Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1898-10-14
THE DATE IS FIXED.
The Occupation of Cuba Will Take
Place December I.
FORMAL NOTICE is GIVEN TO SPAIN.
Puerto Rico to De Taken Under Con.
troll October 1s-spain Announces
she Will Keep Troops In Cuba
Till Treaty IL Signed.


Warrington, Oct. 12.-Instruction1
have been sent to the United States
military commission in Cuba fixing
December / as the date whom
Spanish control over the island
must cease. The commissioners,
acting upon these instructions.
have notified the Spaniards that
all ports and customs receipts and
the management of municipal affairs
will pass into the hands of the Amer
lean military commander in the island.
This order was not intended to work
hardship to the Spanish troops or
government, but it was thought best
to fix definite time to end Spanish
rule and to begin operations under
the United States.
1t Is probable that United States
troops will go to Cuba before that
time. By December 1 1t is expected
to have troops so stationed that there
will be no need of Spanish troops to
preserve order. The proclamations
that have been issued by the president,
este blishing Gus toms rates and defln-
ing the manner in which Cuban terri
tory shall be governed will prevail
until it becomes apparent that new
regulations are needed.
Date Fixed for Puerto Rico.
On October IS Maj. Gen. Brooke will
assume control of the island of Puerto
Rico. 1t is possible that all the Span
ish troops will not have left Puerto
Rico at that time; if so, they will
be quartered in barracks until they
can be taken away. In the language
Of Secretary Alger, the United States
will be the host and the Spaniards
the guests after October 1s. The
United States will not ship the remain
Ing troops to Spain at Its own ex-
pense. That was no part of the pro-
tocol. The custom houses, the money
received for customs and the gov
eminent Of the islands will pass COM
pletely from Spanish control on the
date set. The present custom regula-
tons under proclamation Of the pres.
ident will prevail.
Will Hold On to Cuba.
Madrid, Oct. 12.-The Spanish gov
eminent announces its intention to
maintain a strong force of troops In
Cuba until the treaty OF peace with
the United States is definitely signed
Immediately after peace is signed
the cortes will be convened and meas
ures dealing with the reorganization
OF all the state departments will be
submitted to parliament.
VIII Take Possession.
Washington, Oct. 12.-When the at.
,tsntion of the officials OF the war de.
.partment was called to the statement
made In Madrid that strong foroe Of
Spanish troops would be kept in Cuba
until the treaty of peace had beer
signed, 1t was simply stated that there
had been and would be no change II
the orders to the United States troops
and that the instruction given to the
American military commission in Ha
vana to take possession of the island
on December /, irrespective Of the
presence or absence Of the Spanish Off.
eials, would be vigorously adhered to
The Spanish troops may stay In Cubs
for time after that date II evacuation
II not complete, but they will be nc
longer the masters Of the island, and
| United States officials will administer
all Of ita affairs.
The Peace Commission.
Paris, Oct. 12.-After a fourth joint
ssssion-lasting from two O'Clock
Tuesday afternoon to quarter pas
four-the American and Spanish peace
commissions adjourned without hav
ing reached final conclusion as t.
any point in the protocol. Thus ia,
there has been no joint formulation Of
capitalization Of views to be returned
by each commission to Its government
for embodying in the Anal treaty. Thu
question of the Philippines has not We
been considered in joint session
| though the Americans at their sep
arate sessions have acquired exhaus
tive information from persons wht
have lived In the Philippine islands ant
done business there. They are now
therefore, well equipped to discuss tn
subject when 1t comes up. The Span
ish commissioners have presentet
written views, expressions and propo
sitions to which there have been writ
ten rejoinders. These, in the origina
and in translations, have been read a
the Joint sessions, while during the re
cesses they have been respectively di
gested and responses formulated t.
them, rendered into both English an
Spanish for the next joint session.
The Cuban Debt.
The Spanish, 1t is believed, hav
asked to have the Cuban debt assume
by the United States, urging that th
| debt should pass with the sovereignty
| The debt SO presented for America
assumption covers the expense of tn
ten years instruction, the recent IL
aurreotion and the war with til
United States, as far as spain'g ou'
lay In the war oan be classified againi
Cuba. The Americans probably hav
replied that II indeed any part of tn
so-called Cuban debt il allowable, tn
part incurred in suppressing insured
, tions or In the war with the Unite
Btates Ii not allowable.
The Spanish will doubtless also urg
equities IN stocks, water front better
ments, public buildings and perhap
war material. It Is possible that thi
contention will receive considerable
on the basis Of equities between NOR
eager and mortgage.
Thus far no disposition has been d.
'veloped on either side % delay the ult
mate conclusions and the end Of tn
work in hand. The American cemmii
Aionsrs are anxious to conclude 9
soon az possible, and on recess day
they are devoting from three to fv