New-York tribune., 1898-10-18
FRICTION GROWING IN PARIS.
AMERICAN PUBLIC SENTIMENT MISUN-
DERSTOOD By SPANIARDS.
oSr SERIOUS RESULT OF THE OUTCRY
HERE AGAINST THE CONDUCT
OF THE WAR

Washington Oct. 1.-THE Peace Commission
ara in Paris have not yet reached the Philippine
question but are still engaged not exactly with
,he Cuban debt. but rather in effort on the
one side 70 get that subject before the Joint
Commission and on the other to exclude II en-
,rely as not proper for discussion.
Without dOub; the friction between the Amert-
ran and Spanish Commissioners has become
stronger within the last few days. but this Is
attributed to mistaken ideas on the part Of Span
,sh public men regarding the sentiment In the
United States and the probable results OF the
nol,ticaI struggle here. Under these erroneous
,n,nrcssions the Spanish Commissioners nave
rsrsisted beyond wha, were believed to he their
movers OF endurance in their effort to secure by
some means an arrangement by which the
United States Will accept title to Cuba for the
assumption OF the Cuban debt by this country
or n least to relieve Spain from that heavy
obligation. The effort will not prevail but the
limited States Commissioners are retarded IN
,he consummation Of their work by 1t.
The information has reached the War Depart
roent that high officer Of the Spanish Army
recently made the statement that had the span
tards been aware of the condition or the AH'eli-
eon Army its inability to withstand the nara
.hirs O. A campaign. its lack or meuiCai anu
other supplies and general mehciencY. as 'oiu
Z, some Of the American Papers. the Spaniarus
would have continued fighting for long u'he
70 come fully believing that they Wouid haNe
heen able 10 prevent the capture or Cubd l"''
statement is known to have been madc 20 'he
Aroarican officers now in Cuba and causes some
uneasiness in Off cial circles. as 1t may mean
that the Spania~ds are not ready 70 Yle'o '"e
island under the terms Of the protocol
II is believed by officials in Washington that
he
Army and the conduct Of the wal no question
would have been raised by the SpanisH Peace
commissioners REGARDING the Cuban debt II IS
rointed out that under the protocol tho Only
question left for the Commission to determine
was the disposition Of the Philippines. ana 'ha'
nothing was said about III, Cuban dep' OF any
other Cuban question. BY those VINO ar !"
position to know It IS asserted that 'he MAUI N
Government was aware. when it asEed TOT peaO'
and negotiations were opened. that II was USE
less 10 ask that the Cuban debt be taken INTO
consideration by any commission ana 'ha' u
is only since the reports % the bad condnloh ol
TIE American Army have reached Maorlo 'ha'
the question has been raised
Another matter which causes grave consluefd-
.lon in the War Department is the temper ol 'he
Standards in Cuba and the fear that uhe M
,rassion which now prevails there may lead
them to regard the American b""PS vi i'N '
account and act accordingly after the occupa-
ton OF the island by the United states 1orces'
The matter has been discussed al the Na' De
nsrtrnent and l. is probable that when troops
ore sent 10 Cuba there will be a force or sucn
.,za and character as to give the islanders
afnerent impression Of the United states SOL
diers than they now entertain
The impression amon2 the Spaniards IN
Cuba" said an officer In position to kno"
what IS going on, lis that the American soidierS
are weak and puny. incapable OF wi'hstanding
hardship. and whom it will he an easy matter
Il vanquish This feeling may make It difhcuIt
for the Americans AZ first. This impression is
due 10 the charges that have been made against
the War Department with cucn viru"nce ana
insistence during the last few months