The daily morning journal and courier., 1898-10-18
PARIS PEACE COMMISSION
THEIMPORTANT QUESTION OF SOV-
 ERIGNTY OYER CUBA.

American Commissioners Officially, and 1t seems Definitely, Reject the Idea of Accepting Such Soverelgnty-The Spanish Commissioner Declare That Cuba, Under the Circumstances is In a State of Anarchy-A Report to n Lon- don News Agency Says the Conference Yesterday Reached Crisis for the First Time-Judge Day Credited With Having Asserted That the Surrender of the Philippines Would Probably be Demanded.
 London, Oct. 18.-The Paris corre- spondent of the Times says: "At the sitting of the peace commission this (Monday) afternoon the American com missioners off1cially-and it seems defi- nitely-rejected the idea of accepting sovereignty over Cuba for the United States. The Spanish commissioners thereupon remarked that Spain, having abandoned such sovereignty under pressure from the United States, and the United States having denied that sovereignty henceforth belongs to them, Cuba is de facto in a state of anarchy, as an intermission of sovereignty can not be viewed in any other light. The American commissioners rejoined that, without accepting sovereignty, the United States considered themselves deputed and bound to maintain secur- ity for all the inhabitants; that they would not fail to introduce and uphold order, and, in short, that they would do all that was necessary to put the island as speedily as possible in a nor nal condition.
 Notwithstanding the objections, the American commissioners persisted in their refusal and officially declared that the United States cannot be considered invested with sovereignty and that they (the commissioners, could not deviate from this declaration. According to impressions I have been able to collect in various sircles unconnected with either side, but entitled to weight, the refusal of the United States is not of so positive character as would at first sight seem 10 confirm the first declara- tion.
 "The impression given me is this: The United States have declared that they made a war, not of conquest, but of Liberation and order, because they could not allow the prolongation at their very doors of a state Of things which was, in their eyes, blow to the cause of humanity and civilization. They therefore made a public declara- tion that the war was not one of con- quest, and they now consider that by agreeing to be invested with the sov- ereignty of Cuba they would give them selves the appearance of having con- quered the island for territorial ag- grandizement They refuse to give themselves the appearance of a con- quering nation. Hence they refuse te accept that capacity of sovereignty which would be inconsistent with the character of Humanitarian, disinterest- edness essential to the honor of the at tack.
 "The United States quite comprehend that their firm refusal to accept sov- ereignty does not exclude obligation, on the footing of justice and equity, to make Spain real concessions as to f1nan- cial burdens, which would be crushing if she were saddled with the whole Cuban debt. We may be certain that on this point the Americans will be less infexible than on the principle of sovereignty. As proof I am told that the United States are disposed to meet Spain in an equitable fashion is that the Spanish commissioner, who would not at first accept an invitation to dine with General Porter until the end of the conference, has now accepted. Friends of the United States here think that it might have been better if they proceeded more openly and if instead of conquering the island indirectly the Washington government had frankly accepted sovereignty in Cuba with all the rights and obligations involved"
 The Paris correspondent of the Daily Mail says: "I hear that the peace problem will soon be settled, America assuming the Cuban 6 per cent. loan of 1886, which was foated entirely for Cuban purposes, and rejecting the per cent. loan of 1890"
 rDrSTS DEdruEn