The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1898-10-20
THE DEBT PROBLEM
OUR PEACE COMMISSIONERS ARGUE
AGAINST SPANISH CLAIM.

Spain Means to Give Up Cuba and Porto
Rico without Debate, but She Main
tains that All Precedent Of Internatio
nal Law Requires that We Assume 1t.
Paris, Oct. 1s.-The Gaulois yesterday
reviewed the work of the joint peace
commission, and, referring to the de-
lay caused by the difference in the
language spoken by the commissioners,
adds:
But, according to the Spaniards, the
main cause of the difficulty encounter
ed in the negotiations comes from the
lack of conciliation in the attitude Of
the American commissioners. 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) sovereignty
over Cuba. These two points are def
nitely settled and are not open to dis
cussion. Besides, the Spaniards make
it point of honor to scrupulously
abide by their engagements toward
their conquerors.
The question of the Cuban debt re-
mains Upon which power should the
debt rest? Here is where the two COM
emissions differ in their views and nei-
thsr is inclined to yield. The Span
iards agree on the following lines:
When a power annees territory 1t is
Implied that it assumes all the obliga-
tions Of suoh territory. 1t is interna-
tional law, sanctioned by usage, and
which has always been complied with.
fThrG whan Franco onnaad SavnV she
assumed all the debts contracted by
the latter while still an Italian prov
ince.
Lastly, they remind their opponents
that Cuba is virtually the key of the
Gulf of Mexico, a strategic position of
the first order to the United States,
and an immense advantage which calls
for some sacrifice upon the part of the
Americans.
ITO this the latter replied at first
that they could not listen to any dis
cussion of the matter of the debt, being
under formal instructions from their
government. But, on the Spanish COM
mission insisting, and in the presence
of it's very firm attitude, the Americans
have taken a more conciliatory atti-
tude, rot that they entertain the inten
tion of yielding to Spain's injunctions.
but they consent to argue against the
Spanish position. These arguments
may be briefly summed up as follows:
'The Americans insist upon the fact
that the money raised by the Cuban
loans was not applied to the require
ments or interests of the island, but
was chiefly borrowed to the end of i'm,
proving the financial condition OF Spain
and TO procure funds which she could
no longer raise in the Peninsula, and
that the debt, therefore, is personal to
Spain.
"On the other hand, the Americans
say that America has no intention of
annexing Cuba and could not, there
fore, assume such obligations.
= Finally, it is held that, owing to the
fabulous cost Of the late war, the Am
erican people would not concede the
right to assume such obligations.
These are. approximately, the
grounds on which the present discus
sions are conducted. What will the
outcome be?
Certain newspapers have considered
the possibility of referring the differ
ence to the arbitration of continental
power. Neither commission has yet
suggested such q solution. but, on the
other hand, we have good grounds to
believe that, even were the suggestion
acceptable to Spain, it would have no
chance of being agreed to by the Am
ericans."