Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-10-17
THE QUESTION OF CUBA
Is the Great Question Now Before Peace
Commissioners at Paris.

Paris, Oct. 16.-The American and
Spanish peace commissions closed,
Saturday. their first two weeks of labor
here. and any careful standardization
must disclose the fact that the pro-
by negative action and the attitude Of
the Americans.
The first article of the protocol pro-
vided that Spain will relnquish all
claim of sovereignty over and the title
to Cuba" Naturally. after the prelim-
inaries providing methods CT procedure,
and such rules therefor as were neces-
sary, the joint sessions We're devoted
to the Cuban article of the protocol
Naturally. too, the Americans opened
their case by the assumption that little
or no action was necessary regarding
Cuba. on the ground that it's DISPOSE
ton was definitely fixed by the terms
of the protocol.
Notwithstanding this, at the meeting,
Thursday. the Spaniards submitted
suggestions and propositions amount
ing to holding that the United States
should take over all or part of the Gu
ban debt. After reading the present.
ment in English, Tuesday, Senior Mon
tero Rios, president of the Spanish
commission. verbally repeated it at
length. and reiterated the same in
summarized form.
The Americans, at their own session,
Wednesday, took up the Spanish pre-
sentiment and determined the formula
ton of the answer of the United States.
on which the clerical force We're busiIy
engaged until the hour of the Friday
session. the commissioners in the
meanwhile devising, simplifying and
fortifying it. Careful, exact and full
were the preparation of the answer,
and therefore it became impossible, as
intended, to serve a copy of it on the
Spaniards before the hour of opening
the session, so that the oral discussion
might begin promptly.
Thus it happened that the Americans
carried the answer, which was SUBJ
mitted at the opening of the session,
which occupied four instead of the
usual two hours. on account of the ex-.
haustive discussion of the matter.
What was said? None save the COM
miSSiOnerS, Secretaries Moore and
Ojeda, and Interpreter Ferguson know
Was the question of the assumption of
the Cuban debt by the United States
then and there settled? Possibly Did
the Americans yesterday, decline any
Spanish obligation on account of Cuba?
None in Paris save those who were
present know.
Whatever may have transpired at
Fridays session, whether the Span
iards We're or We're not advised that
the United States declined to assume
the Cuban debt, it may be distinctly
said that, with such light as it now
has, the United States commission will
consistently and to the end refuse to
assume all or any part of the Cuban
debt. In the absence of reasoning
more cogent than any yet advanced,
the United States commission will, if
it has not already done So declare that
the Cuban debt represents treasure
chiefly spent by Spain in supressing
Instructions, and possibly in warning
on the United States.
If they have not already been so in
Termed, the Spaniards will be assured
that the United States has expended
enormous sums, not to acquire Cuba,
but to free it from disastrous condi-
lions for self-government, which pre-
supposes the self Resumption Of just
obligation.
The Spaniards will. if, indeed, it has
not already been done, have pressed
upon them the fact that by the sigma
ture of the protocol. they utterly re-
linquished all claim of sovereignty
over. and title to, Cuba. If they have
not heard it, the Spaniards willhear the
expression of American surprise that
Spain, having so Internationally and
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