New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-10-16
THE PEACE NEGOTIATIONS.
FIRM ATTITUDE OF THE AMERICANS
REGARDING THE CUBAN DEBT
UNALTERABLY AGAINST ASSUMING RESPONSE
BILrTy FOR SINGLE PEsETA-THE FEEL
ING IN PARIS AND MADRID.

UNALTERABLY AGAINST ASSUMING RESPONSE
nILrTy FOR 4 SINGLE PEsErA-THE FEEL
ING IN PARIS AND MADRID.
Paris. Oct. l5.-The American and Spanish
Peace Commissions to day closed their first two
weeks Of labor here, and any careful summary
must disclose the fact that the progress made
has been accomplished chiefly by negative ac-
tion and the attitude Of the Americans.
The first article of the protocol provided that
Spain will relinquish all claim Of sovereignty
over and title to Cuba" Naturally. after the
preliminares providing methods Of procedure
and such rules therefor as were necessary the
joint sessions were devoted to the Cuban article
of the protocol. Naturally too, the Americans
opened their by the assumption that III
tie or no action necessary regarding CUBA,
on the ground that its disposition was dehnite-
ly fixed by the terms of the protocol NotWlth-
standing. at the meeting last Tuesday the
Spaniards on Tuesday submitted suggestions
and propositions amounting to holding that the
United States should take all or part OF
the Cuban debt. The Americans. at their own
session on Wednesday took up the Spanish
rresentment and determined the formulation OF
the answer OF the United States. on which the
clerical force was busily engaged until the hour
OF the Friday session the Commissioners in the
mean while devisng. ampfying and fortify-
ing it.
Whatever may have taken place AT yesterdays
session. whether the Spaniards were or were not
advised that the United States declined
to assume the Cuban debt it may he distinctly
said that with such light AS it now has the
United States Commission will consistently ana
to the end refuse to assume all or any part OF
the Cuban debt In the absence of reasoning
more cogent than any yet advanced, the United
States Commission will, if it has not already
done SO, declare that the Cuban debt repre-
sents treasure chiefly spent by Spain in sup
pressing instructions and possibly in warning
on the United States If they have not already
| been so informed. the Spaniards VIII be assured
that the United States has expended enormous
| Sums not to acquire Cuba but to free II from
| disastrous conditions for self-government The
| Spaniards will if indeed 1t has not already been
| done. have pressed upon them the fact that by
! the signature Of the protocol they utterly re-
lincuished all claim Of sovereignty over and
| title to Cuba. If they have not yet heard H.
the Spaniards will hear the expression of Amer
| lean surprise that Spain having so uncondi-
| tionany and unequivocay surrendered Cuba
! should now advance a claim or even a sugges-
| ton that the United States assume the debt or
territory which though surrendered by Spain,
was not sought for by the United States as a
! conquest prize. is not now possession OF tne
| United States and which has been freed by the
| United States, at a vast expense. for inde-
pendence now or when matured for self-goVern-
| ment Thus possibly progress has been acnieved
negatively for with the present light the Ameri-
cans decline or will refuse the responsibility of
a single peseta of the so-called Cuban debt.
THE SPANISH VIEW.
A native American, who has been twelve
years in Madrid. has Spanish leaning, and
who is now in Paris. said to-day to the corre-
spondent here OF The Associated Press:
Had Spain, when the protocol was drawn up,
! believed that the United States then intended
or would subsequently consider taking the Phil
/ ippine group. or any part of those Islands ex-
| cept Manila, or a station TO be conceded by
| her. Spain would not have signed the protocol.
! would have permitted the United States Navy
/ to reduce her coast cities and would herself
! have gone 20 extremities. instead of agreeing
! to the document and giving up the archipela-
! go"
! How, then" he was asked ARISES the state
ment often heard and printed that the Spanish
! Commission came to Paris to save. II possible
the Philippine Islands,
/ Because" the reply "the reputed pur-
pose Of the United States to acquire the Phil
! ippine Islands developed after the protocol was
signed and before the departure Of the Com
mission from Madrid"
Such expressions born at Madrid. In the Cab-
| met and papers. reiterated by the Paris
press. which adds its own insistencies, support
/
/ to be generous and just. Spanish sympathizers
and supposed neutrals are even urging that
the Inited States under the protocol is au-
! thOrized only TO hold Ma Mia pending the CON
! summation Of treaty. whereupon they shall
withdraw from all territory save such as Spain
| might then Cede directly. ADrOpOs Of this IS
an editorial in the Correspondence" Of Madrid
thu official organ, without factiOna color. which
was teegraphed here to-day, saying that to
/ " Well-advsed persons II lS incredible that there
| s7oud be even discussion as 10 whether. after
the signature Of the peace treaty the rights Of
/ 81 ain regarding sovereignty over the Philip
pines should be brought into question. signih-
cantly adding that the Americans are intransi-
geants disposed 10 yield only points of detail
and little disposed 20 accept, Spain would
arbitration by Germany or Russia"
MIGHT POINT TO THE THIRD ARTICLE.
II the Americans here were willing. which
they are not. to traverse these assumptions
they might simply point the third protocol
article, reading: THAT the United States will
occupy and hold the city, bay and harbor Of
Manila pending the conclusion Of a treaty of
! peace. which shall determine the control. dis
position and government Of the Philippines"
The Americans might then insist that the
word disposition shall involve the determine
tion OF the ownership OF the Philippines. 1t
may he fatty affirmed that the tenure Of the
! Philippines by the United States will he held
not to be limited to the date Of the consumma-
| tion Of the peace treaty. but that the relations
! of both Spain and the United States the
| Philippines are to be exactly determined in and
| by the treaty now being formulated by the
| Joint Commissions.
| To the Americans II seems incredible that
there should be any controversy to the plain
| terms Of the protocol; but controversy is un-
| deniably sought to be arc Used.
THE MADRID PUBLIC ANXIOUS.