The evening times., 1898-09-30

New York. Sept. 30.-The Journal today
publishes the following dispatch from
Paris:
When the Spanish and American Peace
Commissioners had eaten the wonderful
breakfast provided today by the French
minister of foreign affairs, when all the
scraping, bowling and tittle-tattle was
over, and the crumbs were swept from
the fiower-laden board, where the French
prime minister beamed amiably upon the
overfed Peace Commission, L managed to
get from an unimpeachab!e source ac-
curate statement of the whole Spanish
diplomatic plan.
The points of the Spanish brief which
the Peace Commissioners are instructed
10 support by historical precedent and by
every means in their power may be sum-
married. as follows:
/. That nothing beyond a port and coal
ing station in the Philippines should be
ceded to the United States; the actual
amount of Philippine territory in de facto
possession of the military forces OF the
nited States does not justify the de-
mand for the annexation Of LuZon or any
of the islands of the archipelago; no
precedent can be cited for basing preten-
tious TO such an enormous amount of ter
ritory upon the military results accom-
plished
.. If Spanish sovereignty must be with
drawn from the Philippines, Spain's Com
miss.oners will insist that the United
States can have no equitable claim to pre-
vent Spain's disposing Of those portions
Of the archipelago that may remain 10
her by selling them TO the highest bidder
and for ready money. The Spanish cab
met considers that unless Spain can retain
the whole archipelago with the exception
of a port and coaling station-which Sa-
gaSta is ready TO ceds to the United
States-then il is desirable 10 get rid OF
the Philippines altogether. for 10 hold
them and asSart her rule there would be
altogether beyond her resources. Sagasta
has a secret hope that by withdra wing
Spanish sovereignty altogether in the
Philippines he may induce Germany
France. Russia and Austria TO insist that
the question be decided by international
conference. where Spain's case would
have greater chance of success. owing 10
urgent petitions from the manufacturing
districts of Spain.
4 Nations PitinbIe Poverty.
3. The Commissioners VIII endeavor 10
secure a favored tariff in Porto Rico, Gu
ba and such portions of the Philippines as
the United States may annex, for Span
ism textiles
1. No objection VIII be offered by the
Commissioners to cede 10 the United
States the island OF Guam
3. The entire deot OF the Philippines is
to remain with the power whose sover-
eighty shah prevail AZ Manila, and 10 be
guaranteed by the customs receipts.
g The entire Cuban debt incurred pre-
YiCus 10 the last insurrection to be sad
died upon Cuba and guaranteed by the
customs and other revenues of the island
1t was a wonderful breakfast All the
American Commissioners were present,
accompanied by Ambassador Porter and
Henry Eisneaud, the faithful veteran
first secretary OF the embassy. Only four
Spanish Commissioners were present.
Gen. Ceredo not having reached Paris
The Spaniards We're accompanied by
Ambassador Castillo. the first secretary
Of the embassy. Senor Castillo presented
Gen. Porter 10 the Spanish Commission
eTs and Gen. Porter introduced them to
the American Commissioners. Three of
the Spaniards spoke English. but not one
American spoke Spanish
AT the head Of the breakfast table sat
DelCasse and Premier Brisson.
Each Spaniard had an American Com
missioner beside him. War was avoided
a topic calculated TO interfere with
digestion.
The only thing significant in the con-
yersatiOn which occurred informally
round the table .was-t peculiar empha-
sis with which each Spaniard informed
his American neiehbur thar Spain was
very. very poor. Again and again the
poverty Of Spain was gently, patheticaIly
pressed upon the attention of the Ameri-
can Commissioners.
Such soft voices. such dark, poetic ewes
such amiable, friendly glances. and the
scent of roses andfiiies hung in the sun
light air at the feast of love!
Spain was so poor; so very poor. Again
and again the Spaniards lisped the tragic
impecuniosity of their country. This was
the keynote of the meeting. 1t showed
clearly that Spain's plan is TO raise money
out of her defeat
Sagasta told the commissioners when he
sent them TO Paris that they would
have to deal with nation of shopkeep-
ers. and so today they gently harped on
money
When breakfast was nearly over Chair
a hard, dry voice:
Now that we have commenced so aus
piciously. ! hope we will be able TO bring
our work TO a conclusion satisfactorily to
all concerned
The French minister rubbed his hands
softly. and replied:
Nothing will delight France more than
TO see two nations with which We are
upon excellent terms of friendship settle
their differences in a manner satisfactory
TO both. France has been highly honOred
by having been selected as the arena for
the working out Of the conditions of
peace. Personally ! feel honored because
ii has fallen 10 my lot TO introduce the
Peace Commissioners. Ny work is now
done. I shall keep in the background and
watch with profound interest and firm
hope the result Of your deliberations"
The two Commissions will meet for the
first time on Saturday, and already a
stumbling block has been reached No
body can tell how the presiding officer is
to be chosen. Diplomatic history has
been searched in vain for precedent. 1t
is likely that Day and Rios may alternate
as chairmen
Dewey's Report Mny Change ALL
Gen. Merritt, who is due in Paris on