The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-10-14
THE PEACE COMMISSIONERS
Inc b Debt Question Under Con.
sideratiOn-Pleas for Generosity To.
ward Spain

NoAe
sfderatiOn-PIeas for Generosttx To.
ward Spain
Paris, October i0.-The United States
peace commission held two sessions to-
day. They were devoted to acquiring
and weighing information relative to
all of the commissioners. 1t is believ-
ed that the questions now being dis
cussed relate to Cuba and the adjust
ment of the debt Of that island.
The Paris newspapers show evidence
of anxiety in behalf of the Spanish
cause.
The Gaulois this morning reviews the
political situation and draws the con-
clusion that between the alleged re-
publican purpose of expansion and the
democratic opposition thereto, Presi-
dent Mckinley and the United States
commission will be inspired after all,
with the sentiments of generosity
which are the homo of victorious ma
tons"
The key note of these expressions
seems to have been sounded by a
Spanish diplomat to an American here
last week, the diplomat saying that the
United States should be generous to
Spain. That remark and the utter
ances Of the French press give to each
other added significance.
A dispatch from Madrid this morn
ing says the cost of the Cuban and
Philippine campaigns will exceed 3,OO0,-
900, 900 pesetas.
I Washington, October 1.-THE peace
commissioners in Paris, so far from
reaching a point of absolute variance
on the question of the Philippines,
have not as yet taken up that subject
for consideration. The commission
whenever meeting jointly has been en-
gagged entirely with three questions to
the complete exclusion of the Philip
pines. These questions related entire
ly to Cuba, Porto Rico and Guam, and,
according to the very last reports from
the American commissioners to Wash
ingtOn, they are still under considera-
ton. The United States will not as
sumo any of the Indebtedness as the
result of cessiOn or release of Cuba and
Porto Rico. 1t was fully expected by
the authorities here that the Spanish
contingent on the peace commission
would make a strong effort to make
the assumption of the heavy financial
obligations of these islands a cOndi-
ton of the cession of Porto Rico and
the abandonment of sovereignty over
Cuba; but the American commission
erS were fully and definitely instructed
on these points, and the general tenor
of these Instructions was that such OBJ
legations were not to be assumed by
| the United States
No dissatisfaction is felt here at the
progress of the commission in the set
tlement of the question assigned to it.
Paris, October 1.-THE American
peace commission held a session today,
but. as usual, the subjects under con-
sideratiOn were not disclosed.
AoaopIsr~ 10 Tho ~ ,1Oir 4I4 :o:n+
sitting yesterday of the peace commits
sion was devoted to an examination of
the solution which it is possible to
give to two questions in the protocol.
The Philippine question, The Gualois
adds, was discussed incidentally, the
| United States seeking to impose sys-
TENS Of compensations, under which
the United States would claim, it is
said, the entire group of the Philippine
islands and assume their debt, provid-
ed Spain guarantee the Cuban debt.
AS to the Spaniards, it further ppear
they would like the United States to
assume the Cuban debt and to surren-
der to Spain all the war material in
Cuba and Porto Rico.
The discussion among the commits
siOnerS yesterday, according to the
GaulOis, was very animated. Judge
Day the president of the American
commission, and Senior MOntero Rios,
the president Of the Spanish commits
sion, having received precise instruc-
tons from their respective govern
ments. The American commissioners
consider that no discussion is possible
on the principles themselves, which, in
a certain measure serve as the basis
of the protocol. This first prelimi-
nary, according to them, while being
merely of a provisional nature, should
be vigorously observed. They add
that " when Spain was overturned at
the conclusion of peace, her power in
Cuba was crushed absolutely, and in,
consequence, Spain no longer has the
right to occupy herself about the des-
tiny of the Antilles"
To these arguments the S%paniards,
The Gaulois also says, reply that the
protocol was signed at a moment so
critical and in the face of such an i'm
perious necessity that it cannot be
considered as being ratified by the
sovereign free wish Of the nation. In
this fact, they conclude, there exists
a sufficient reason to allow of their non
acceptance as definite in the prelimi-
nary conventions relating to Cuba.
THE arrival, therefore, at an un-
d~erstanding" says The Gaulois, "of-
fers grave difficulties, and one asks
with anxiety how the negotiations viii
eventually terminate"
In diplomatic circles here it is declar-
ed that the conjectures of the news
papers on the problems before the
peace commissioners are not justified
by facts. 1t is added that the relation:
between the two commissions are il
no way so delicate as the newspaper:
indicate.
The American commission at
o'clock today engaged in it's first func
| ton outside Of purely diplomatic lines
D The Figaro at the hall of it's OWL
l building entertained the members o
both commissions with a stage per
: Torrance in which Coquelin, Loie
~~-- 40~l- -o-& On.