Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1898-11-03
REDUCES HER DEMANDS.
'pain's PeacS Attorneys Now Ask that the
United STAGES Assume Half of Cuba's
Debt.

IoPdHlSn peace commissioners held a
joint session Monday. The considera
ton by the commissioners of the
Porto Rico and Ladrones question has
InoW been merged with the Cuban
lquestion and all the points involved
lare being carried forward to a stimuli
ltaneous conclusion. When this has
been arrived at the Philippine ques-
ton will be taken up. OF course there
is possibility of "A disagreement and
the Spaniards. if the American com
lmssioners decide not to assume any
portion of the Cuban indebtedness,
Imay announce their unwillingness to
proceed any further with negotiations
based upon 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 endorse their action. In
fact the Spaniards may even prefer
resumption of hostilities to acquics-
cence in the American refusal to
share their financial burden. The
| Americans, however, have intimated
to the Spaniards the possibility that
| Spain may at some future period be
able to deal with an independent gov
eminent regarding the assumption of
the provincial and municipal portions
| of the Cuban debt, which is estimated
to have been $15O,OOO,OOO before the
| last rebellion in Cuba broke out and
| $500, 100000 contracted since 1895.
But should independent Cuba, as
she doubtless would, refuse to assume
| l, % dol ~
| based on actual betteTments in Cuba,
| and only even in this case of obliga-
| tions contracted previous to 1895,
| Spain would be compelled to appeal
| to her people and confront them with
practically seven-eighths of the debt
| con attracted since. Spain would also
| be compelled to declare her inability
| to meet her obligations and this at
present seems to the Spaniards more
bitter alternative than to accept the
United States refusal to share the
Cuban debt, with all that this means,
Finally it is said there are persons
high in the Spanish councils who
claim to believe that Spain would
rather submit dumbly and helplessly
to ACKNOWLEDGMENT than confront this
continued financial burden.
Spain. however, will not break off
the present negotiations before hav-
ing proposed that the United States
share half the insular debt, which in
such a proposition may be placed at
500. 900, ,OO0 the interest rate to be re-
duced to , per cent. Such PROPOSE
ton would not be accepted by the
United States, either directly or in be-
half of Cuba. The session of the joint
commission began at . o'clock in the
afternoon and ended at Gas.
The adjournment of the joint com
mission was until Wednesday next.
Guam, in the Ladrones islands. has
been chosen by the Americans for the
United States. under the terms of the
protocol, and its cession has been con-
ffrmed by the Spanish commission.
Paris, Oct. 27.-Yesterday's joint
meeting of the peace commissioners
lasted an hour and five minutes and
was adjourned until to-day. Both
the Spanish and American commits
sioners were more rcticent after this
session than ever before. The Ameri-
cans fully appreciate their own SER
ious responsibilities and also the deli
vi
leagues. to the burden of whose duties
here is now added the critical political
situation at Madrid, which may com
pei the president of the Spanish COM
mission (who is also president of the
Spanish senate), Senor Montero Rios,
to leave Paris.
The Madrid correspondent of the
Temps in confirming the report that
Premier Sagasta and the queen regent
have prevailed upon the minister of
war, Gen. Correa, to indefinitely
postpone his resignation, pending the
conclusion of the peace negotiations.
says that they represented to the gen
eral that his withdrawal mi ght entail
not only the fal. of the cabinet, but
cause the resignation of certain mem
bers of the Spanish commission, in
cluding Senor Montero Rios, and
thereby gravely compromise the issue
of peace negotiations.
Washington, Oct. 27.-There are in
dcations that the peace commission |
ers in Paris are approaching the end |
of the consideration of the subject Of |
Cuba and Porto Rico, and officials |
here would not be surprised if We'd |
-
concluded those subjects, leaving the |
commission free to take up the most |
important matter in the protocol, |
namely, the disposition of the Philip |
pines. The Spanish case has been pre-
sented with an ability that commands |
the admiration of diplomats without
regard to nationality, and even our
own officials have been compelled to
yield a tribute of respect to the argu
ments produced. but they have been
of no avail in etfecting any substantial
change in the first attitude of the
American commissioners.
Collision Results in Three Deaths.
Omaha, Neb., Oct. 27.-A rear-end
collision on the Union Pacific yester-
day resulted in the death of three meE
and the serious injury of one other
An extra freight train was standing
on the Sidetrack and, the switch being |