The Indianapolis journal., 1898-11-22
VIEWS OF A Cabinet OFFICER
HE THINKS A RUPTURE WOULD BE
BENEFICIAL IN SOME RESPECTS.
Expressions Based ON a False Report
from Paris-Spnin's Desire to Re-
pudiate Obligations.
Special to the Indianapolis Journal.

Special TO the indianapolis Journal.
WASHINGTON, Nov 21-The adminis-
traticn is not dIsmayed at the prospect of a
break up in peace negotiations at Paris. 1t
is not at all certain that there will be an
open rupture, although admitting that indi-
cations point to definite disagreement and
the withdrawal of the Spanish commission
ers. The majority opinion among high ad-
ministration officials is that if negotiations
are terminated without an agreement the
significance will be financial and political
rather than belligerent. Apprehensions of
an actual resumption of hostilities are not
seriously entertained. Should there be oc-
casion for more fighting, however, the
United States will be found adequately
equipped for the fray. AS matter of fact,
the American army is already in possession
Of practically everything this government
wants. The only spot where Spanish forces
can offer a respectable resistance is Ha-
vana- General Blanco can concentrate an
army of possibly $4,000 effective fighting
men at that point. The city would be
quickly invested. and its capitulaton would
inevitably follow, either at the end of
siege or from open attack.
Spain is helpless. She has only the frag
ment of a navy, which is not worth any,
thing as means of defense, much less for
offense. She could only carry on a pitiable
campaign against American shipping and
thereby invite reprisal on wholesale scale.
She has already withdrawn from Porto
Rico, her army in the Philippines is at our
mercy and her army in Cuba could not last
longer than a few months at the utmost.
On the other hand, an army of invasion
100000 strong can begin landing in Cuba
within the next twenty days, and it could
be swarming over the Notifications of Ha-
vana by the middle of January. The Amer
lean flag would be run up on every island
in the Philippines and Caroline group. This
conclusion of the peace conference would be
disappointing in many ways, but the gov
ernment at Washington is prepared for any
emergency.
The theory prevails that if Spain with
draws from the peace conference her
action will be a move to strengthen the
repudiation scheme announced from Madrid.
1t is not believed revival of the hopeless
struggle with arms is contemplated. The
argument advanced in support of this the
ory is that refusal to accept a money con-
sideration from the United States in settle
ment of pending differences leaves Spain in
a position to say to the holders Of $500,0O0-
900 Cuban and Philippine bonds: eve
pledged our colonies in payment of the loan;
look to them or the people who stripped
Spain of them for your money" Accept
ance of the American offer would take from
Spain this poor, weak excuse for repudia-
ton, and she would have to stand for the
$500, 100000 BY refusing $2O,0O0000 she hopes
to evade the payment of $500, 900 900 with in
terest. She loses the Philippines and the
West India colonies in either event. AS
matters would stand, should Spain refuse
to accept Americas terms. Spain would re-
lieve herself from a huge debt, the United
States would save the sum offered Spain,
and the Spanish creditors would be bereft
of the $3.50 200 they paid for $500 900
bonds. If the bank of Spain is wrecked as
an incident of the play, whats the odds"
That, too, interests only Spain. If the
swindled bondholders living in France, Eng
gland and Germany can induce their re-
spective governments to enforce collec-
tions. America will occupy the position of
a spectator.
first to last, our commissioners have stead
lily and consistently refused to recognize
Spanish sovereignty over any of the dis
puted territory, resisting temptation in ev>
cry form and standing out clear and dis
tinct on that proposition. This country is,
therefore, clear of any responsibility for the
payment of any and every sort of claim
which may have lodged against the con-
uuered colonies.