The record-union., 1898-08-14
Gives Way to CaImness Not Appar-
ent Since Hosti|ities Opened.
The President Has Not Definitely Deter
mined the Personnel Of the Peace
Commission Which is to
Meet at Paris.

WASHINGTON, August 10 II
sudden transition from war 10 peace
was reflected to-day in complete dull
ness and stagnation through ofhclai
circles. Instead of the hustle and ac-
tivity which have prevailed for months
through the corridors of the War anu
Navy Departments. there was a calm
ness not apparent since the mld-sum-
mer vacations of last year. Most or
the officials went home early in the day,
enjoying the first partial holiday since
the war began.
There will be a large amount of i'm
portant details to be worked out from
this time forward; a gradual reduction
of the army and navy to peace footings,
the establishment of temporary and
permanent administrations for our new
colonial possessions; caring for the
prisoners and the relief of the dis
tressed in Cuba.
The question of immediate attention
is the appointment of the peace com
mission which is to meet at Paris and
of the military commission to meet at
Havana and San Juan
The President conferred with Secre-
tary Day during the day relative TO the
peace commission but it was said at the
State Department late in the day that
an announcement of the commission
might be- deferred for some days. 1t is
understood that the President has not
f,,llx- a.
the commission. Several of the public
men who saw him to-day were satisfied
that the commission would be made up
of Secretary Day, Senators Allison and
German, either Joseph X. Choate or
Elihu Root of New York, and probably
prominent army officer. General Cor
bin is spoken of favorably in connec-
tion with the army appointment on the
commission. The military commissions
for Cuba and Porto Rico are not re-
ceiving any attention from the State
Department. as the military authori-
ties will have entire charge Of these
branches of the peace settlement.
During the day the State Department
received a call from M. Thiebaut, Sec
retary OF the French Embassy, for the
purpose of leaving a letter explaini z
the authority given by cable to the
French ambassador TO sign the peace
protocol These assurances already
had been given verbally, but the letter
gives them in a more definite form,
and in the course of few days the
complete written authorization from
Madrid viii be at the State Depart
ment
Many congratulations keep coming tc
the State Department and to the White
House on the establishment of peace.
General Greedy is satisfied that no
use can be made of the cable connect
ing Hongkong with Manila, as there
are no cable operators at the Manila
end
Acting Secretary Allen said to-day
that the matter of establishing coaline
stations, the disposition of Admiral
Cervera and other Spanish prisoners
and like questions brought up by the
peace settlement would receive consid-
Grafton in due time, but that there was
no immediate necessity for passing
upon them.
Preparations are making to receive
the battleships and armored cruisers
now uIlQeT ORDERS 10 come NOrtn. DrN
docks No ! and No. at the New Yorl
navy yard are available for the bis
cruisers New York and Brooklyn. bu
not for the battleships. Dry dock No
3 will receive the batleships, but vii
not be in condition before Septembe
1st as 1t has just gone through Ions
period of repair. Captain Bartlett, IL
charge OF the auxiliary fleet. is arrang
ing to get back these craft into thei
old channels. The old single-turreteC
monitors will be returned to the Leagu,
Island navy yard. Some of the auxil
iary are still needed to look after th'
mine fields stablished along the coast
The War Department was busy al
day with matters pertaining TO cessa
ton of hostilities. Secretary Alger con
suited the President for some time. bu
when he returned said that the Militar,
Commissioners for Cuba and Porte
Rico would not be announced to-day
There was no heed of haste, he said az
by the terms of the protocol ten day'
were allowed for the selection or TIT
commission There has been some spec
ulation as TO who will be Commission
ers, and nearly all of the more promin
ent officers of the army have been can
vassed, both volunteer and regular. l
seems to be generally conceded tha
General Lee will be one Of the Com
missioners for Cuba, on account of hi:
knowledge Of the conditions in the isl