The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-10-18
HAS REACHED A CRISIS
United States Refuses Sover-
eighty in Cuba.
IN A SPIRIT OF EQUITY
Reported That the United States Will
Assume No Part OF the Cuban Debt.
The Surrender OF the Philippines
VIII Be Demanded.

London. Oct. 1s.-The Paris corre-
spondent OF the Times says: At the
sitting of the peace commission this
afternoon the American commissioners
officially-and IL would seem definitely
rejected the idea of accepting sover-
eighty over Cuba for the United States.
The Spanish commissioners thereupon
remarked that Spain having abandoned
such sovereignty under pressure from
the United States and the United States
having denied that sovereignty hence
forth belongs to them. Cuba Is de facto
ir a state OF anarchy. as an intermission
of sovereignty cannot be viewed in any
other.light.
| The American commissioners rejoined
| that. without accepting sovereignty. the
United States considered themselves
! deputed and bound to maintain secu-
rity for all the inhabitants, that they
would not fail to introduce and uphold
| order. and In short, they would do all
that was necessary to put the island IN
a state OF normal organization to be
transferred at the earliest moment into
legal regularity. satisfactory for the
security Of all.
Upon this the Spanish commissioners,
with what seems striking logic. prompt
| ly replied that by the fact OF the decla-
ration Just made them and of the
United States undertaking to restore
legality, order and security, the United
| states were invested with veritable
sovereignty and consequently could not
refuse to accept the consequences of
| such sovereignty, seeing that they ad-
| mittedly could not tolerate the relapse
into anarchy of an island placed under
their supervision and direction
fhnia
| Jections. the American commissioners
persisted in their refusal and officially
declare that the United States cannot
| be considered invested with sovereignty
and that they (the commissioners) could
not deviafe from this definite declara-
tion. According to impressions have
been able to collect in various circles
unconnected with either side. but enti-
tied to weight. the refusal of the Uni
ted states Is not of so positive n charac-
ter as would at first sight seem to re-
suit from the formal declarations men,
toned.
The reasoning given me is this: The
United tates have declared that they
made war. not OF conquest. but of
liberation and order. because they could
not allow the prolongation at their very
doors OF state of things which was. in
their eyes, a blow to the cause OF hu-
manity and civilization. They there
fore made public declara ton that the
war was not one of conquest. and they
now consider that by agreeing to he
invested with the sovereignty OF Cuba
they would give themselves the appear
ance OF having conquered the island for
territorial ACKNOWLEDGMENT. They re-
fuse to give themselves the appearance
OF a conquering nation. Hence they
positively refuse to accept that capacity
OF sovereignty, which would be incon-
sistent with the character OF humani-
tartan dsinterestedness essential to the
honor of America.
The United States quite comprehend
that their firm refusal to accept the |
sovereignty does not exclude obligation |
on the footing OF justice and equity to |
make Spain real concessions as TO finan- |
cial burdens which would be crushing |
IL she were saddled with the whole Gu |
ban debt. We may be certain that on |
this point the Americans will be less in |
flexible than on the principle of sover-
eighty. The proof. i am told. IL the /
United States are disposed to meet |
Spain in equitable fashion. is that the |
Spanish commissioners who would not |
at first accept an invitation to dine |
with General Porter until the end of |
the first conference have now accepted |
Friends of the United States here
think II might have been better II they
had proceeded more openly and IL. in
stead OF conquering the island indirect
ly. the Washington government had
frankly accepted sovereignty in Cuba
with all the rights and objections in
volved."
The Paris correspondent OF the Daily
Mail says: II hear that the peace
problem will soon be settled. America
assuming the 8 per cent. loan of 1856,
which was fioated entirely for Cuban
purposes and rejecting the 5 per cent.
loan of 1890"
A dispatch to the London News
agency from Paris says: To-day
Monday. the conference reached a crisis
for the first time. Judge Day present.
ed the demands of the American COM
mission i'm threatening words. He said
that delay was the only possible object
attainable by the persistent efforts Il
the Spanish commissioners to saddle tbs
United States with the Cuban debt. anj
would be tolerated no longer, as tine
United States would neither assume
nor guarantee any part of the debt.
The Spaniards replied that this
placed Cuba In position of repudiating
or of reducing the face value OF the
Cuban bonds from 80 to so per cent.
paying only half the stipulated inter-
est on the reduced value. Before they
would adopt either alternative they
would surrender to the United States
the entire Philippines.
Judge Day responded that the sur
render of the Philippines would proc
ably be demanded Irrespective of the
Cuban or any other debt. This. TO the
Spaniards the first intimatfon Of the
intentions Of the United States as to
the Philippines. resulted in a whispered
conference. followed by a request for
an adjournment in order 10 communi-
cate with Madrid. Judge Day said that
President Mckinley had Instructed him
TO demand the entire surrender Of Porto
Rico Tomorrow, Tuesday"