The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-09-28
INsTALLED AT PARIS.
Peace Commissioners Ready for Work
A ninIomat,a Views


PARIS, Sept. 27.-While the reception ac-
corded the United States peace commits
sion here is all that could be desired, and
while the French Foreign Office has taken
great pains to treat the American and Span
ish commissioners in precisely the same
manner, it must be admitted that the gem
eral atmosphere of Paris, especially the
diplomatic atmosphere. does not incline to-
wards America. 1t is the general impress
sion here that the American commissioners
have instructions to provide for the reten-
tion Of Manila and the Island of Luzon, and
for commission to pretend to negotiate
is a farce said a prominent diplomat. He
continued: America will put herself, diplo-
matically, in the wrong when she exceeds
the provisions of the protocol, which both
nations signed. know the Spaniards have
come prepared to make concessions, but if
the Americans instruction are of an un-
compromising nature, which is generally be-
lieved here to be the case, you can rest ass
sured that the work of the commission will
be futile. The Spaniards will retire and
America will at least have to threaten a
resumption of hostilities before she will
gain her point"
The French newspapers, beyond ennounc-
ing the arrival of the commissions, make
no comment upon the matter. The Ameri-
can peace commission, for the first time
since it's appointment, met as a body to-
day for two hours in the drawing room of
the Continental Hotel. Mr. Ferdinand w
Peck, the United States commissioner to
the Paris exposition of 1900, is about to va
cate his quarters in the same hotel They
were formerly occupied by the ex-Empress
Eugene and have been used by Mr.. Peck
as offices until his permanent offices, on the
exposition grounds were in readiness The
suite of rooms which the former Empress
used will probably be occupied by the
American peace commissioners. They will
be used for executive sessions and official
headquarters.
AS the joint commission is not delibera-
tive body, it will, possibly. not organize with
presiding member from either commits
sion. This is deemed in some quarters to be
the wiser plan as tending to promote closer
working relations between the two commits
sions and facilitating an ultimate adjust
ment. This. however, is not positive.
Judge Day and Mr. Whitelaw Reid are
quartered at a hotel overlooking the Tuil-
cries gardens, and the other commissioners
are equally comfortable. The Americans
enjoyed sunny weather during their first
day in Paris and they are all in good health
and spirits. The French government is ar
ranging to provide at the salon, where the
joint sessions of the commissions will be
held, an elaborate buffet daily, for the use
of all the commissioners.
On their arrival here yesterday the Ameri-
can commissioners were received at the rail-
road station by Ambassador Porter, accom-
panied by Henri Vignaux, first secretary of
the American embassy; Edgar T. Scott,
second secretary; Captain Simms, naval at
tache, and Edward Milan, American vice
consul. NJ. Roger-Clausse. attache Of the
French Foreign Office. represented NJ Del
casse, the French foreign minister, and the
French government. Exactly an hour after
ward the South express from Madrid. carry
General Rafael Cerero Saenz. of the Span
ish commission, steamed into the same sta
ton. BY orders from the Paris embassy
]. 3. Miner, the American consul at Calais.
and William Hale, the American consular
agent at Boulogne. saw the party comfort
ably through to Paris. Ambassador Porter
greeted Judge Day and Mrs. Day on their
descent from the train and performed the
introductions. Fifteen carriages provided by
the embassy conveyed the party to the
Hotel Continental, where they dined in a
private room, the younger members after
ward going to a reception at Consul General
Gowdy's residence. The first carriage to
leave the station contained Ambassador
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