Abilene Weekly Reflector

COMMISSIONERS AT WORK.
United States Representatives Hold First Session at Paris—French Journal Forecasts Probable Result.

Paris, Sept. 20.—The United States peace commission went into session at 11 o'clock yesterday morning. The Gaulois says:

In spite of the mystery surrounding the matter, we are able, from a high source, to give an outline of the position of both commissions. While the Americans have instructions which are much more precise than those of the Spaniards, there is a diversity of opinion in regard to the Philippines. Senator Gray is a very ardent democrat, and consequently belongs to the party which repudiates expansion. He opposes all annexation, and his opinion, therefore, totally differs from that of the other four commissioners, some of whom would be content with a coaling station at the Philippines, possibly Cavite, while others, like Senator Davis, advocate the annexation of the whole archipelago.

The Gaulois, however, believes that the Americans, by mutual concessions, will come to an agreement and that they will all be largely influenced by Maj. Gen. Merritt's reports on the situation.

The instructions to the Spanish commission, according to the Gaulois, are, briefly, to hold out and make the best terms possible. Madrid is well aware, it appears, that the commission, at the best, only have to please the Spanish people, and the only hopes entertained are that the Americans will not abuse the situation too much. Popular sentiment in Spain, it is added, thinks it better to abandon the Philippine islands than to keep them under conditions rendering them ungovernable.