The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-12-09

Paris, Dec. S.-The United States and
Spanish peace commissioners concluded
their work today and finally settled the
terms of the treaty of peace. They will
meet once more in formal session, on
Saturday or Monday next, when the
Spanish commissioners, sorrowfully,
and the Americans, with feelings of re-
lief, will write their signatures upon
the document which embOdies the re-
suits of the war and the preparation of
which has consumed eleven weeks, a
longer time than the war itself In the
meantime, the treaty will be engrOSsed
under the Supervision of Mr.. Moore and
SenOr Ojeda, the secretaries OF the re-
spective commissions.
The Spaniards are exceedingly bitter
over the result, though observing the
forms Of friendlineSs and courtesy to
the end Senor MonterO Rios, whose
strong and persistent struggle to save
for his country every possible asset
from the wreck Of her colonial empire,
has commanded the respect and ad
miratiOn of his opponents, went from
the council chamber today to his bed
in a state of complete collapse, as the
result of the long strain and his cha
grin over the small fruits OF his euOrtS.
Senor Ojeda has been Frustrated
since yesterday and was unable to at
tend the joint session today
The SDaniards charge equal blame
upon the European powers and the
United States for their downfall. One
of the Spanish commissioners said this
evening: The European nations have
made a great mistake in deserting
Spain and leaving her to spoilatiOn by
the brute force Of q cOnScienceleSS
giant. They all know that in the Phil
ippines America has taken more than
she can digest. she will ultimately sell
the islands to England or Germany,
and when the transfer is attem0ted it
will precPpitate general European
strife.
I've have refused to sell any island
in the CarOlineS. We never thought Of
considering an offer. Nor have we con-
sented to negotiate upon any questions
except those directly involved in the
protocol signed at Washington"
SCOPE OF THE TREATY.
The members of the commission say
| the treaty viii contain little outside
| the scope of the Washington protocol
and the matters directly based thereon,
like the provisions for the evacuation
of the ceded territory, the transfer of
/ public property therein and guarantees
| of the safety of the property and rights
| of the Spanish citizens remaining there.
he Q6ldllS OL llit last CAc1so5 VI QeA0~7-
! tiOnS, covered by the statement which
| the Americans handed to Senor Mon
J tero Rios at the last meeting, were
! considered today, but all the commits
| sioners refused to divulge the details
/ of the conference. Several points upon
| which they were unable to agree We're
| left open for diplomatic negotiations.
| The SpaniardS refuse to admit that
/ they have failed to respect former
| treaties guaranteeing religious freedom
! in the Caroline islands or that there
was necessity for such guarantees.
/ The conclusion of the work was, ac-
| cording to the commissioners, marked
! by politeness and all outward evidences
] of good feeling and relief at the fact
| that the task was accomplished.
When all the propositions had been
discussed, Judge Day, president Of the
/ American commission remarked:
There, seems to be nothing more to
/ do but to engrOss and sign the treaty"
SenOr MOnteTO Rios, president of the
! Spanish commission, acquiesced to this,
| and the Americans bowed themselves
| out before the Spaniards, according to
their custom.
AMERICANS WE'RE NERVOUS.
The American peace commissioners
entered the joint conference today in a
nervous frame of mind. They evidently
had reasons to believe that a possibility
existed, even at this late hour, that
/ there might be rupture This feeling
of apprehension was based on the tenn
per the Spaniards have displayed
lately.
This week the commissioners of Spain
did not conceal the fact that, having
/ failed to gain all the important points,
they were indifferent as to whether or
not the conferences resulted in a set
tlement Of peace by the signing Of a
treaty by which Spain loses all her
colonies.
The Madrid papers are disposed to
revive the question Of the Maine. and
to excite public opinion against the
United States on account Of the refer
ence made to this in President McKin-
ley's message to congress They report
that Senior Montero Rios, president Of
the Spanish commission, made an i'm
| Dassioned denunciation of President
| Mckinley at the last joint meeting Of the
commissions. But these reports are
practically without foundation. SenOr
/ Rios did refer to the Maine, but only
in calmly worded sentences, expressing
regret that the president had spoken,
as Spaniards thought, unjustly of them.
The Spaniards had already proposed
at this conference to have the respon-
sibility of the Maine reported upon by
a, joint commission of the European
powers. The American commissioners
refused to listen to this. and permitted
Senor Rios reference to the presidents
message to pass unchallenged, as
discussion would cause bad blood.
Diplomatic circles in Paris predict as
one of the results of the treaty a dip
lomatic contest between France and
the United States which viii make an
important chapter in history.
The French. government is reported
to have resolved to take up the case
of the French holders of Cuban bonds,
and it is believed France viii declare
that the reputation of the bonds is the
result of the treaty which the victorious
nation imposed upon Spain.
They argue that through the treaty
responsibility has been shifted upon
America. and therefore the French gov
eTnment viii endeavor to exact some
pledge for the payment or guarantee OF
the bonds.