The herald., 1898-10-20
Associated Press Special wire.

the evacuation Of Cuba, on American de.
mands, shall extend only until sunset Thurs.
day evening. Furthermore, the United
States is not to assume or guarantee even
single dollar Of the so,called Cuban debt.
OF this the Spaniards may not yet be
wholly convinced, but the firm refusal of
Judge Day and his colleagues to assume the
Cuban debt, because the United States
would not take over the sovereignty, has
widened Spanish perceptions and has un-
questionably hastened their convictions;
therefore, It may, in sense, be true that
having for the first time feeling that
American pledges and American perform
ance are coequal terms, the Spaniards are
now practically on the threshold Of proper
ly lighted negotiations.
Diplomacy Fails
When Spain approached these negotia-
tions she was confronted by hard and fast
agreement, which, however, she regarded as
possible to break or puncture at the point
Of Castilian diplomacy. Thus she poised
and has launched against the protocol struc-
ture OF seeming solidity the keen lances Of
her fnesse. They have fallen broken at her
feet. The wall of American purpose and
mutual compact has proved not only appa-
rent but real, and now the Spanish compiis-
sioners give pause to their attack on the
Cuban angle and ask time to assure them
selves of their previous misjudgmcnt and
also to reform their lines or arrange new
ones.
Reason for Delay
The assigned reason for today's request
for delay is believed to be to allow an inter-
change Of communications with Madrid and
to formulate final attitude on the Cubnn
matter. This attitude of the Spaniards, to
be developed on Friday, will be watched
with no little interest Their alternatives
are few but pregnant. They may accede to
the American attitude, themselves assume
the Cuban debt and go forward to consider
the next protocol point, or Porto Rico and
the choice by the United States Of an island
in the Ladrone group, or they may at this
an extremity which is not likely, may retire
from further negotiations.
Spanish Hopes
The tone during the last four days of the
Spanish and French press is significant of
widened confidence by the Spanish as to
the attitude they have assumed in the nego-
tiation here and the recurring assurances
OF Spain's desire for arbitration may have
had meaning. The Spaniards may not
have sought to promote sympathy, but had
they desired to lay down a basis upon which
to set up plea to Europe to prevent what
II sought to present as her ravishment, the
surface indications could not have been
more favcrnbly disposed for that purpose
than they have been.
The American commissioners, after dis
patching their acquiescense in the delay,
held brief meeting, principally to make a
formal record of the deferring of the joint
session fixed for today.
Americans Attitude
The Americans yesterday held brief ses-
sion having no reference to the negotiations
and the brevity of these meetings and other
indications warrant the deduction that the
American attitude is well formed and that
the commission is thoroughly advised on all
the points and features which it is possible
to foresee in subsequent conferences.
The amount of information acquired by
the Americans since their arrival here is
the Philippines and the information from
this and other sources is valuable.
Outside Influences
A distinguished Roman Catholic church.
man from New Orleans, is now in this city
in connection, it is said, with the interests
OF the Roman Catholic church in Cuba.
The holders Of Spanish securities have not
been inactive and It is likely that the Amer
lean commission will be called upon to con-
slider a written presentation of figures, facts
and pleadings in behalf of those interests.
Were it not that the spirit and attitude Of
the American commission are so dignitied,
it might be said that they are now holding
the fort and inviting attacks Their person
atty and procedure, however, is such to
make it fair to say that, while not courting
attack, they fear none.
Sparring for Time
PARIS. Oct. l9.-The Spanish commits
sion was unable to attend the joint session
today and the next session of the two COM
missions has been fixed for Friday next.
Judge Day, president of the American
commission, received a communication this
morning from Senior Rios, president Of the
Spanish commission, saying that advices
expected but not received from Madrid made
it necessary for himself and his colleagues
to require q postponement of any further
conferences until Friday next.
A courteous reply was returned by Sec
retary Moore, in behalf of the American
commissioners, granting an extension Of the
time for the next meeting as requested.
While the deferring Of any one confer
ence for two days is in itself not an iinpor-
tant request, the delay by the Spaniards
at this juncture is something more than sig
ni6cant. The-game of diplomacy now pro-
crossing here has reached stage which
makes it necessary that the next move be
made by the Spanish commissioners. They
are confronted by the plain fact Of their
NoeoCoi dkIceIueuC TO reunQul6n ana ev6C-
uate Cuba without Ifs, lands" or butts. y
L: has become clear here that the Span
iards cherished the hope that they could
follow definite path and ultimately wan
ger from an unconditional covenant and do
iess than the protocol compact called for.
The American commissioners, however,
have firmly adhered to the boundary lines
already. mutually established and within
which they insist the Spaniaris. AZ well Hs
themselves, shall duly proceed.
1t Is not too much to say that Spain now
has more light than ever before on The n :
tegrity and steadfastness in word and in
purpose Of the United States.
Nor is it wide of fact to sav that ths
Epaniards are now initially appreciatinc that
tho United States did not make war an
Spain to acquire Cuba as a CONQUEST pxize.
Municipal Debts
WASHINGTON, Oct. ia d;snatch +r,
the World from Washington saws: ~
The United States will accept the indsbt.
edness of the Cuban municipalities. but will
not agree to pay or guarantee any portion
of the Cuban debt.
This statement was made to the Wcrld
correspondent by the highest authorize IN
Washington at this time. There can he
no doubt as to its correctness. Rv this
recession from the original instructions TO