The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-10-05
CONFERENCE WITH MERRITT
AMERICAN COMMISSIONERS DISCUSS
THE PHILIPPINES.
Views OF the General and Admiral
Dewey Made KnOwn-A spaniard's
Prediction of the Outcome.

PARIS. Oct. 4-The Spanish and Ameri-
can peace commissioners were presented to
NJ Faure. president of the French republic.
at the Elysee Palace this afternoon. The
Spaniards entered the palace at 4 o'clock
and were introduced to NJ. Faure by the
Spanish ambassador, Senor Leon Cas-
tillo. and Senor Rios expressed the graft
fication of the commission at meeting the
President of France. At 4:45 D. m, i'm
medately following the reception of the
Spaniards, the members of the American
peace commission were received by Presi-
dent Faure. General Porter met the COM
missioners on the steps of the Court of
Honor and they proceeded to the Grand
Salon. President Faure, surrounded by a
few members of his official household re-
ceived General Porter, who presented Judge
Day and the other members of the commits
sion in turn, after which Judge Day pre-
sented President Faure a cable message
from President Mckinley. 1t was dated
Sept. so and it was addressed to His Ex-
cellency, NJ. Faure, President of the Re-
public and was signed William McKin-
ley, 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 Re-
public, beg to tender you my most friend
~ personal greeting and riie assurances of
my grateful appreciation of your kind
courtesies to the American commissioners.
PRESIDENT Faure, in replying, courteously
expressed his appreciation of the cordial
sentiments uttered and heartily reciprocated
them. He stated that everything possible
would be done for the comfort of the COM
missioners and concluded with saving: .As
the name of Lafayette is held dear in the
United States, so is the name of Washing
ton revered in France" The President then
added that he would Immediately transmit
directly to President Mckinley his reply
10 the latter's cordial message. Following
Is the text of the reply:
nave had great pleasure in receiving
'he american plenipotentiaries to the His
paho-AInerlcan commission. During the
coulse OF an audience Mr.. Day read the tele-
eiaHl "hlch you so graciously sent me- I
am very much touched by the sentiments
which your Excellency has been kind enough
TO express, and l heartily thank Won for
theh- nope the American commissioners
VIII nave kind recollections of their soiourn
in Paris, which 1 shall try to render agree
able to them, and l sincerely hone for a
happy termination of the pacific uorlx os
the commission"
The morning was cold. favorino indoo-
work, of which each peace commission bos
Piehty on hand. The American commissions
eIs determined to devote to-day's session IN
conference with Major General Merritt
ne session began at 10 o'clock and lasted
un'i CLOCK in the afternoon General
MERRITT detailed to the commissioners his
personal views and those of Rear Admiral
dewey regarding the physical. geogranbioaI
moral and political conditions nrevaiIin. ~
the philippine islands, General Merri,t,s
exposition of his personal views ana i,,ae-
ment OF the Philippine islands was nor en-
lshed to-day. He will meet the commissio,
again tomorrow, when he will continue 70
discharge his errand here
president Montero Rios of the Snanish
commission, and his colleagues were busv
to-day with telegraphic and other corre-
spondence. Senor Rios denied himself TO ALI
callers.
A newspaper, LIE Petit Bleu, this morning
oeciares It has authority for the statement
that 1t has been decided that IAN adinst-
hent relative to Cuba will be first discussed
al the next meeting owing to incidents
'S ASSeHIy taken place In the
1nillpplhe islands" The same newspaper
remarks that Senor Rios yesterday ..boupbt
three copies of work on international law
py one OF our most eminent iurists" Ta
Petit Bleu does not accept the view that the
work OF the commission will be concluda,,
before December, but expresses the belief
'hat II VIII require longer time
La Patrie this evening prints an interview
SAID 10 have been had with Gen. Raafa1
Cerero Sacnz, of the Spanish peace com
mission In which he is represented as saw
ing: Peace between Spain and the ITnited
States Will complicate all the eastern opas-
tions. The day upon which the prelim-
inaries are signed the first chapter I'm tho
new history of Europe will be commenced
as the United States henceforth win NAV
preponderant role in events of which dif- |
terent parts of the world will be the theater
II has been pretended that Spain wanted
war, or at least allowed herself to be drag
ged into it, This is a mistake, since the
United States have long coveted our
colonies. They introduced separatists and
autonomic ideas into Cuba-ideas which
We're not shared by a majority OF the in
hapltants OF the island. Influences of all
Kinds have been brought into play to excite |
rlslngs; and hence ensued a war the con-
sequences of which may be so prejudscal to |
ourselves and may affect all European in
terests The North Americans on their side |
VIII be compelled to create at once the |
naval forces demanded by the situation |
brought about BY events The stronger the |
United States are the more their friendship /
VIII be sought after, and the more also |
sdetE rivalry will ha foaraa nv q 4, f~-,,..r, :. i