The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-04-09
Experts Are of the Opinion that This
Country Might BE Forced to Pay
Hundreds of Millions.
MEETINGS OF COMMITTEES
REPUBLICAN RADICALS UNWILLING
TO ANTAGONIzE M'KINLEY.
Conservative Senators Confident of
Committee-Thursto Views.
Special to the Indianapolis Journal.

Special to the Indianapolis Journal.
WASHINGTON, April S--A question that
has heretofore remained in the background,
so far as Congress and the public are con-
cerned. BUT which has been duly considered
by the executive, is. what legal effect will
intervention, either with or without recog-
milton of Independence, have upon the bonds
issued by Spain and secured by Cuban reve-
nues? The best international lawyers i'll the
United States have been consulted on these
points. The consensus of opinion among
these experts is that the United States
would be responsible for the payment of
these bonds if, by intervention, it should
destroy the security on which they are
based If the Cubans could have gained
their independence by their own unaided
efforts it would have been different 1t is a
principle of law that when state is divided
and a new government established in a
part of the territory of the old state, the
Indebtedness remains standing against the
old government, the new government not
being chargeable with or responsible for
the payment of any parb thereof.
An instance of the working of this prin-
ciple was seen in our country when West
territory of Virginia. Virginia had state
debt. This Indebtedness remained against
the parent State. West Virginia not then
assuming nor becoming responsible for any
part thereof, although it comprised about
one-third of the territory, population and
revenue resources of Virginia as it was
constituted prior to the division and erec-
ton of the new State. This condition of af-
fairs gave rise to the readjuster lobby
which, for several years, controlled Vir-
ginia.
Inasmuch as the United States, by inter-
vening in Cuba, will establish it's inde-
pendence and so deprive Spain of the reve-
nues out of which the bonds in question
were to be paid, it would be held RESPONSE
BILE therefor. If the independence of Cuba
We're recognized now the United States
would have these bonds to pay, for there
would be no way to make Cuba pay them
except by coercion, which means war; BY
intervening without such recognition the
United States will be in a position to pro-
vide for the payment of these bonds out Of
the revenues of Cuba according to the
pledge under which they We're sold to their
present holders. This is one of the reasons
why the United States should proceed in
such a manner as will leave it a free hand
when the time comes to settle upon the
future government of Cuba. These bonds
amount now to $15O,OOO,OOO some $50. .OOO, 900
having been paid. They are mostly held in
Germany, which accounts largely for the
concern felt in that country as to the fate
of Cuba
The outcry Of the Cuban Junto against
this plan and their foolish threats to fight
the United States if it dared intervene with
out first recognizing their simulacrum gov
ernment has proved a boomerang. it has
caused a number of sena tors and Republic
ans who favored this plan to change their
minds because they do not believe gov
ernment composed of men OF that sort
could be trusted. The Junto people are re-
garded as adventures who have nothing at
stake in Cuba, and who, having nothing
to lose, complain when they see their pros
pective winnings endangered. They have
contributions of patriotic Cuban cigar MAX
ers and from the sale of bonds, which are
not and never will be worth the paper they
are printed on unless the present alleged
government is recognized as independent.