Evening journal., 1898-09-12
Work Of the Cuban Commits
sion Begun.
FIRST SESSION HELD YESTERDAY.
Negotiations VIII lie Carried on
Largely by ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
Official CnIis-HaynDn Gives the
ResOIute a Warm welcome.

HAVANA sept. 1.-THE United States |
transport Resolute, having the United |
States Cuban evacuation commission on |
board, entered port Saturday noon. |
There were no Spanish flags flying at
that time, and no salute was fired.
Immediately after the arrival Of the
Resolute which reached here flying
some white bunting forward and an
admirars flag from her mainmast. she
was visited by the commander of the
French gunboat Fulton, who boarded
the Resolute in full uniform.
Shortly afterward a government
launch ran alongside the Resolute. She
had on board DR.. Congosto, the secre-
tary general of the government; Gener-
al solano the chief Of staff. representing
Captain General Blanco, and Major
Garcia Bonitz of the general staff. Their
visit lasted fully an hour. General So
lano wore a crimson sash outside his
uniform, Major Bonitz wore a blue sash
and DR.. Congosto was in frocl coat
and a silk hat.
At the expiration of the hours con-
ference with the United States commits
sioners an officer of the Spanish war
ship Alfonso XII paid his respects to
Rear Admiral Sampson. This interview
was Of a formal nature.
Shortly afterward General Solano, act
ing for Captain General Blanco, placed
the latter's private carriage at the dis
posal of the commissioners.
All the foreign and American shipping
in port displayed every available piece
of colored bunting, and the Resolute
dipped her colors in answer to every sa-
lutte.
The Resolute is moored to buoy
close alongside the steel dock. she was
surrounded all the morning by hum
fdreds of small boats, which circled the
vessel, while their occupants waved
their hats and handkerchiefs.
The American commissioners, accom-
panied by the Spanish officers renre-
senting Captain General Blanco, landed
at the Machina wharf and went to the
palace where the captain generals
bodyguard presented arms as they APP
peared.
Captain General Blanco, dressed in
full uniform, received the commissioners
in the reception room, where, after the
formal presentations had taken place
and the official courtesies had been ex-
changed, they sat down and conferred
for about 20 minutes. The Spanish COM
mander sat in the center, with General
Butler on his right and Admiral Samp-
son on his left. Next to General But
Ter sat General Parade, and next to
him was General Wade. on Admiral
SIMPSONS left sat Colonel Cloas and
Captain Hart. the official interpreter.
The captain general addressed the
commissioners in English. He asked
them to excuse any mistakes which he
might make explaining that 1t was
long time since he had used that lam
guage.
The United States commissioners left
the palace accompanied by General
SolanO and DR.. Congosto. They were
driven to the Machina wharf, opposite
the wreck of the Maine. where they
took lunch before returning TO the Reso-
lutte.
Colonel Cloas and Captain Hart, ac-
companied by a Spanish officer. then
paid a visit to Admiral Manterola and
to the captain of the port. after which
they returned on board the Resolute.
Most of the commissions business will
be transacted by correspondence instead
Of joint sessions. as generally expected
Senior Manuel Giranta has been ap-
pointed secretary of the Spanish COM
mission.
The first session was held yesterday
morning in compliance with the proto-
col's 80 day limit. The Americans arriv-
ed at the Camara Insular about half
past s and were received with charac-
teristic ceremony by the Spanish COM
missioners. The session was held in the
colonial secretary Scommittee room, and
none was allowed to be present except
the commissioners, their secretaries and
the others Immediately concerned.
There was no excitement, and the
In 10 Wiz Of 10
house was very small and entirely or
derby and respectful There is a guard
around the building and also on both
day and night duty at the Machina
wharf, where the commissioners land
from the Resolute.
The session yesterday was purely for
NAL. to meet the legal requirements.
The only business transacted was the
exchange of credentials
This occupied a little more than half
an hour On adjournment the Spaniards
played host with the stately, courtly
hospitality for which they are famous
and conducted the Americans around
the gallery looking down on an unroof-
ed court then a billiard room, then the
Casino Espanol, and now Red Cross
hospital, one of many prepared i'm case
of a bombardment. In a room opposite
the meeting place refreshments were
prepared. Of which the commissioners
of both nations partook.
The American commission then drove
back to the Machina wharf and boarded
the Resolute. Later Generals Wade
and Butler went ashore to make officia
calls Admiral Sampson alsowent ashore
to call on Admiral Manterola. They
stayed only Is minutes, and then re-
81