The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1898-10-16
II. S. Will Not
Assume
TIE CUBAN DEBT.
This is the Probable Action
Of Our Commission.

Paris Oct. 15.-The American and
Spanish peace commissions close today
their first two weeks of labor here,
and any careful standardization must
disclose the fact that the progress
made has been accomplished chiefly by
negative action and the attitude of the
Americans.
The first article of the protocol pro-
vided that Spain will relinquish all
claim of sovereignty over and title to
Cuba" Naturally, after the prelimin
aries providing methods of procedure
and such rules as were necessary, The
joint sessions were devoted to the Gu
ban article of the protocol. Naturally,
too, the Americans opened their case
by the assumption that little or no ac-
tion was necessary regarding Cuba, on
the ground that it's disposition was def
initely fixed by the terms of the pro-
tocol. Notwithstanding at The meeting
last Thursday, the Spaniards submit
ted suggestions and propositions
amounting to holding that the United
States should take over all or part of
the Cuban debt After reading this pre-
sentiment in English on Tuesday, Senior
Montero Rios, president of the Span
lsh commission, verbally repeated it at
length and reiterated the same in sum-
married form.
The Americans at their own session
on Wednesday, took up the Spanish
presentment and determined the form
ulation of the answer of the United
States, on which the clerical force
was busily engaged until the hour of
the Friday session. the commissioners
in the meanwhile devising, simplifying
and terrifying it. Careful, exact and
full was the preparation of the an
swer, and therefore it became impos-
sible, as intended, to serve q copy Of
it on the Spaniards before the hour
of opening the session, so that the oral
discussion might begin promptly Thus
II happened that the Americans carried
the answer, which was submitted at
the. opening OF the session, occupying
four instead of the usual two hours,
on account of the exhaustive discussion
of the matter.
What was said none save the com
missioners, Secretaries Moore and Ole
da, 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 Gu
ba? None in Paris, save those who
were present knows.
Whatever may have transpired at
yesterdays session, whether the Spani-
ards We're or were not yesterday ad-
vised 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 commits
sion will consistently and to the end
refuse to assume all or any part of the
Cuban debt
In the absence of reasoning more CO.
gent than any yet advanced, the United
States commission will, if it has not al
ready done so, declare that the Cuban
debt represents treasure chiefly spent
by Spain in suppresssing instructions,
and possibly in warning on the United
States.
If they have not already been so in
formed, the Spaniards viii be assured
that the United States has expended
enormous sums, not to acquire Cuba,
but to free it from disastrous eondi-
tions for self-government which pre-
supposes the self-assumption of Just
obligation. The Spaniards will, if in
deed it has not already been done, have
pressed upon them the fact that by the
signature of the protocol they utterly
relinquish all claims of sovereignty
over and title to Cuba.
If they have not heard it, the Span
iards will hear the expression of Am
erican surprise that Spain, having SO
Internationally and unequivocally sur
rendered Cuba, should now advance a
claim or even suggestion that the
United States assume the debt of a ter
ritory which, though surrendered by
Spain. was not sought for by the Unit
ed States as a conquest prize, is not
now a. possession of the United States,
and which has been freed by the Unit
ed States at a vast expense to the
United States, for independence now, or
when matured for government
Thus. possibly progress has been
achieved negatively, for with the
present light the Americans decline or
will refuse the responsibility of a single
peseta of the so-called Cuban debt.
4 native American who has been IL
wears in Madrid, has Spanish lean
ing. and who is now in Paris, said to-
day to the correspondent here of the
Associated Press:
"Had Spain, when the protocol was
drawn up, believed that the United
states then intended or would subse-
auently consider taking the Filipino
group. or any part of those islands ex-
cept Manila, or station to be con-
4 coded by her, Spain would not have
signed the protocol, would have per-
duce her coast cities and would herself
gone to extremities, instead Of agreeing
to the document and giving up the
archipelago"
How, then he was asked, 'arises
the statement often heard and printed
that the Spanish commission came to
Paris to save. if possible the Philip
pine Isands?"
Because" was the reply, "the re-
puted purpose of the United States to
acquire the Philippine Islands devel-
oped after the protocol was signed and
before the departure of the commits
sion from Madrid.
This dialogue outlines the multiply
ing expressions of apparent surprise at
the alleged sentiment in the United
states 10 retain more than coaling
station in the Philippine Islands, or, at
most. Manila or the Island of Luzon.
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