The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-08-26
AND OUTLINED BROADLY THE
AMERICAN POLICY.
AND THE DATE OF SAILING
Fixed for The Middle of September Some Time
will be Occupied in Preparing the Amer>
ican Side of the Question Lam
guage of the Conference
Not Decided on.

Washington, August 25.-The first
meeting of majority of the American
peace commissioners took place to-day
at the State Department, when at l.
o'clock Secretary Day was joined by
Senators Davis and Frye. Prior to this
the Senatorial membership of the COM
mission had had conference Of two
hours with the President. Secretary
Day was not present at this meeting at
the White House, so that after GET
ting the views of the President, tine
Senators went TO the State Department
and for an hour and Il quarter remain
ed closeted with Secretary Day. As
sistant Secretary Moore, who is likely to
accompany the commission to Paris III
an advisory capacity, was present part
of the time. Mr.. Macarthur First
Secretary of the American legation at
Madrid, under General Woodford, was
also called in.
As result of the meeting it can be
stated with positiyeness that MesSrs.
Day, Davis and Frye, are members Of
the peace commission. 1t is understood
that the remaining two members have
been selected, and will be announced by
Saturday. At the meeting to-day the
general plans of the commission as To
proceeding TO Paris, were talked over,
and an understanding reached that the
start be made between Sepfembc" 10TH
and 10th. The exact day was left
open in order to permit further confer
ence with all the members Of the COM
mission. No definite arrangements have
been made thus far as to securing
quarters in Paris, but this viii nc left
TO Ambassador Porter. tho Spanish Am
bassador at Paris and the French off
cials. The sessions will ne neld III the
Salon des Ambassadors. through the
courtesy of the French government.
Aside from these formalities, the COM
missioners went into some Of the more
serious questions of policy which will
come before them. Much of the pre-
liminary work has been done by the
State Department officials. such as the
collection of the documents, treaties.
books and maps which will be used by
the commissioners abroad.
The commissioners expect to be occu-
pied for several days i'll a discussion Of
the more important matters to come
before the tribunal and in the prepara-
ton of the American side OF the case.
The question whether The negotiations
with the Spanish comm ssioners would
be in the English or French language,
will not be determined prior to the ar
rival of the commissioners in Paris. 1t
is matter that must be settled by all
the commissioners, and will rot be de-
termined arbitrarily by the American
commissioners in advance OF the meet
ing.
Owing to reports current today that
only three American commissioners
would be appointed it was stated author
itatiyely this evening that the commission
would consist of five members and that
one of the commissioners would be Il
Democrat.
The meeting Of three commissioners to-
day will be the only one of a concerted
character until September 10TH, when
the five commissioners will come to
Washington for final conference before
sailing for Paris.