The sun., 1898-10-14
THE SURRENDER OF CUBA.
sPANIARDs DECLINE TO GIVE UP Az
THORITH BT DEC. 4.

No Positive Demand 10 That Eject HAe Yet
Been Made, but II the spaniah Persist in
Their Refusal n Demand Will BE Made
Similar TO That In the Case OF Porto Rico.
WASHINGTON. Oct. 13.-AlthouRh Secretary
AlGer and the War Department officials express
confidence that the Spaniards will ultimately
consent to the proposition OF the American
Commissioners at Havana that Cuba shall be
surrendered to the Government by Dec. /,
there is no doubt that the situation at Havana
is very serious. Tho Spanish Commissioners
are vigorously opposing the Efforts OF the
American representatives to secure possession
OF the island, and in fact. It Is understood that
they have positively declined to accept the
American proposition.
The American Commissioners did not make an
express demand for the surrender OF the island
by Dec. l. but submitted statement TO the
Spanish Commissioners. expressing the desire
OF the United States Government that the con-
troll OF custom houses and public buildings
In Cuba should bo turned over to the United
States forces by the date named. This
statement was made under orders from
the War Department The instructions
to the Porto Rico Evacuation Commis-
sioners. the War Department directed them to
demand the evacuation OF the Island and sur
render OF authority by Dot. 18. The Cuban
yet but II the Spanish persist in their refusal
to surrender authority by Dec, l. the statement
will be changed to a direct demand similar to
that made by the Porto Rico Commission. As
a high officer Of the Government expressed It
to-day:
I'VE have made what we call a statement Of
our desires. but 1t is really polite form Of de-
manding that the Spanish turn over their GUS
tom houses and the control Of public revenues
by the FIRST day of December"
Another case OF friction between the oppos-
ing commissions at Havana Is the insistenoe Of
the Spanish authorities that they have the
right to determine what is movable property
in Cuba. and to send 1t to Spain. The Ameri-
can Commissioners protested against any
property being removed until the joint
pPopry 10 the wns %oVaes es
3 sp93nded that the Evacuation Commission
and Chat Was sS6ec 70 Of rng bV ts
Peace Commission In Paris. With character
istic inconsistency the Spanish authorities. In
pairing matter for shipment to Spain.
It is an open question. left to the decision Of
the Evacuation Commissioners OF both Spain
and the United States. whether certain ord
movable, and the Tlnited States representa-.
right to take away any such material until the
Joint commission has arranged the matter.
anu does not constitute movable property
comes the remains and monument Of Christie
pher Columbus. which the Spaniards have ex-
pressed the intention OF removing to Spain.
No serious clash has occurred between the
Spanish and American Commissioners, but the
situation is grave enough to cause the Admin
istration in Washington to consider means of
meeting the emergency that will be presented
II the Spanish adhere to their stand that it will
be impossible to evacuate Cuba or surrender
control OF its revenues by Dec. l. The opinion
OF the Government appears to be, however,
Sran ich TnTF1f, niroif nil hoo
down when they realize that the United States
Major Gen. Wade. Chairman of the Havana
Evacuation Commission. teegraphed to the
War Department to-day n request for the
services OF vessel to visit the various ports in
Of those ports in the name OF the United States
The War Department requested the Navy De-
partment to furnish the vessel, but the naval
authorities answered that they had no ship
available. Authority was accordingly tele-
graphed to Gen. Wade to charter suitable
vessel