The record-union., 1898-10-04
That the Spaniards Find It Necessary to
Ask an Adjournment.
Believed That the Question at Issue
the Spanish Representatives
wish to Consult With the Home
Government Before Proceeding
Further.

PARIS, Oct. 3-Major General Mer-
rift, who commanded the American
troops at Manila, arrived here to-day
from MarSeilleS. He repaired to the
Grand Hotel de PAthenee and de-
clinedl to be interviewed, as he was suf-
fering from fatigue. The General did
not see the United States Peace Com
missioners before the opening of the
joint session to-day.
The American Commissioners held a
session this morning at their own Off
ces, preparatory to the second meeting
with the Spanish Commissioners, which
began at the commissions rooms in the
Foreign Office at 2 O'Clock this after
noon. The plan of work directed to
be prepared by the Secretaries has not
been perfected, as the Secretary of the
Spanish Commission did not arrive here
until to-day.
be received by President Faure at D
o'clock Tuesday afternoon.
To-day's session lasted until o'clock,
at which hour the Commissioners adj
iourned to meet at o'clock next Fri
day afternoon, such interval being de-
sirable and necessary to allow separ-
ate consideration by each commission
of matters requiring such course be-
fore the joint commission. The inter-
val will be thus filed with work by
each commission, the ultimate results
being so facilitated.
The opinion is now held that the
work of the commission may be fin
ished within a month from the present
time. While it is the general impress
sion that to-day's meeting was again
devoted to preliminaries, and that the
adjournment to Friday was taken only
to enable the Secretaries to draw up a
schedule of work, the representatives
of the Associated Press learn that the
session was highly important, and that
the Americans made a demand of such
a character that the SpaniardS find it
necessary to ask for an adjournment,
in order to enable them to consult with
the Government at Madrid.
It is believed that the question con-
Germs the Philippines, and it is known
that the Americans are highly pleased
at having so soon reached what they
consider a very important phase Of the
negotiations, and consider the two ses-
sions thus far held as very satisfactory
to America. The fact that member
of the commission expressed the belief
that the work would be completed with
in a month indicates a happy frame of
mind.
In the Spanish camp great hopes are
built on what they believe General
Merritt will advise, namely, that the
Philippines are incapable of self-gov-
eminent and that the whole situation
does not warrant America in taking
the responsibility for the entire Phil
ippines. The Spaniards are quite
ready to give whatever America asks
in the way of coaling stations. but
will resist more to the verge of a re-
newal of hostilities.
THE PHILIPPINES.
MADRID, Oct. 3.-The reported in
tention of the United States Govern
ment to retain the whole of the Philip
pine Islands has created almost a state
Of stupefaction here, and it is semi
officially announced that the Spanish
Government has resolved to vigorously
combat any action which, it is claimed
the terms of the peace protocol pre-
clude.
General Rios, Governor of the Viz
cayas Islands, reports to the Govern
ment another defeat of the insurgents.
The Spanish volunteers, he says, also
repulsed an insurgent attack on the
town of Basan and killed 81 of the at
lacking force.