ARRIVAL OF THE S.S ALAMEDA WITH THE ENGLISH MAIL (VIA SAN FRANCISCO).

Auckland Star, Volume XXIX, Issue 254, 27 October 1898, Page 2

ARRIVAL OF THE S.S ALAMEDA WITH THE ENGLISH MAIL (VIA SAN FRANCISCO).

<■ AMERICAN NEWS. • THE/AMERICAN-SPANISH PEACE COMMISSION. i ' San Francisco, Gal., Oct. 6, 1898. At the meeting of October 3 the Spanish Peace Commissioners began to understand the attitude of Americans. They were staggered at the proposition to keep the Philippines made by the Americans in more or less modified form. The Spaniards at once asked for time to consider and to communicate with their Government, and the next joint meeting of Commissioners was deferred until the 7th inst. Major-General Merritt arrived at Paris direct from the Philippines, and the U.S. Commissioners have been consulting with him as to the conditions in the islands. At Madrid it is reported that the intention of the United States to retain the Philippines created almost a state of Stupefaction, as the people apparently had no idea they had been defeated absolutely. The "pride of the Spaniards has been spared to such- an extent by the victors that'they appeal to have no conception of their real position. At Washington it is believed a crisis will be reached in affairs in a very short time. Hints are thrown out that the U.S. Commis•sioners will stand no dilly-dallying and that dilatory tactics on the pari of the Spanish Commissioners will be the signal for a clash, and Spaniard,' will have to accede to all the demands or prepare to see an American fleet off their sea coast. Officials say the climax will come with a week or ter days. - The Peace Commissioners froir America arrived in Paris on Septembei 28th, and were formally received b\ the Minister of Foreign Affairs, who assured the Commissioners of the pleasure of the people of France in being permitted to take an important part in the peace negotiations betweer the United States and Spain. Aftei the reception of the Americans, the Spanish Commissioners were presented and exactly the same ceremonies were gone through with as in receiv ing the Americau Commissioners.. Ov the following day the two. commis sions were introduced to each othei at a breakfast at the' Foreign Office .The affair was informal, and M. de la Casse, the French Minister, had invited the three head officials of the Foreign Office co complete the party America regarded the breakfast as a happy means of making the two Com missions acquainted and were mucr. pleased with, the . French tact witl: which the affair was planned and consummated. The two Commissions mcl iox the first time in conference on the afternoon of October Ist in the roon of the Minister of Foreign Affairs where the Treaty of Paris was signec in 1856. According to the Paris press the impressions of the American anc Spanish members were mutually satis factory. The 'Soliel' said:—"The im passioned judicial spirit with whicl they began their work is the guaran tee for arriving at a result cbnducivi to the true interests of both coun tries;' .. In Re yalist and aristocratic circle! there is a warm friendship for Spain but ho longer any bitterness toward! the United States. The belief is'gain ing ground in French eommerica circles that Spain will be wise in pre sent circumstances to rid herself o: all her colonies as quickly as possible Bankers doing business in Barcelona and Cadiz declare that such is the feel ing in Spanish commercial classes anc among the majority of the Spanisl people. In Spain itself Sagasta con trols and muzzles the press, so it is impossible fo judge of the actual con ditions. The attitude of the Government may be judged from the fact that the Spanish Cortes sanctioned the peace protocol and the Queen signed the document. Spain has seen some stormy sessions of her Cortes, and a riot was threatened when Counl Aimenas, asked to give the names oi the generals of whom he had said ought to have their sashes tied round the necks instead of around theii waists, he named Weyler, Blanco and Prinio de Rivera, after which he added the name or Admiral Cervera, and saicl General Linares was incompetent, anc ought to be removed. However, the admiral was not received unkindly when he returned home, after warmlj thanking American people •for the courtesy shown him and his companion There is little prospect that the American Commissioners will fail tc secure a full measure from Spain ir the shape of territorial concession the sentiment of the American people seeming to demand the retention oi the Philippines. The Commission is virtually pledged to a policy of administration, and that policy is tc act in accord with the wishes of the 'people, perhaps not on the highest moral ground. Thaugh ther are expansionists and Conservatives, probably neither is in large majority. There are none who advocate a middle course, and it is regarded almost as a foregone conclusion that the expansionists will carry the day in this instance, as they certainly have always done in the past. INCOMPETENCE IN THE U.S. WAR DEPARTMENT. The Commission called by President McKinley to investigate the charges of incompetence, or worse, in the War Department- is now in session in Washington. It is composed of men of unquestionable integrity and ability,, and it expressed the wish of the President that no stone be left unturned to fix the blame, if fault is established, where it properly belongs. The friends of General Miles, Com-mander-in-chief of the Aririy, have gone so far as to affirm treason on the part of Secretary of War Alger. General Miles has remained discreetly silent, saying his lips Were closed 'while I wear this uniform.',. After completing their work in Washington the Commissioners will go to Santiago. Both General Miles arid General Shatter will, be called as witnesses, though they piay refuse to act. General Miles is said to prefer to present his case tp Congress, which he will not.fail to «o if necessary. He has strong political ■ influence, and is a son-in-law of toe Shermans, and brother-in-law to Don Cameron. Pressure of press accusation and public opinion has at least caused the soldiers camps to be put arid kept in proper .order and has secured care for sick and suffering men. The death rate from fevers, even in camps

in the southern part of the United a States, has been terrible, and many f men who did not lose their lives will be chronic sufferers from exposure < and malarial poisoning. I EVACUATION OF CUBA. : i It is expected that, the American t flag will be flying over Mprro and - Cabanas, at Havana, within three < weeks. An American occupation is ; deemed necessary on account of Span- < ish dilatoriness and to facilitate the -, distribution of relief supplies. The ; conditions prevailing among Cubans j of the interior arc terrible. ;, ADMINISTRATION OF HAWAII, j Members of the Hawaiian Commission appointed from the United States | have returned from a trip to the Is- j lands, prepared to decide upon the sys-, tern of government for the newly- : annexed territory. Senators Cullom and Morgan and Congressman Hitt \ arrived in San Francisco on October 1, j I and left immediately for Washing- : ton to make their official report. They , i will be joined by Judge Frear, of Ha- j | waii, and probably by President Dole. ; | They hope to be able to submit a Bill ! ito Congress at the opening of the j \ session, and hence are losing no time, j ': The .Commissioners are not averse to ! talking of the conditions in the Isi lands, but have nothing to say as to ! the form of government to be institut--led there. 'We visited all islands of the group and made ourselves I thoroughly familiar with the situa- | tion,' said Senator Cullom. 'Natives j ! do not yet realise that annexation is j a permanent thing. They expect with j a change of administration will come a change of flag. They say it was so I once and will be again. Matters are running smoothly now, and.will do very well until Congress had made provision to fit conditions. As a territory, Congress can enact such laws for the new possession as it sees fit. A territory has not such a right of self-government as a state, so we must i make such local laws as the situation | demands.' The Commissioners found i | the labour question as serious as any, ! but do not anticipate danger to the i labouring classes of the United States ■ as a result of coolie competition in the ■ islands. The Chinese the Commissioners found second to the Japanese question, but in either case the laws of the United States will keep coolie and contract labour out of the islands. As to the contract labourers already there, Congressman Hitt says they must all leave as soon as their contracts expire. 'That is part of their contract,' said he. 'They must make ' a deposit with the Government to take ! them back, and this law is easily en- ' forced. They are trying now to re- ! strict the emigration of Japanese by " rigidly enforcing the pauper law.' The 1 I sentiment of the islands is divided on ' shipping laws, so a good part of the time of the Commissioners was spent • in investigating that phase of the ' situation. Already the Commissioners ' have received a petition from the ■ Chamber of Commerce that the islands • come under the shipping laws of the 1 United States. It is expected there Will be a long 1 and heated discussion when the Ha--1 wallah question comes up in Congress, i though the Commissioners feel the I problem is much less severe than that ' of devising a plan of government like- ' ly to prove satisfactory, to alien peoj pies whose territory is about to come under the jurisdiction of the United 1 States. The Hawaiians are largely Americans, aud are accustomed to a form of government- resembling that ~ of the United States. Prior to departure from the islands the Committee reg ceived a number of petitions from . various foreign and other residents. Organisations of native Hawaiians s are stiil protesting against annexation and against the formation of the Res' public in 1893. A memorial from the . American Union party asks a liberal' 1 form of territorial government, liberal - suffrage law, extension of the tariff f laws of the United States to Hawaii, :. and suggests that the appointment of i a Governor should be from among - those not bound by any ties, political 1 or otherwise, to any party or class i resident in Hawaii. It is suggested - that other appointments should be of 3 bona fide residents of the islands; The -' returning Commissioners speak in the - highest terms of the intelligence and t character of the people of the islands s and find them quite ready for the 1 American form of government.