The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-10-19
Our Commissioners Decline 10 Receive Ces-
sion. or Sovereignty
OBSERVING PLEDGES TO CUBANS.
French Newspapers Are Greatly OispIsassd Over
the Attitude Of the Representatives Of the
United States on the Peace Commission.

Paris, Oct. 19.-Spain can no longer
have any doubt regarding the ultimate
attitude OF the United States toward
the so-called Cuban debt. The Ameri-
can commissioners have declined to
assume 1t or any part of IL by express
treaty or by contract. They also de-
clined to accept cession OF sovereignty
TO the United States; for i'm that case
Spain would claim that such cession by
its own force would impose the obliga-
ton for that debt.
1t Is confidently believed that in re-
fusing TO accept a cession Of sovereignty
the American commissioners are acting
also upon the announcement OF the
United States TO the world In the inter-
vention resolutions. disclaiming any in
tention TO exercise sovereignty or au-
thority over Cuba, except for pacifica-
tion, and then to leave the island to the
control Of its people.
This position OF the commissioners
couples Itself with the declaration in the
resolution that the people of Cuba of
right and ought to be free and indepen-
dent; and good faith requires the per-
formance of this declaration. IL being
plain that IL Cuba were annexed 10 the
United States. while she might be free,
she would not be independent.
The Liberty. 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 exaggerated pretension." "
In one sentence the paper declares that
Spanish finances were ruined in try
ing to suppress the Cuban insurrection. -
and in the next 1t says that "the debt
was contracted for the benefit OF CubG."
Then il points to Spain as pleading for
arbitration where the commissions do
not agree, and says: THE Washington
cabinet will not listen to anything. We
have already pointed out the abnormal
conditions attending the appointment
OF the American delegates and their i'm
perious instructions. MIR. Day and his
colleagues are not properly negotiators
but only mandataries, whose work Is
20 carry out precise orders. They have
no right TO discuss or to make conces-
sions, but simply may announce to the
Spanish government the exactions OF
the United States. The American com
missioners have formal orders not Ia
lend themselves TO any modification OF
. the conditions OF peace, and TO repel all
arbitration. giving notice finally, IL the
Spanish do not agree TO their terms. OF
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 to renounce the Philip
pines, 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 a fresh humiliation
would be certain to follow Sagasta's
non-success against the grasping dis
position Of the United States"
The Times says editorialiy: ut Is
still thought that a tribunal of arbttra'
ton will alone settle the disputes"
Another paper thinks the United
States should compel the Cuban govern
ment to assume the debt, and believes
that the Spaniards would submit to ar
bitration, which, It understands, the
Unitea-States declines TO accept.-