The Press., 1898-09-22
Washington Letter.
washington, Sept. 10, 1888.

SO Tar as European governments are
concerned, the center OF interest will be
shifted from Washington to Paris, as soon
as our peace commissioners, now on their
way, arrive at the latter city. The German
ambassador left for Europe ahead of the
peace commissioners, on the plea that he
needed course of bathing at Carlsbad.
There Is little doubt that he was summon
ed home by the Emperor, who is deeply
Interested in the settlement of the Phillip
pine question-so deeply that many be-
lieve he intends to seize an island IL the
treaty does not provide for the entire
group passing under American control.
The ambassador can give him pointers on
the condition of American sentiment.
The French ambassador, who represented
Spain In the preliminary peace negotiate
ons, has also gone to Europe, and he did
not take the trouble to say that he was
going for his health. From hints dropped
by the president to several of his callers,
the impression is growing that our CON-
missioners are instructed to insist upon
American control of the whole of the
Philippine islands.
Notwithstanding the declination Of a
number of gentlemen to serve on the COM
mission to investigate the conduct of the
war, the president expects to get the CON-
mission completed and at work in few
days. He impresses those with whom
he talks on the subject with the idea that
he is very much In earnest and determined
that the commission shall get at the whole
truth regardless of consequences. He
has promised every possible assistance in
getting oral evidence, and that all the war
department records will be open to the
commission. That should bring out the
facts, even If the commission does lack
authority to compel Witnesses to testify.
Until Col. Hay arrives to assume the
duties of Secretary of state, which will be
within the present week, the department
of state will be without a secretary and
without first assistant, Mr.. Day having
resigned the secretaryship to become a
peace commissioner, and Mr.. Moore the
position of first assistant to accompany
tho peace commission in an advisory'capac
ity. Col. Hay will be allowed to choose
his first assistant.
Englishmen who have recently visited
Washington are practically unanimous in
their opinions of what we ought to do
with the philippines. Mr.. Samuel Bride,
prominent Londoner said England
has deep interest in the settlement of
the ownership of the PHILIPPINES. If the
U. S. does not hold on to them, England
will not readily assent to their occupation
by any other power. We think it Is all
right for your government to hold them !;
in fact, from our point of view, 1t would
be an act of weakness for the Americana
to renounce any spot of ground that they
have obtained by conquest. A strong
nation will always hold what 1t has won
through the expenditure Of blood and
money. The result of the war with Spain
has elevated the American nation In the
eyes of the countries across the sea, anC
1t would be distinct loss to you to Haltel
or give way In the least degree in the
policy that your victory over Spain has
rendered inevitable"
Wherever there is chance to make
money, American enterprise and capita
are likely to be found. U. S. Minister
Powell, writes from Port au Prince Hayti
to the department of state: GA rich veil
of iron ore, almost pure metal, has recent
~ been discovered In the northern section
of this republic. A concession has beer
obtained from the government to min'
the same, and an American company II
being formed for this purpose"
The good offices of this government ar,
being exercised in strong effort to pre-.
vent Chilli and Argentine going to wal
over a boundary dispute, and 1t hal
suggested to the governments of boil
countries that they carry out an agree
ment signed by their diplomatic repre-
sentatives, to submit the dispute TO tn,
arbitration of Queen Victoria. Thos,
most familiar with the situation say the.
regard the war as inevitable, regardless
of anything short of actual force, tina
this government can do to prevent 1t.
| Col. J. H. Soper, who was adjutan
general of the Hawaiian republic, ant
who is now enjoying visit to the U. s.
says of the sort of government needed 70
Hawaii: "We would prefer agovernmen
similar to that of the District of Colum
bia. under which It would not be necessar'
for business men to give any attention tt
politics. Next to that we wanted tn
territorial form which / understand is t.
be established. Hawaii Is not prepared
for statehood. Her population Is too
small, and even If 1t were large enough
the experiment would be dangerous. /
would mean native control, as the native
outnumber the whites many times"