Semi=weekly graphic., 1898-10-29
Not to Disrupt Peace Negotiations, but to Try the Patience of the
 Peace Commissioners.
SPAIN WILL SEND A
 NOTE TO THE POWERS,
It Will Tell Europeans the Position In Which Spain Has Been Placed
 by America Refusing to As. sume tIle Cuban Debt.

New York, Oct. 27. A dispatch to The World from Paris says:
 Tle Spanish commissioners have been ias sructed to delay as much as possible tn 1T acquIescence in the refusal of the Americans to accept any part of Spain's Cuban debt, but to do nothing to give the American commissioners ground for backing out of the negotiations. The Spanish commissioners declare that circular note will be addressed to the powers declining the serious consequen. ces which the assumption of the Cuban debt would have upon the solvency of Spain.
 Having done this, they will bow to the inevitable because they have been given clearly to understand that the United States will not go 8 step further with the negotiations until the way is clear of the Cuban debt question and com plete evacuation of the island is posi- tive promised for January, 1899.
 If the answer from SpaIn tomorrow is affirmative the American commissioners will make known the intentions of the United States regarding the recognition of the Philippine debt and the retention of the archipelago by the republic.
 The French yellow book today fully confirms the supposition that no official communication passed between Spain and the United States except through French channels until the Paris peace commissioners met.
 What Is not generally known is that Spain has used French diplomacy sev- eraI times to elicit from the American government without success so far, an admission of the contention that the preliminary peace protocol did not sur render any part of Spanish rights of sov- ereignty over the Philippines, or prepare the way for such surrender.
 The state departments at Washington has either declined to reply or has stiffly declared that the status quo must be maintained until the peace treaty has been signed.
 Up to the present time not single Spanish paper has even hinted at the possibility of a rupture of the negotia- tions or a renewal of the war. In fact except in financial circles, Madrid poli- ticians consider the peace commission of secondary importance.
 Political complications in Spain have arisen most unpleasantly for rSagasta when be certainly required5 peace at home to be in position to face seriously the turn negotiations have taken at Paris.
 He caused Silvela and PQlagieja to. be sounded on their aceeptanee=of office. Both replied that they. were not disposed to assume the grave responsihlitt]of a change of government and policy in the midst of negotiations with America. This, it is said, would naturally be fol- lowed by the resignation of the eQfns missioners in Paris, thereby delaying the peace treaty.
 It is an open secret that Montero, Aos would not have remained in office if Sas gasta and the Liberal party had made lroom for Silvela or Polavieja.
 The queen and Sagasta have therefore decided to patch up the situation and hold on to present conditions, if possi- ible, until peace has been signed and the cortes c0nyoked.