sentful spirit.'
Among the problems of the foregoing to
which the commissioners are devotng
much attention is that of the courts. Both
commissions desire as far as possible to
arrange that contracts entering upon and
law suits brought under the Spanish
regime may be transferred to the jurisdic-
ton of the American courts, so that the
litigants may lose nothing through the
change of government.
The question of continuing contracts for
public works now under way is also being
considered and it is possible the treaty will
guarantee the fulfillment of existing mail
contracts.