The age-herald., 1898-08-20
THE QUESTION
 COMPLICATED Spain Will Lay Claim to Property
 in Cuba and Porto Rico. INMATES OF THE PRISONS Sagasta Does Not Know What Will Be Done With Them. CUBAN DEBT A GREAT PROBLEM
 x $ Surrend Sv laniIa Regarded as Void
 5Sc, Spanish Premier. SS NC RPEACEN NOR WAR EXISTS / ( $
Surrend laniIa Regarded as Void
 sSc Spanish Premier.
SurrendI.
Z RPEACE NOR WAR EXISTS
If United States Had Consented to an Armistice Spain Would Be Better Prepared to Deal
 With Questions Arising.
Special Cable to the Age-Herald. Copyright-
 ed bv ". k. Hearst.

Special Cable to the Age-Herald. Copyright-
 ed bv ". K. Hearst.
 Madrid, Aug. 19.-During the cabinet dis cussion of the instructions to the Spanish peace commissioners Senor Sagasta said today: "The question is very compli- cated one. Spain renounces her sovereign- ty over Cuba and Porto Rico, but will lay claim to the property there such as national buildings, barracks, prisons, lands belonging to the state, ports, ma chinery, arsenals and all similar property.
 Tt is also question what to do with the present inmates of the prisons, and criminal and civil proceedings now pending in the courts. But these may be settled by the Cuban military commission.
 Another great problem is the Cuban debt.
 Regarding Manila, I consider its sur render null and void and against the law, since it was made after the signing of the protocol. The Paris conference will settle this and also arrange commercial treaties by which Spanish goods may obtain tariff advantages in Cuba and Porto Rico in ex- change for similar advantages given to the Americans in the Philippines
 It Is hnted that Spain may ask indemnity for cession of property and railroads in Cuba and Porto Rico.
 Complex Questions
 Madrid, Aug 19.-El Liberal publishes re- marks made by Senor Sagasta on the diplo- matic and political situation, quoting the premier follows:
 From a legal point of view the present state of things is neither peace nor war, but merely a suspension of hostilities. An armistice would have allowed us to dispel better the obscurity of the situation. but the United States declined to agree to take a step further in advance.
 '"rhe questions to be solved are unmer- is to lay down certain bases on which each minister may make any observation which study of the subject suggests. These will continue to be treated in daily cabinet councils, it being held that the bases in question are the fundamental instructions for the guidance of the various commits sons in the forthcoming negotiations to be supplemented and rectified subsequently, by telegraph.
 'In Cuba besides evacl.ltion there are many other problems. Spaln may abandon her sovereignty over the Greater Antilles, but there will remain the question of edi- fees and all our properties. There are law suits before the tribunals affecting the in- terests of the Spaniards. Where and when will these be decided? In Havana, where large number of criminals have been con- demned by the Spanish tribunals, what is to be done with them? Then there are other questions for which we have to fix basis of discussion and agreement regard ing the Philippines. Besides these and other problems of greater importance there is preliminary question to be discussed
 According to international law, a sus- pension of hostilities has been signed and the surrender of Manila ought to have no legal efficacy. How will that principle be understood by the United States? This causes us much anxiety and we give 1t great attention, but we are still awaiting the information demanded from General Jaudenez, which has not yet reached us, on account of the difficulties of communca- tion between Manila and Hong Kong"
 These remasks have all the appearance of being authentic, they are In accord with information from other sources and in harmony with Senor Sagastas usual style.
 The public is still anxious for an explan- ation of Gpvernor General Augusti's mys- terious departure from Manila, but its cu- riosity is not likely to be satisfied for some time. the government declining to say any, thing. nj -