The record-union., 1898-10-06
General Merritt Confers With the
American Members.
Advocates the Retention of the Philippines
by the United States.
Various Stories Published Relating
to the Work of the Commission
Indicating Failure of Negotia-
tions Stated on Washington Au-
thority to be Purely SpecuIa-
tive.


tive.
| PARIS, Oct. 5.-The United States
| Peace Commission had it's usual ses-
sion to-day from 10 a. m. to / p. m.
The Commissioners continued the con-
ference with Major General Merritt,
and practically concluded an extended
canvas of the Philippine situation.
The members of the commission re-
| fused to disclose the views of General
Merritt or Admiral Dewey in regard to
the policy to be pushed toward the
people of the Philippines. Nothing
could be learned as to whether the
| General or Admiral had said any
thing about the retention or
evacuation of the Philippines By
the American forces. But it developed
that Admiral Dewey handed General
Merritt communication setting forth
his judgment on the subject, and that
the General submitted this to the COM
mission with reports from the Ameri-
can military officers at Manila touch
ing on the conditions prevailing in the
islands.
General Merritt concluded with a
declaration of his judgment in the mat
ter, and it may be said that he arrived
in Paris hoping the United States COM
mission would press for the retention
of the Philippine Archipelago.
1t is also true that the disposition
of the troops in the Philippines before
General Merritt's departure was such,
and was so ordered, as to warrant
the view that large or complete hold
ing of the Philippines by the United
States was contemplated
The Spanish Senate stenogra piers
will arrive here from Madrid on Thurs
day, their presence having been re-
quested by Senior Rios, who in addi-
ton to being President of the Spanish
Peace Commission is also President Of
the Spanish Senate.
| PUBLISHED STORIES ONLY CON-
LECTURE
WASHINGTON, Oct. 5.-It can be
stated on authority that the various
stories published relating to the. work
of the Peace Commission now in Paris
wherever they assume to indicate &
failure of negotiations, renewal of hos
tilities and the dispatch of a naval
force to the Spanish coast, are purely
speculative. AS a matter of fact the
commission has not progressed so far
with its work to warrant an attempt to
draw a conclusion as to the outcome.
It is not even possible to predict the
length of the session with any ac-
curacy.
The proceedings may last one month
or three That will depend entirely
upon the view taken by the American
Commissioners of the situation in Paris
If they are convinced that the negotia
tions are being conducted with sin
cerity on the part of the Spanish Com
mission, there will be no effort made
to force them beyond reason. But if
it should appear that the Spanish Com
mission is not subject to change; that
II is irreconclable with the American
demands. and that the Spanish, know
ing this, are simply prolonging the pro-
ceedings, our Commissioners are likely
to be promptly recalled.
The Spanish Government is now fully
informed through its Commissioners Of
the exact extent of Americans de-
mands. Whether these are absolute
and not subject to abatement cannot be
ascertained here, for the responsible
officials declare that it will be extreme
ly bad policy to make any admission
on this point.
But the impression in official circles
is that the conditions are absolute in
this general scope; yet there may be
opportunity for amendment in slight
details AS to these details, Admiral
Deweyi is one of the most trusted coun-
sellors of the American Commission
ers Such information as he has been
able to collect has already been mailed
TO the Commissioners, and in addition
the authorities have cabled certain ex-
tracts from the AdmiraFs observations
which are, believed to be of special i'm
portance just now.
II is believed that with his usual
modesty, the officer has refrained from
expressing any opinion upon the very
essential point as to the extent of the
American demands in the matter OF
territory in the Philippines. He has
not directly suggested that the whole
group be taken, now that our claim be
limited to Manila Bay and the contigu
ous territory, but he has called atten-
tion to one very important considera
tion which has seemed to escape gen.
eral observation up to this time, and
which has been laid before the Ameri-
can Comrnissioners-that if with all the
advantages in a commercial way pos
sessed by Manila, the place is indefen-
sible unless Subig Bay be also held by
the United States.
This particular bay is, on the whole,
remarked as being superior from
strategic point of view to Manila Bay.
and the Spanish Government has evil
IDENTIFY been of the same mind, for be-
fore the outbreak of hostilities it was
aile to embaSk upon an extensive
scheme of defensive works in Subig
Bay.
nIEn IN A RATHRO0M