Evening star., 1898-10-18
Peace Commissions in Paris Divide
on Cuban Debt Question.
SPAlN'S POINT OF SOVEREIGNTY
Claims the Debt Must Pass With
Right to Rule.
JUDGE DAYS Spirited REPLY

reviews yesterdays session Of the ioInt
peace commissions, and, referring TO .he
delay caused by the difference In the lam
Guage spoken by the commissioners. adds;
But according to the SpaniRrds the
main cause Of the difficulty encountered I'm
the negotiations comes from the lack of
conciliauon in the attitude OF the American
commission. 1t is known in regard To PORTO
Rico and Cuba that the articles OF the pro-
toeol are absolutely positive-Spain ccdes
Porto Rico to the United States and relin-
qulshes (abandons) sovereignty over Cuba.
These TWO points are definitely settled and
are not open to discussion. Besides, the
Spamards make 1t polnt of honor 10
scrupuIously abide by their engagements
toward their conquerors
The question of the Cuban debt remains.
Upon which power should the onerous obli-
cation of guaranteeing the debt reste Fera
Is where the two commissions differ in
| their views, and neither is inclined To Weld.
The Spaniards agree on the following lines.
When power annexes territory IL is i'm
piled that it assumes all the obligations
! previously Of such territory. 1t is inter
national law, sanctioned by usage and
winch has always been complieI with .
Thus, when France annexed Savoy she
assumed all the debts contracted by the
latter While still an Italian province
SuDa strategic Point.
Lastly, they remind their opponents that
Cuba is virtually the key of the Gulf Of
Mexico. strategic position of the frse
order to the United States and an Immense
| advantage, which calls for some sacrifice
tIon the part of the Americans
ITO this the latter replied at first that they
could not listen to any discussion Of the
matter of the debt, being under formal in
suuctions from their government But on
the Spanish commission insisting and I'm
the presence Of its very firm attitude the
Americans nave taken a more concfliatory
attitude; not that they entertain the IN
tention OF yielding to Spain's injunctions,
OUT they consent to argue against the Span
lsh position. These arguments NAV he
briefly summed up as follows:
The Americans insist upon the fact that
the money raised by the Cuban loans was
not applied TO the requirements or interests
OF the island, but was chiefly borrowed 20
the end of improving the financial condt- 4
ton of Spain, and to procure funds she
could no longer raise in the peninsula sna
Spain.
'On the other hand. the Americans say
that America has no intention OF annexins
cuba. and could not. therefore, assume
such obligations.
Talk Of Arbitration.
Finally, It is held that, owing 10 the
fabulous cost Of the late war. the American
assume such obligations -
These are approximately the grounds
on which the present discussions are con-
Quoted. What will the outcome be?
Certain newspapers have considered the
possibility of referring the difference to the
arbitration of a continental power. Neither
commission has yet suggested such a solu-
ton; but. on the other hand. we have good
grounds to believe that, even were the sug-
gestion acceptable to Spain, It would
lorr NOtNSaN % AnF,,.
Americans"
Conference Reaches a Crfsis.
A dispatch to a London news agency
from Paris yesterday says:
To-day the peace conference reached a
crisis for the first time. Judge DAY pre-
sented the demands of the American COM
mission in threatening words. He said that
delay was the only possible object attaina-
BILE by the persistent efforts of the Spanish
commissioners to saddle the United States
with the Cuban debt. and would be toler-
ated no longer, as the United States would
neither assume nor guarantee any part OF
the debt.
THE Spaniards replied that this placed
Spain in a position of repudiating or of re-
ducing the face value of the Cuban bonds
the stipulated interest on the reduced
value. Before they would adopt either al
tentative they would surrender to the
United States the entire Philippines.
VIII bemhh3 fhthpptncsy TOO.
Judge Day responded that the surrender
of the Philippines would probably be de-
manded, Irrespective of the Cuban or any
other debt
This, to the Spaniards the first intima-
ton of the intentions of the United States
as to the Philippines, resulted in a whis-
pered conference, followed by a request for
an adjournment in order to communicate
with Madrid.
Judge Day said that President Mckinley
had instructed him to demand the entire
surrender of Porto Rico tomorrow CTues-
United States officers before midnight, to-
gether with the evacuation of Havana
or before November /. when the United
States would be at the gates OF the city
ready to take possession.
There was no alternative offered in the
case Of either of these demands. and the
session consequently was very brief. The
American commissioners have received dis
patches from Washington indicating that
the administration is irrftated and fndig-
nant over the delay of the Spanish commits
stoners
Rejected Sovereignty Over Cuba.
The Paris correspondent of the Times
says:
AT the sitting Of the peace commission
this (Monday) afternoon the American COM
miss.oners oficiaiiy-and it would seem
the idea of accepting
over Cuba for the United
States. The Spanish commissioners there
upon remarked that Spain having aban-
doned such sovereignty under pressure
from the United etatee, and the United
States having denied that sovereignty
henceforth belongs to them, Cuba is de
facto in a state of anarchy. as an inter-
mission Of sovereignty cannot be viewed in
any other light
The American commissioners rejoined
that, without accepting sovereignty, the
United States considered themselves de-
puted and bound to maintain security for
Ill the inhabitants, that they would not fal
10 introduce and uphold order, and, In
short, that they would do all that was
to put the island as speedily as
possible in state of normal organization
10 be transformed at the earliest moment
nto a legal regularity satisfactory for the
security of all.
Upon this the Spanish commissioners.
With what seemed striking logic, promptly
replied that by the fact of the declaration
ust made them, and the United States un-
to restore legality order and se-
,urity the United States were invested
With veritable sovereignty. and Consequent