The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-09-30

Affair Was Conducted With the
Utmost DiscrettOI---Tact1 of
the French officials Commended
by American Commandment
Press Comment Is DfscouraginR
to the Hopes of Spaniards.
PARIS, Sept. 29.-The United States
peace commission held another session
this morning, after which, accompanied
by the United States ambassador, Gen.
Horace Porter, they drove to the for
eign office, where the commissioners
met and breakfasted with the Spanish
commissioners. In addition to the COM
missloners and ambassadors, the min
lister Of foreign affairs, M. DeIacasse.
had invited the three heads of the
French foreign office, the first secre-
taries of the embassies and Gen. Heg-
ron, the secretary of the Elysee palace
The reception was a purely Informal
affair by M. Delacasse, in his private
apartments, in his private office. the
Spanish commissioners arrived first
accompanied by the Spanish ambassa-
dor here, Senior Leon y Castillo, and
the secretary of the Spanish embassy.
Ambassador Porter and Henry Wig
maud, secretary of the American en-
baSSy, arrived a few minutes before
the American commissioners, and
awaited them. The American commits
sioners arrived at 1890, the time ap-
pointed for the meeting.
The dropping of a halberd on the
marble floor announced the arrival of
the Americans, who were ushered into
a private salon near NJ. Delacasse's Of
fetal quarters. The minister greeted
each American in turn, and then pre-
,t~1 ~,
son. simultaneously NJ. Castillo step
ped forward to greet Gen. Porter,
Whereupon the two groups moved TO-
gether and were introduced to each
other with the aid of NJ. Delacasse.
Senior Castillo and Gen. Porter had a
brief chat, and the party repaired to
the breakfast room, where M. Delacasse
presided in the center of a long table
On his right were Gen. Porter and Sem
ator Gray, with a Spanish commits
sioner between them. On the left OF
M. Delacasse was the president of the
Spanish commission, Senior Montero
Rios, with Senator Davis next to him
and a Spanish commissioner on the left
of the senator. On the opposite side,
facing NJ. Delacasse, was M. Brisson.
On his right was Senior Leon Castillo
Senator Frye and Spanish commits
sioner. On the left of the premier were
Judge Day, president of the American
commission; a Spanish cOmaniss lOneI
and Mr.. Whitelaw Reid. Beyond these
on either side were the secretaries Of
the United States and Spanish embas-
sizes here, and the FreEch foreign office
officials. The breakfast, or luncheon,
as it would be termed in the United
States, occupied eighty minutes. Coffee
and cigars were served in an adjoining
apartment, and after an hours further
chatting the party broke UP, each conf
mission leaving simultaneously with
courteous adieuX.
The Americans regard the occasion
as being a happy means of making the
two sets Of commissioners acquainted
with each other. It is said the affair
was conducted with the utmost dis
erection.
FRENCH PRESS COMMENT.
The French papers continue to COM
ment upon the difficulties which the
two commissions will have to face, by
reason of their divergent Instructions
beyond which, it is said, they cannot
go.
Gil Bias says: "The Spanish govern
ment has given its commissioners very
precise instructions. They were to CO
their utmost to have 1t admitted that
there can be no question of diSputfng
Manila, the island of Luzon and the
rest of the archipelago, outside of the
naval stations which Spain will cece
at the Marianne islands On the other
side, the American commission, before
leaving President Mckinley, received
from him very precise instructions FROM
which the commissioners cannot depart.
The following is the text of their In
structions:
" 'First-Span cedes absolute sovereignty
over the whole of the island Of Luzon.
" 'Second-The other islands of the archl-
pelago will be replaced under the dominion
of Spain, on condition that liberal govern
ment is accorded to the inhabitants.
g 'Third-Complete separation OF church
and state in the Philippines.
'Fourth-Spain cannot cede any othS
islands in the group to any foreign power
without Americas consent.
81 'Fifth-America shall enjoy for all time
the same commercial privileges as the most
favored nations, without excepting Spain her
self"
The Gil Bias concludes with remark
ing: cit is therefore to be feared thai
for unhappy Spain the negotiations
which open on the 1st of October will