The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1898-10-02
COMMISSIONERS
MET YESTERDAY
First Joint Session to Arrange
Terms of Peace.
HAVE SPACIOUS QUARTERS
The Deliberations Will Be Conducted in
Rooms Assigned the ENJOYS in the
French Foreign -Descrip- -
ser ton of the Apartments.

Paris October l-The American and
Spanish peace commissions assembled for
their first business session at O'Clock this
afternoon in the rooms assigned to them
for their deliberations at the French for
eign office on the Quai dOrsay. A special
entrance is set apart for the use of the
commissioners in order to furnish them
with every privacy and convenience pos
sible.
On entering easy, broad steps lead to
large room. Extending thence in front of
the building is suite of four great rooms,
overlooking the river Seine. In front of
the windows are balconies containing large
vases filled with growing plants.
Next to the ante-room is a spacious re-
ception room. The floor is covered with
beautiful crimson velvet carpet and the
furniture consists of satin divan in the
CENTER with number of easy chairs
around the walls. Rich, heavy drapings
adorn the windows, and there is just
enough statuary in the place to make it
artistic.
The next room to it is of similar appear
ance, and may be termed a lounging sa-
loon. 1t connects with larger apartment,
in which an exquisite lunch is spread for
the private use of the commissioners 1t
joins the conference chamber.
The entire suite of rooms may be de-
scribed as being of massive appearance.
Handsome crystal chandeliers hang from
the ceilings, and the walls are wholly pan-
neled with Gobelin tapestries. You enter
the conference hall through magnificent
double portiers. In center of the hall and
extending nearly the length of the apart
ment is massive rosewood table, covered
lith rad II
around it large, handsome chairs for the
use of the commissioners.
Before each chair is a large leather bound
portfolio and tray upon which are pencils,
an INK eraser and file hook, quill and steel
pens, china ink we'll and a sponge Gun.
This apartment is carpeted with maroon
and gold, and the walls and ceilings are
or deep olive and gold. 1t contains five
great windows draped with silk and price
less lace curtains. They overlook the beau
tliul private garden Of foreign minister,
which contains exquisite statuary and soma
rare trees and shrubs
Inc morning sun enters the apartment
by day and it is made brilliant ar nigbt
py TWO huge crystal chandeliers fitted with
electric lights. "''"
turned over the suite of rooms desoriba1
10 the peace commissioners. No pers ms
even FRENCH officials, are to be allowed TO
enter the rooms while the commissons orc
using tnem.
The session of the commission lasted
ninety minutes.
The next session will take place at
o'clock Monday afternoon. Both commits
sions maintained secrecy as to their pro-
ceedings
New York, October 1.-The French liner.
La Gascogne, which sailed for Hayre to-
day, carried as cabin passengers French
Ambassador Cambon and DR.. Jose Con-
gosto, secretary-general of Cuba and
member of the Spanish peace commission.
Ambassador Cambon said that as the
representative of the French republic in
the United States, he felt happy that It had
fallen to his lot to be the medium of bring
ing peace to two civilized nations which
were at war.
"As rule, the peacemaker falls between
two fires and gets the worst of the fight"
he continued. "but that was not so in nv
case. The position of France in the nego-
tiations was one of fairness, and later on
1t cannot be said that underhand methods
were resorted to to bring about the proto-
col. It is my belief that matters will in a
short time be satisfactorily arranged by
the peace commission at Paris"