The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-10-21

though hardly expected by the officials
here, that yesterdays proceedings be-
fore the peace commission at Paris
marked the high tide Of Spanish oppo-
sition and that from now on the Span
ish commissioners will retire gradu~
ally from their extreme position. 1t is
recognized that their attack upon the
American position was marked by the
greatest cleverness and adroitness.
The opinion prevails that the purpose
OF the Spaniards is to work upon the
sympathies of other European nations
while appealing to the interests, not
only of the holders of Cuban bonds.
but also TO the holders of purely Span
ish securities, which would be affected
by sympathy.
The Spanish argument, directed to
showing that the United States will
assume sovereignty else the islands
will be left without legal status, is
implied as being a reason for the in
~tervention of foreign holders. The lat
ter, according to Spanish hope, might
be expected to call upon their own
~ III a. SpdlllSIl SduSe
by protesting to the United States
{ against the destruction of the large
| values represented by the Cuban bonds
owned by their own citizens. Consider
atoms based upon equities like these
J have at times had great weight with
international but back of it
! all is apparent, in the eye of the Off
Gals here, a purpose to influence, not
so much the American peace commits
sloners, as the government at Wash
ington directly.
There has never been any question
as to the status of municipal and other
local obligations based upon Cuban as
sets. AS the proceeds of the bonds is
! sued by municipalities have presuma-
bly, gone to benefit the localities, it has
never been contended here for an in
| slant that these obligations should be
| r~epudiated. Whatever may be the out
come of the negotiations at Paris, rel
ative to the general debt of Cuba, the
bonds Of the municipalities and such
| securities will retain their validity.
The proposition alleged to have been
made yesterday by the Spanish COM
| m~issioners, to surrender to the United
| states the entire Philippine group rath-
l.er than Spain should be responsible for
the Cuban debt, did not take the Off
| Gals here by surprise.
1t was recognized Immediately as
only another phase of the Spanish eff
fort to connect the Philippines and Gu
J ba in some way in the negotiations.
The American commissioners at the
beginning refused to permit any such
| assertion, holding that each subject
treated in the protocol must be dealt
with squarely and in order and, so far
as the state department knows. they
have not changed their view on this
matter since.
While it is realized in official circles
hat the negotiations in Paris have
reached what probably will be the
most critical point to be passed over
until the commission is face to face
with the question as to what DISPOSE
lions shall be made of the Philippines,
there is an abiding confidence that the
Spanish commissioners will not Oblige
the Americans to resort to extreme
measures, and that the negotiations
will proceed with greater expedition
from this point.
Paris, October IS, 11:15 p. m.-Spain
car no longer have any doubt regard
ing the ultimate attitude of the United
=, States toward the so-calied Cuban
] debt. The American commissioners
have declined to assume it or any part
of it, by express treaty or by contract.
They also declined to accept a cessiOn
of sovereignty to the United States, for
in that case Spain would claim that
such a ceSsiOn by its own force would
impose the obligation for that debt.
1t is confidently believed that in re-
fusing to accept a cessiOn Of sover-
eighty the American commissioners are
acting so Upon their announcement to
the world in the Intervention resolu-
tons disclaiming any intention to eX-
erciSe sovereignty or authirity over
Cuba, except for pacif1catiOn, and then
to leave the island to the control of its
people and the people to the assump-
ton of its obligations.
1t Liberte, referring to the Cuban
debt as ''now dividing the two coun-
tries" says: '"The Spanish regard the
refusal of the United states to assume
the debt as an exaggerated pre-
tention,' In one sentence La Liberte
declares that Spanish finances were
ruined in trying to suppress the Cuban
Instruction. and in the next it says
that debt viii be contracted for Cuba.
Then it points to Spain as pleading
for arbitration where the commission
do not agree and says: The Wash
ington bin will not listen to any
thing. We have already pointed out
the abnormal conditions attending tn
appointment of the American delegates
and their imperious Instructions. Mr.
Day and his colleagues are NOT proper
~ n~egotiators, but only ~mandataries
" ~ 'SA - - 80 DNN fA@~'DO -
ders. They have no right 70 discuss
or TO make concessions, bat simply
may announc to the Spanish govern
ment the exactions of the United
States. The American commissioner
nave formal orders not to lend them.
selves to any notifications of the con
ditions Of peace and TO repel all arbi
tration. giving notice, finally. IL tn
Spanish do not agree to their terms
of a naval demonstration in Spanish
waters. President Mckinley is dictat
ed to by public opinion which vii
some day repent its loss of head"
The Temps says editorially-: 1T /
still thought that a tribunal of arbi
tration will alone settle the disputes.
The Journal Des Bebats thinks tn
United States should compel the Cuba,
government TO assume the debt an
) believes that the Spanish would sub
nit to arbitration, which il under
stands. b United States declines {
accept.
, IN POSSESSION OF PORTO RICO.