The herald., 1898-10-16
CUBAN DEBT QUESTION
WORRIES THE SPANISH PEACE
CoMMIssIoNERs
UNC0MPR0MISING
Declining Even to Discuss the Matter
Of Paying the Debts Incurred
by Spain
Associated Press Special Wire.


LONDON, Oct. 1.-THE Paris CORES
pondent oa the Times says:
The peace negotiations are necessarily
slow. being conducted less by exchange Of
words than exchange Of notes and state
ments. Senior Montero Rios. President of
the Spanish commission, does not under
stand English. Consequently the few words
exchanged must be interpreted and, even
then they are not definitive till committed
to paper.
The Cuban debt question has thus al
ready been laid on the table, and the Am
ercan commissioners have already given
a peremptory refusal to discuss q principle
by the peace preliminaries. Faithful to the
attitude adopted by them from the outset,
they seemed resolved to take their stand
on the instructions-or rather, as have
already said. the precise and concise or
ders-whioh they brought with them, but
tho Spaniards on their side do not think
themselves bound to bow with docility to
the imperative instructions of another gov
ernment. They returned to the charge to-
day. If am well informed, urging the
generally admitted principle which i'm
poses on conquerors the burdens belonging
to the territory conquered either In their
own behalf or that Of their clients. They
insisted that 1t would be an extraordinary
course to saddle Spain, already in so la
mentable financial condition. with the
Cuban debt while surrendering to the VIC
tor the security with which It should be
paid.
They remarked according to my infor-
nation, that If they had asked the United
States for permission to raise interest from
the customs revenues. they would natural
ly have met with a refusal. How then, can
they be asked to leave to the victor the
pledge allowing payment OF interest and
yet retain the burden OF the debt7 They OBJ
served, moreover. that as Cuba 10 the key
to tho Gulf o6 Mex5co, tl1Sc "a States
Will thus be- able to fa49 tks Shiy h2fFier
which they had hitherto been unable to
cross at will, and that Is worth some sacri-
fee. Hence the Spanish commissioners in
sist In the name OF recognized international
law that the debt should not rest solely
on Spanish shoulders. 1t Is impossible to
foretcll the American reply, but 1t is not
likely that Mr.. Day and his colleagues will
yield. An idea Is afloat, and said to be
warmly advocated by the friends of peace
and Justice, that the interest should be
reduced to 211 per cent. or even 2 per cent
and jointly guaranteed by the Spaniards
and the future rulers Of Cuba, each thus
bearing only very slight burden and the
hondholders being protected from loss on
their investment. This last information
does not emanato either from Spaniards
or Americans. but there Is an intention Of
backing 1t SO as to give 1t some CHARGE of
success.
Pig-Headed Yankees
MADRID. Oct 15.-The semi-officiAl Cor
respondencia attaches much Importance to
yesterdays meeting Of the peace commits
sions. It says 1t belives that besides dis
cussing the Cuban debt and the evacua-
under discussion, which this paper claims
to regard as incredible as "all unprejud-
iced people must think that. after the sig
nature Of the protocol the rights and SOW
ereignty of Spain would be unquestioned."
Continuing, the Correspondents says:
THE Americans are uncompromising
and disposed to only yield on points of un-
important detail. They are not disposed
TO agree to arbitration. while Spain is will
ing to accept Russia or Germany. The
public is anxious, hut we cannot immed-
lately reassure 1t, the telegraph not being,
under the present circumstances, the best
means Of information.
Troops for Manila
SAN FRANCISCO, Oct 15.--Next week
will witness the departure of more troops
for the Philippines es and the transports Sem
ator and Valencia will probably sail on
Tuesday afternoon, both vessels being
ready to take soldiers On board. The Ohio
and Inliana will be ready to sail by the end
of next week and the New York the follow
ing week. The Rio de Janeiro and Penn
sylvania are expected to arrive from Ma
nila tomorrow or Monday, the former hav-
ing 200 sick men on board, who will be
cared for at the Preside division hospital.
In addition to the above mentioned trans
ports, which will convey about 1900 men,
1t is estimated that four more vessels will
be required to accommodate. the balance,
of the troops ordered to Manila, mann.
Orders have been received from the war
department directing that the sailing YES
sci Tacoma be again prepared for a trip
to the Philippines. She will take a load Of
mules to Honolulu and will resh!p at Homo
lulu a load of horses for Manila. She Is
in need of extensive repairs and 1t will take
at least two weeks to prepare her for the
voyage.
E. W. Heaton, prominent San Fran
ciscan, arrived Yesterday.