Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1898-10-27

And Then Proceeds to Stick to the First
Demand and Intimates That the Cues
ton Is Settled = Further Indications
That the Cubans Believe They Arc and
Ought To BE Independent"- Evidence
Taken by the Wa Investigators.
Philadelphia, Oct. 27.-Immediately
after the reception to the president last
night at the Union League a meeting
Of the chief executive and those cabinet
officers who are IN attendance with him
at the peace jubilee was held at the Ho-
tel Bellevue The utmost secrecy at
tended the proceedings. but it was
cleaned that j. c. Kellogg. private sec
rotary TO Secretary Hay. reached here
last night bearing important dispatches
from the state department. Absolutely
nothing else could be learned, ard the
foregoing is unofficial
Washington. Oct. 27.-There are fndi-
cations that the peace commissioners
In Paris are approaching the end of the
consideration of the subject Of Cuba
- 90 : - p =, ri o111-sIa.s here wourl
not be surprised if Yesterdays sass or
of the commission concluded those sub
jects, leaving che commission free to
take up the most important matter in
the DrCeccol = the disposition of the
Philippines. The Spanish case has been
Presented with an ability ard adroit-
ness that commands the admiration of
diplomats without regard to nationau-
ty' and even our own officials have been
compelled to yield a tribute of respect
to the arguments Produced, but they
nave been of no avail in effecting any
substantial GnanEe In the first attitude
CT the American commissioners, who
arc holding firmly to the line Of proceed
ure originally outlined. 1t is expected
here that hencefcrth, after the courte-
Gus intimation that has been conveyed
10 the Sp2n'sh cOmnniss. oHe-s that it is
time to regard the Cuban and Porto
Rican matters as settled, better prog
ress viii be made towards the final con
ciusion of treaty Of peace.
Commissioners Left Looking Grave.
Paris, Oct. 27.-The Spanish-Ameri-
meeting yesterday, which lasted an
hour and five minutes and was adjourn
ed until today. Both the Spanish and
the American commissioners We're more
reticent after this session than ever
before. AS the peace negotiations are
now nearing the discussion of the Phil
ippire question the Americans feel that
no stage OF the proceedings has so de-
manded their conSiderate treatment. 1t
may not be stated at this time with GER
tainty that the Cuban question has re-
ceived it's last consideration by the
Americans, nor that the Spaniards have
accepted as ultimate the United States
ref lsal to assume any portion of the
Cuban debt. 1t may, however, be af-
frmed that the Philippine question was
not reached yesterday, but it may be
discussed at today's session.
Favorable sign for Spain.
London, Oct. Z7.-The Paris correspon-
dent of The Times says: AT yester-
days sitting the Spanish peace COM
missioners presented a new counter
memorandum declaring their readiness,
Professionally, to accept an article OF 4
preliminary treaty stipulating that
Spain shall reIirouish all rights TO
sovereignty in Cuba without formulat-
ing any other claim and to leave in
suspense all remaining questions, es-
pecially the Philippines The Ameri-
cans asked until today to reply to this
new memorandum. This is regarded as
a favorable sign. being a slight re-
taxation of the rightly the Americans
have hitherto shown. TEey are perhaps
aware that the Cuban and even the
Spanish bondholders are becoming |
at the strange turn of the finan-
cial side of the discussion in which |
Spain. the United States and Cuba, with |
extra ordinary unanimity and careless
ness aHrepuGiate the Cuban dsbt.
Cuban Debt Tough Question.
Nobody will be able to force Spain |
to accept the debt: for apart from bank |
ruptcy she could only meet the liabili- |
ties at the expense of her foreign bond |
holders, who by a strange anomaly
would thus have to pay for the inde- |
pendence of Cuba 1t is not likely that |
the United States or any other power |
can or Will force Spain to ruin herself |
by meeting the Cuban debt, and it viii |
then either be total loss for Europe or |
be paid by the Spanish bondholders. If |
in these circumstances an agreement |
cannot be effected America will indeed |
be wise to refer the question to the |
arbitration of impartial men, entirely |
in this delicate matter"