Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-10-19
No Further Information at the State
Department,
OUR POSITION WELL DEFINED
Will Not Assume Responsibility
for Any of the Cuban Debt.
p o S S B l. f T a LII r Z

1t is understood that the State Depart
ments Information does not throw mdsh
more light on the probable course OF the
Spanish pea.e commissioners at Paris than
is found in the press dispatches. i was
the expectation of the department, based
on the understanding Of Spanish character.
that the Spanish commissioners would con-
sumo a lot of time in attempting TO force
uEcn the attention OF the representatives, OF
the United States matters whicn they would
not consi6es. ard that the Spaniarls would
retreat from their position with great de-
liberation and display of stubbornncss.
They have. however been more stubborn
even than was anticipated. and the admin
istration is 10; losing sight OF the possihi-
ity of a failure of the negotiations now in
progress and renewal of hos'inties There
is, of course, no way of determining how
far the attitude assumed by the Spaniards
IS mere bluff, characteristic of Spanish
diplomacy.
Our Position Well Defined.
The position of the United States COM
missioners, however, is well defined, and
the character of the men composing II Is
such as to preclude The possibility of their
yielding from the position assumed. Tho
time that has been consumed thus far has
been taken up by the Spanish commission
tn commission as mucn As possible in tho
entangiements of diplomacy and by the in
PRODUCTION Of collateral and ign uues-
tons. They have reached the point. how
ever, where a further waste Of time Is not
to be tolerated, and thy commission must
come down directly TO the questions 3 is
sue. The opinion is entertained in some
quarters here that the Spaniards may have
a design to bring about a deadlock which
VIII block the negotiations and prevent an
agreement On a treaty Of peace, but whicn
Will leave this government ~itn nothing to
nght over but the Philippines. The theory
is advanced that Spain, not being in q
position to face renewal Cf hosttlltias to
regain her sovereignty over Cuba, VIII en-
deavor to prolong the negoGe -iols a Paris
until after the evacuation of Cuba has been
completed it has already been IN Porto
Rico, and that the Spanish commissioners
VIII then refuse TO come to any agreement
as to the Philippines unless this govern
ment will take Up the question Of The Gu
ban debt and agree to assume at least a
part of it,
Will Not Assume the Cuban Debt
1t is definitely settled that no part of the
Cuban debt will be assumed by the United
States Therefore. if the Spanish commits
sioners assume and maintain this attitude
the negotiations must fail. The relinquish-
ment OF Spanish sovereignty over Cuba and
Porto Rico has been accomplished through
the signing of the protocol and Spain Will
nave evacuated both these islands Then
the only question left to fight over will be
that OF the Philippines. Il is believed that
the Spanish government has an idea that
TINS government cannot justify itself in A
renewal of hostiiities with nothing but the
possession of the Philippine Islands at is
sue, and that the Spanish may be willing
to run the risk of breaking off negotiations
when they have reached that stage. hoping
Tor foreign Intervention in her behalf If
the United States reopens active hostiiities
III Is said 10 be the possibility of such an
outcome that has led 10 the increase of our
naval force in the Philippines.
HostfIities Only Suspended
BY the signing of the protocol and the
opening of negotiations of peace hostilities
have been only suspended. not terminated.
A failure of the peace commission to agres
would leave condition of hostility still ex-
listing, and it would be for this country TO
determine how long military and naval op-
erations should remain suspended 1t Is
probable that the occupation of the Philip-
pines would be completed as soon as pos
Side after the acknowledged failure of the
peace negotiations, should such a thing hap
pen, and 1t would not be in the power of
Spain TO make any effective resistance hut
possibly her pride might seem better su.s-
tanned by losing her possessions through
force than by yielding them in negotiations