The Indianapolis journal., 1898-10-19

The Paris Press Trying TO Manu-
facture Sentiment for the DOns.

The Paris Press Trying TO Manu-
facture Sentiment for the Dons.
PARIS, Oct. 1S.-The newspapers of this
city are filled with articles commenting on
the proceedings of the joint peace commits
sion yesterday. The Gaulois says that,
according to the Spaniards, the main
cause of the difficulty encountered in the
negotiations comes from lack of con-
ciliation in the attitude of the Amer
lean commission. 1t is known. in regard
TO Porto Rico and Cuba, that the articles
of the protocol are absolutely positive
Spain cedes Porto Rico to the United
States and relinquishes (abandons) SOW
ereignty over Cuba. These two points
are definitely settled and are not open
to discussion. Besides. the Spaniards make
it point of honor TO scrupulously abide by
their engagements toward their conquerors
The question of the Cuban debt remains.
Upon which power should the onerous obli-
cation of guaranteeing the debt rest? Here
is where the two commissions differ, and
neither is inclined to yield. The Spaniards
agree upon the following lines: when a
power annexes territory it is implied that
1t assumes all the previous obligations of
such territory. 1t is the international law,
sanctioned by usTge and which has always
DeSH Complied with. InuS Wnen france
annexed Savoy she assumed all the debts
contracted by the latter while still an Ital-
ian province. Lastly, they remind their OPP
ponents that Cuba is virtually the key to the
Gulf of Mexico, a strategic position of the
first order to the United States. and an
immense advantage, which calls for some
sacrifice on the part of the Americans. To
this the latter replied at first that they
could not listen to any discussion of the
matter of the debt, being under formal i'm
structons from their government. But the
Spanish commission insisted, and the Amer
leans have taken q more conciliatory atti-
tude; not that they entertain the intention
OF yielding to Spain's injunctions, but they
consent to argue against the Spanish posi-
tlon. These arguments may be briefly
summed UP as follows: The Americans in
sist upon the fact that the money raised
by the Cuban loans was not applied to the
requirements or interests of the island, but
was chiefly borrowed to the end of improv-
ing the financial condition of Spain and to
procure funds which she could no longer
raise in the peninsula, and the debt, there
fore, is personal to Spain. On the other
hand, the Americans say that America has
no intention of annexing Cuba, and could
not, therefore, assume such obligations
lous cost of the late war, the American
people would not concede the right to thus
assume such obligations.
There is enough fact in the statemenk of
the Gaulois to give it significance, espe-
cially as it came from Spanish sources here.
Taken in connection with the special plead
ing in the editorials of the Paris papers this
evening, it affords a fair view of the inter-
est existing here on the behalf of SPAIN
La Liberte. referring to the Cuban debt
as now dividing the two countries says
THE Spanish regard the refusal of the
United States to assume the Cuban debt as
an exaggerated pretension." In one sem
teDce La Liberte declares that Spanish
finances were ruined in trying to suppress
the Cuban insurrection," and in the next it
says that "the debt was contracted for the
benefit of Cuba" Then it points to Spain
as pleading for arbitration where the COM
missions do not agree, and says: "The
Washington Cabinet will not listen to any,
thing We have already pointed out the
abnormal conditions attending the appoint
ment of the American delegates and their
imperious instructions. Mr.. Day and his
colleagues are not properly negotiators, but
only mandatories, whose work is to carry
out precise orders They have no right to
ulSCuSS OF 10 make concessions, Dut simply
may announce to the Spanish government
the exactions of the United States. The
American commissioners have formal orders
rot to lend themselves to any notifications
of the conditions of peace and to repel all
arbitration. giving notice finally, If the
Spanish do not agree to their terms, of q
naval demonstration in Spanish waters.
President Mckinley is dictated to by public
opinion, which will some day repent it's loss
Of head. Madrid now knows that the effort
to induce the United States to assume any
part of the Cuban debt or renounce the
Philippines. wholly or in part, was doomed
in advance to failure Spain has nothing to
do but to give way nobly to the hard laws
of war, as fresh humiliation would be GER
tain to follow Senor Sagastas nonsuccess
against the grasping disposition of the
United States.'
The Temps says editorially: ut is still
thought that tribunal of arbitration will
alone settle the disputes"
The Journal des Debats thinks the United
States should compel the Cuban govern
ment to assume the debt, and believes that
the Spanish would submit to arbitration
which it understands the United States de-
clines to accept.