The record-union., 1898-10-22

PARIS, Oct 21.-The United States
and Spanish commissions held separate
sessions to-day, and when the joint SeS-
sion was opened this afternoon y was
believed the Cuban question would LOT
be decided to-day, but would be taken
up again at the joint session on Mon
day next.
An effort is being made here % Gre
ate the impression that there is some
understanding between the United
States and Spain regarding the Philip
pines outside of the statements contain
ed in the third article of the protocol.
That article embodies the only agree
ment between the United States and
Spain in regard to the Philippine ISL
ands. and it clearly sets forth thai the
United States will occupy and hold the
city. bay and harbor of Manila pend
ing the conclusion of treaty ofrpeace,
which shall determine the disposition,
government and control of the Philip
pine Islands.
Beyond this protocol agreement it can
be asserted with confidence there is no
other understanding on the subject be-
tween the United States and Spain. 1t
is understood by both Powers that the
protocol was a compact by which 1t
was agreed that the Peace Com mission
should determine the future disposition
of the Philippine Islands. This Will be
done when the Cuban question: is set
tied, and after the points relating to
Porto Rico and the Ladrones nave been
passed upon.
The joint session to-day lasted from
2 p. m. to 4:30 p. m. During tnis time
the Commissioners discussed 1he sec
ond series of written arugments put
forward by the Spaniards for the pur-
pose Of prevailing upon the American
Commissioners to assume the Cuban
debt. No definite conclusion was reach
ed. and the Commissioners adjourned
until Monday, when the Cuban cues
tion will again be discussed. tits prob
able that this feature OF the negotia-
tions will be disposed of next week.
Thus far there have been seven Joint
sessions. four Of which have been de-
voted to the discussion of the first ar
ticle of the protocol In this manner
two weeks have passed, and no result
has baen reached. The American Com
missloners have listened to all the argu-
ments of the Spaniards. but they have
not changed the position which they
first assumed in refusing TO lake over
the Cuban debt.
THE CUBAN DEBT.
LONDON, Oct. 21-The Speaker"
IN along article on the Peace Conmis-
sion. says: THE reluctance of Amer
lea to annex Cuba is mainly due to a
desire to escape the burden of the Gu
ban debt. At the same time the doc
trine of international law by which a
debt incurred by ruler binds his sue
cessors rests upon slight foundation.
1T is monstrous that a tyrant should
be able TO burden future generations
simply because he is in possession of
the material government. If investors
felt that international law loans incur
red against the will of the people would
not attach TO the country in event of
a change of government, there would
be less of that monetary support Of the
government which has dtsgraced the
high finances of the nineteenth century.
For fifty years Spain has ruled Cuba
in defiance of the will of the Cuban peo-
pie, and in spite of the constant pro-
tests of the United States. The cost of
her military operations there has been
met by the loans specially chargeable
to Cuba; in the first place. in order to
punish the Cubans, and in the second,
in order to arrange for a cheap retreat
IN the event of war with America In
word the debt has been charged upon
Cuba largely with the object of sad
ding it upon the United States The
bondholders were encouraged TO look
to the supposed doctrine of interna-
tional law as part of the security while
they were lending to Spain against the
will of Cubans and Americans. 1t Is
to be hoped that the United States
while assuming sovereignty over Cuba
Will refuse to pay any part of the debt
except the money used in the develop
ment of the island, thereby setting a
most useful precedent of which tyrants
and fnanciers will do well to take
note"