The herald., 1898-09-30
SAT AT ONE TABLE
SMOKED CIGARS AND. DRANK
/ COFFEE
PEACE COMMISSIONERS
MEET SOCIALLY BEFORE DOING
BUSINESS
THE INSTRUCTIONS GIVEN
THE INSTRUCTIONS GIVEN
-
Lead French Diplomats to Fear That
the Peace Negotiations Will Fail
of Results
Associated Press Special Wire.

Associated Press Special Wire.
PARIS, Sept. 29.-The United States
Peace Commission held another session
this morning, after which, accompanied
by the United States Ambassador, General
Horace Porter, they drove to the Foreign
Office, where the commissioners met and
breakfasted with the Spanish Commits
sioners and the Ambassadors. The Minister
Of Foreign Affairs, M. Del Case had in
vited the three head officials of the French
Foreign Office, the First Secretaries of the
Embassies and General Hegron, Secretary
of Elysee Palace.
The breakfast at which the peace COM
missioners met for the first time today
was purely an informal affair given by
M. Del Casse in his private apartments in
the foregn office.
The Spanish commissioners arrived first,
accompanied by the Spanish ambassador
here, Senior Leon Castillo, and the Sec
retary of the Spanish embassy. The United
States ambassador, Gen. Horace Porter,
and Henri Vignaud, secretary of the United
States embassy, arrived at the foreign Of
flee before the American commissioners
and awaited them there. The American
party arrived on the stroke of 1890, the
hour fixed, and the rapping of a halberd
by a doorkeeper on the marble floor an
nounced the arrival of the Americans, who
were received in a private salon near M.
Del Casse's official quarters. The minister
greeted each American In turn and then
presented them to the premier. M. Brisson.
simultaneously Senor Castillo stepped for.
ward to greet Gen. Porter, whereupon the
two groups moved together and introduc-
tions to each other were effected by M
Del Case. After Senior Castillo and Gen.
Porter had had a brief chat, the party re-
paired to the breakfast room, where M
Del Casse presided in the center of long
table. The breakfast. or luncheon, as II
will be termed in the United States, oc.
cupied 1S minutes. Coffee and cigars were
served in an adjoining room, and after
half an hours further chatting the party
broke up, both commissions leaving stimuli.
|taneously. with courteous adieus.
French Fears
The French newspapers continue to COM
ment upon the difficulties which the two
commissions will have to face, by reason OF
their different instructions. beyond which
1t is said, they cannot go.
Gil Bias says: 1.-THE Spanish govern
ment has given its commissioners very
precise instructions. They are to do theii
utmost to have 1t admitted that there can
be no question Of disputing the rights OF
Spanish sovereignty over Manila, the Is.
land of Luzon and the rest of the Archipel-
ago. outside Of the naval stations which
Spain will cede at the Marianne Islands.
ION the other side the American Com
mission. before leaving President McKin.
ley, received from him very precise in.
structions from which the commissioners
cannot depart.
"Following Is the text of their instruc-
tions:
'First-Spain cedes absolute sovereign.
ty over the whole Of the island of Luzon.
d" 'Second-The other islands of the arch.
ipelago will be replaced under the domin.