Mr. Day to Mr. Hay.
Joint conference this afternoon. Spanish Commissioners stated that (they) were ready to withdraw articles previously presented by them on Cuba and Puerto Rico and substitute for them others more nearly in conformity with language of the protocol. The American Commissioners, availing themselves of this opportunity, immediately presented a paper previously prepared by them, in which they stated that, while accepting all responsibilities for the protection of persons and property which might legally and justly attach to the United States during the occupation of Cuba, they must again and finally decline to assume burden of the so-called Cuban debt, either for the United States or Cuba, and offered to substitute, for articles previously presented by them, articles embodying precise language of the first and second articles of the protocol as to Cuba, Puerto Rico, and Guam. Spanish Commissioners desired opportunity to consider proposal and conference adjourned till Wednesday afternoon.