The times., 1900-12-27
CLAIMS AGAINST CUBA
The Attitude Of the United States
Regarding Them.
Enquiries From Foreign Powers
Position That the Permanent Gov
ernmeBt to he Established for the
Island iIust Assume Obligations.

In answer 10 enquiries made by England
France, and Germany the United States
| Government has drawn the line between its
responsibility for re-establishing order in
| Cuba. and assuming all the obligations OF
| that island These three Governments de-
| sired information from the State Depart
ment in advance of the presentation OF
| claims OF British and German subjects and
| French citizens for injuries sustained by
their interests in the island during the
| Cuban insurrection and the Spanish Amer
| lean war, as TO the manner in which such
| claims should be presented. The enquiries
! were the outgrowth OF the uncertainty that
| exists as to the extent Of the responsible
| ity which this Government has assumed in
| behalf of Cuba
While it is understood that a definite
answer will not be returned to certain OF
the enquiries until the character of the
claims in question has been ascertained.
the State Department has in its response
to Germany. Of which Great Britain and
France have been informed, laid down the
principle that the permanent Government
to be ultimately established must assume
damages growing out OF the troubles in the
island. In other words. the United States
viii not assume any responsibility for such
obligations unless Cuba becomes de-
pendency Of this country, and the question
must be held in allegiance until the form
of government for the island has been ar
ranged.
The Government holds also that claims
of Porto Rican citizens for damages done
to their interests in Cubs must be made
against the Cuban Government to be estab-
lished and not against the United States
unless the Cuban people decided against
independence.
When the Spanish- American Peace
Commission was meeting in Paris, the.
question of responsibility for the Cuban
debt was brought UP and discussed at
length. The Spanish commissioners in
sisted that the United States should as
sumo this obligation, but despite great
pressure brought to bear on it by foreign
countries, notably France, whose citi
zens or subjects had subscribed for these
bonds. the American Government de-
clined TO permit its commissioners in
Paris to commit it TO an assumption of
the obligations. The question was never
definitely settled, however. and has now
appeared in a form which may have
marked effect on the desire of a majority
of the Cubans for independence.
Considerable concern is manifested
here over the outcome of the foreign
claims matter. Should Cuba become an
Independent republic foreign nations
would naturally seek to collect the
claims OF their citizens, and refusal of
Cuba to pay would unquestionably result
in the application of the methods that
European nations have found so effective
in securing the payment of debts in Latin
America-that is by despatching squad
rons TO back UP demands for pecuniary
satisfaction.
In the landing of British troops at Co
rento, Nicaragua, the precedent was es-
tablished that this method OF enforcing
demands on the American continent was
not in violation of the Monroe Doctrine
SO long as there was no attempt at per-
manent foreign occupation or COLOMBIA
tion. Seemingly that precedent would
apply to the collection of obligations of
the Cuban Republic. This Government
is aware OF the seriousness of the ques-
tions involved, but is apparently deter
mined to adhere TO its decision TO refuse
to pay Cuba's debts out of the United
States Treasury.