The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-10-15
American Commission Replies to
Spanish Proposals.
LONG DEBATE FOLLOWS
BOTH SIDES CLAIM EQUITIES TO
OFFSET CLAIMS.
Possibility That the Value Of the
Battleship Maine May Be Includ-
ed In the American Schedule OF
War Expenses-spanish Commits
Sioner Interviewed.

! Paris, Oct. 14.-Commander Bradford
of the United States navy, who has ar
rived here from Washington, was ex-
amined this morning by the members
of the United States peace commission
relative to the conditions preValllnS
and the main features of interest in the
Philippine islands, with which the COM
mander is well acquainted.
The fifth joint session OF the Two
commissions was convened at o'clock
today 1t may be said that the hrst,
second and third meetings scarcely
penetrated the surface of any protocoi
point, and less still the marrow. Last
| Tuesday, however, marked the Spanish
presentment regarding the Cuban DEBT,
which has, during the recess, brought
the Americans to serious preparations,
adjustment of their diplomatic forces
and the formulation of plan upon
which they may ultimately stand IN
relation to the Cuban phase OF their
mission here.
1t is believed that since Tuesdays
meeting the Americans, who have been
exceedingly busy, have determined
upon an attitude toward the Spanish
proposition that the United States as
sumo the Cuban debt, III whole or in
part, and that it has been reduced TO
writing, stating the American view
broadly as to what is the Cuban debt,
what proportion is fairly charSeaole 10
the island as legal and beneficial there
to, and the proportion to be charged
to Spain as beneficiary of the so-calIed
Cuban debt
A hasty conclusion, however, should
not be drawn from the fact OF TINS
careful weighing of the Spanish propo-
sition by the Americans, that they ac-
cept either alternative classification OF
the Cuban obligation, but rather that
they are acting on line and purpose
to meet every point raised as eXhaus-
lively as presented. They have thor
oughly traversed the Cuban DEBT views
and the proposals submitted in writing
by the Spaniards on Tuesday.
The American reply to the Spanish
presentation of Tuesday was submitted
and read during this afternoons ses-
sion An oral discussion followed, oc-
cupying the time until about 6:1O, when
the commission adjourned until Mon
day next. 'i'--''
1t is believed that the Spanish sub
mitted as their construction of the pro-
tocol that it was just to consider Spain
as having equities fairly dischargeable
by the American assumption of Cuban
obligations. 1t is not unlikely that the
Americans voiced the conviction that
fair equities to the United States in
war expense were incurred by the
United States, and possibly, though not
positively, the Americans may schedule
the value of the battleship Maine
among the expenditures possible of
classification against this so-called Gu
ban debt.
However, it may be considered GER
tain that the commissions have arrived
at a point from which henceforth the
joint sessions will be occupied by oral
discussions as we'll as by written pre-
sensations of propositions. The work
is now thoroughly entered upon,
though it is not likely that any segment
has been polished and finished for
place in the final treaty. The Philip
pine question has not yet been entered
upon.
The Spanish ambassador, Senior Leon
Y Castillo, will give a breakfast in
honor of the Spanish commissioners on
Saturday, and the United States am
bassador, General Horace Porter, will
give a breakfast on Tuesday, at which
M. Cambon, the former French ambas-
sador at Washington; General Wesley
Merritt and Commander Bradford will
be present.