The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1898-10-16

PARIS, Oct. 15.-The American and
Spanish Peace Commissions closed their
first two weeks of labor here this even
ing, and the progress made has been
chiefly by negative action and the at
utude of the Americans. The first
article Of the protocol provided that
Spain Will relinquish all claims of
sovereignty over and title to Cuba"
Naturally the joint sessions were de-
voted to the Cuban article. Naturally,
too, the Americans opened their case
by the assumption that little or no aC-
ton was necessary regarding Cuba, on
the ground that its disposition was
definitely fixed by the terms Of the
protocol. Notwithstanding, at the
meeting last Thursday, the Spaniards
submitted suggestions and propositions
amounting to holding that the United
States should take over all or part of
the Cuban debt After reading this
presentation in English on Tuesday,
Senior Montero Rios, President OF the
Spanish Commission, verbally repeated
it at length and reiterated the same in
summarized form.
The Americans, at their own session
on Wednesday. took up the Spanish
presentation, and determined the for
States, on which the clerical force was
busily engaged until the hour Of the
Friday session, the Commissioners in
the meanwhile devising, simplifying and
fortifying it, Careful. exact and full
was the preparation Of the answer, and
therefore it became impossible as in
tended. to serve a co%y Of it on the
Spanish before the hour of opening the
40 hn IicnttcGinrn
might begin promptly.
Thus it happened that the Americans
carried the answer which was sub
mitted at the opening of the session.
occupying four instead of the usual two
hours. on account of the exhaustive
discussion of the matter. None save
the Commissioners, Secretaries Moore
and Ojeda and interpreter Ferguson
knew what was said
Whatever may have transpired at
yesterdays session, it may be distinct
ly said that with such light as ii now
has, the United States Commission will
consistently and to the end refuse to
assume all or any part of the Cuban
debt. If they have not already been
so informed, the Spaniards will be as
sured that the United States has eX-
pended enormous sums, not to acquire
Cuba, but to free 1t from disastrous
conditions for elf-government, which
presupposes the self-assumption of
just obligation. The Spaniards will. If,
indeed it has not already been done.
have impressed upon them the fact
that by the signature of the protocol
they utterly relinquished all claims OF
sovereignty over and title to Cuba.
If they have not yet heard it, the
Spaniards will hear the expression of
American surprise that Spain, having
so Internationally and unequivocally
surrendered Cuba, should now advance
claim or even a suggestion that the
United States assume the debt of ter
ritory, which though surrendered by
Spain, was unsought by the United
States as a conquest prize, is not now
possession of the United States and
which has been freed by the United
States at a vast expense to the United
States, for independence now, or when
matured by self-government Thus.
possibly progress has been achieved
negatively. for with the present light
tn AMERICANS define or will refuse the
responsibility Of a single peseta of the
so-called Cuban debt