The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-10-25
Possibility of an IrrecOnciIabIe Dis
Spanish Treaty Makers.
NEXT SESSION WEDNESDAY,
WHEN IMPORTANT DEVELOPMENTS
MAY BE EXPECTED.
Washington officials Weary of the
Delay-An UItimatum Against Fur
thcr PrOcrastination.

PARIS, Oct. 24-The United States and
Spanish peace commissioners held a joint
session this afternoon which lasted from
o'clock till 6:45. The United States COM
missioners We're in session from 10 a. m.
till almost p. M, when they went to the
joint session. They took with them care
fully prepared written answer to the
amended proposals of the Spaniards re-
garding Cuba.
Consideration by the commissioners of
the Porto Rico and Ladrones question has
now been merged with the Cuban question,
and all the points involved are being car
ried forward to simultaneous conclusion.
When this has been arrived at the Philip
pine question will be taken up. OF course,
there is a possibility of a disagreement,
and the Spaniards, If the American commits
sioners decide not to assume any portion of
the Cuban indebtedness, may announce
their unwillingness to proceed any further
with negotiations based on the protocol.
Should the Spaniards decide to do this it
will be because they wish to excite the pity
of their creditors and of other nations. The
Cortes may then be asked to indorse their
action. In fact, Spaniards may even pre-
fer resumption of hostilities to acquies-
cence in the American refusal to share their
financial burden. The Americans, however,
have intimated to the Spaniards the possi-
bility that Spain may at some future period
be able to deal with an independent gov
ernment regarding the assumption of the
provincial and municipal portions of the
Cuban debt, which is estimated to have
been $150.OO0,OOO before the last rebellion in
Cuba broke out and $5O0.OO0000 contracted
since 1895. But should independent Cuba,
-t.~ .l-&l
more than her proportion of the debt, based
on actual betterments in Cuba and only,
even in this case of obligations contracted
previous to 1895, Spain would be compelled
to appeal to her people and confront them
with practically seven-eighths of the debt
contracted since. Spain would also be COM
PEELED to declare her inability to meet her
obligations, and this, at present. seems to
the Spaniards a more bitter alternative
than to accept the United States refusal
to share the Cuban debt, with all that this
means, the idea being that the Spaniards
would be able to call the attention of their
creditors to their unyielding, though fruit
less efforts in their behalf
Finally, it is said that there are persons
high in the Spanish councils who claim to
believe that Spain would rather submit
dumbly and helplessly to defamation or dis
memberment than confront this continued
financial burden. One course would leave
her pride unsullied it is claimed, and the
other is regarded as doubtful if not i'm
possible. of adoption within the boundaries
of national solvency. Spain, however, will
not break off the present negotiations be-
fore having proposed that the United States
share half the insular debt, which, in such
a proportion may be placed at 500, 900 900,
the interest rate to be reduced to per
cent, which, Spain may hold, practically
reduces her share to $116.000,O0O, the portion
proposed to be borne by the United States
or guaranteed thereby. Such a proposition
would not be accepted by the United States,
either directly or in behalf of Cuba.
The adjournment of the joint commission
was until 4 o'clock in the afternoon Of
Wednesday next. Guam, in the Ladrone
islands, has been chosen by the Americans
for the United States under the terms of
protocol and its cession of Porto Rico, the
formal transfer of which is practically ac-
complished. The chief matter considered at
to-day's session was the American reply to
Spain's revised and renewed propositions Of
the last meetings, and the Indications are
that the Cuban question will be disposed
of this week. but no details have been
given out by either side regarding Spains
presentment of Friday last. or the Amer
lean reply to the same, submitted to-day.