The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-10-17
A RUPTURE AT PARIS.
Spanish Commission Ordered to
Come Home When They
See Fit.

OcC 4 lie
New York, Oct Thames Creelman
cables the Journal from Paris as fol-
lows:
A rupture in the peace proceedings is
now almost a certainty. The Spanish
commissioners made a desperate at
tempt in the joint session to uncover
the plans Of the United States regarding
the future government Of Cuba This
was done by a direct command of Sa-
gasta, that willy. cid adept Of diploma
cy.
When the American commissioners
declined to talk about the Cuban debt,
on the ground that the United States
would not consider any questions not
incident to the strict terms of the proto-
col, MOntojO Dios demanded to know
whether Spain was to surrender her
sovereignty in Cuba to the United
States or to a Cuban Republic. Chair
man Day replied that he could not dis
cuss that point, as Spain had agreed in
the protocol to rennQuiSh her sovereign
ty in the island Internationally.
Again and again the Spanish commits
sioners tried to discover whether Cuba
IS to be Independent or to be annexed
by the United States.
They declared that a national debt is
transferred when sovereignty is trans
ferred, and as Spain held the RESPONSE
bility for the Cuban debt, she had
right to know to whom she was to de-
liver up her sovereignty in order that
she might discuss the responsibility for
the debt.
The American commissioners replied
that while all this might have been true
at one time, the signing of the protocol
had put an end to all argument. Spain
had sued for peace, had agreed to re-
IinquiSh her sovereignty in Cuba and
thus the only thing for Spain to do was
to depart from the island. The United
States would not consider anything
else.
The dual commissions in Porto Rico
and Cuba had met simply to arrange
for the execution of the protocol, not
to consider any original or extraneOus
propositions.
Rios twisted and turned in his argu-
ments. He declared that the United
States must at least assume the debt
of Porto Rico, and declared that the
financial administration of Porto Rico
was a separate thing from the Cuban
treasury and had always been so treat
ed by the Spanish colonial department.
The American commissioners refused
to be drawn out. They said that Spain
must get out of Cuba; the protocol
said so. and the protocol said nothing
else The Spaniards then gave up the
situation in despair and the meeting ad-
journed.
The political situation in Madrid is
tragic. The specter of financial ruin
looms through the whole land, and be-
hind looms the sinister ghost of a revO-
luton. Here in Paris are crowded the
agents of SPANS despairing pol cy seek
ing by a thousand secret channels to
find an escape for the doomed Bourbon
dynasty. Sagasta had fully expected
that each Cuban bond issue would have
become the subject for a. separate dis
cussion at the Paris peace conference,
and the question whether or not the in
debtedness should be imposed upon Gu
ba decided on its merits, and by the
light Of historical precedents, in which
Spanish commissioners are thoroughly
versed.
sagasta. thus hoped to transform the
conference into a sort of court of arbi-
tratiOn, in which the judges would be
divided equally between the victorious
and conquered nation.
The American commissioners. by a rigid
of the protocol and by their |
persistent refusal to admit the discussion |
of outside points, have completely dfscon-
certed Sagasta's adroitIy laid plans, and |
caused such bitter disappointment that |
those in position to know the facts no |
longer hesitate to say that, in apparent ]
disregard of the possible grave conse-
tHuences OF such a step instructions have |
authorizing them to withdraw from the /
ind that upon the disputed points their
role is limited to accedfng without argu-
It is even predicted that the Spanish /
COMM stoners are likely to take advant- |
age OF TINS AUTHORIZATION sooner than was |
and, with their task unfinished
they will be back in Madrid within ten /
Sagssta regrets NJ. Cambon's absence /
from Washington, but if the emergency |
peal to the good Offices of the French am
bassador at Washington and ask him to /
become the channel of communication, !
Notwithstanding his temporary presence in /
I can say with absolute certainty that /
United States Senator Gray. the only
Democrat on the commission, has refused |
possibility of the United States assuming !
or guaranteeing any part of the Cuban /
debt. k4is opposition to the Spanish de-
nandS has been unf11nching.