The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1898-12-27
sPANlARDS ON THE ISLAND
Must DO Protected as They Have Protect
ed the American Commission.
If THE DELAY is UNAVOIDABLE
And Troops of Spain Still Remain in
Cuba After the First of January,
Their Rights Will be
Respected.

Havana December @.!The American
evacuation commission will tomorrow issue
the following proclamation to the inhabi-
tants Of the island of Cuba:
THE undersigned commissioners on the
part of the United States, having been in
vested with power by the United States to
arrange for and execute the evacuation of
Cuba and adjacent islands, and also TAX
ing over the public property of Spain, have
entered into an agreement with the COM
mssioners on the part of Spain for the
final ceremonies and regulations to be OBJ
served and carried out on the 1st day of
January and thereafter until all Spanish
troops shall lave embarked for repatria-
ton, and the same is published for the
guidance Of the inhabitants and others
outside of the Santiago district.
Compliance Necessary
1.-The undersigned desire in this public
manner to impress and enjoin upon all the
people of the island the necessity for strict
compliance with the terms of this agree
ment, to the end that public order and due
respect for the gravity of the occasion may
prevail, and especially to admonish all
classes of people to exercise self-restraint
and moderation and refrain from giving
cause of offense or irritation, and from the
exhibition of excitement undue manifesta-
ton of feeling or from any act calculated
to produce irritation or bad feeling.
For nearly four months this commits
sion and other officials of the United
States have been under the protection of
the Spanish authorities They have ex-
tended to US lac most scrupulous courtesy
and consideration, and not one unpleasant
has ms 1far cpin tIai,,
midst. And now, that our positions are
soon to be reversed, and they are to be-
come our guests and entitled to our pro-
lection, we must see to 1t that they en-
JOY the same immunity and consideration.
Apart from the eminent propirety of such
course, the best interests of all classes
Cubans, Spaniards and Americans-will be
thereby Subserved.
Acting in Sense of Duty
'.Acting under a sense of duty TO the
people and our government, we give notice
that any violation of the terms and pro-
visions or this agreement will be resented
and offenders brought PROMPTLY to Justice
representing all classes and interests, we
shall be governed by the striotest Impair
tiality, with the sole purpose of promoting
the rehabilitation and pacification of Cuba
me preservation of peace, the security to
persons and property, and the establish
mont and maintenance Of government with
Just laws impartially administered are in
dispensible to the welfare and haDoiness
OF people We therefore confidently invoke
the aid and cooperation of the inhabitants
In accomplishing these ends"
The agreement is as follows:
whereas, The convention entered into
on the 10th day of November 1885, between
the commissioners of the United States and
inc commissioners of Spain provides that
the final evacuation of the territory of
Cuba and adjacent Spanish islands by the
forces of Spain shall be completed at u
O'Clock m. on the first day of January, 1899.
and says that if for unavoidable reasons the
embarkation of Spanish forces shall not be
completed on the date herein fixed, in such
case suitable and convenient places shall
be designated for the residence of the re-
manning Spanish troops until their embark
alton shall be accomplished, it being well
understood, however, that these troops will
not be elected from their quarters during
the time that they must necessarily remain
there; leaving them in their quarters and
the sick in the hospitals under the safe
guard of the armies of the United States
until they can be sent home; and,
If Delay Is Unavoidable
whereas, notwithstanding all the efforts
made by the Spanish authorities faithfully
and promptly to carry out the provisions of
the Aforesaid convention there will still
be q number of Spanish troops in the prov
ince of Matanzas and Santa Clara whom it
will have been impossible to embark for
their native country before the LIST of jan
uary next.
Nov, therefore, be 1t agreed between the
commissioners of the United States and the
commissioners of Spain in joint session as
sembled, possessing for this purpose under
article 4 of the protocol agreement between
the United States and Spain signed at
Washington on the 18th day Of August, 1898,
full authority from the government of the
United States and the government of Spain
respectively as follows:
"First-The Spanish troops remaining I'M
embarked on the 1st of January shall re-
main undlsturbeds until their embarkation
to Spain in their respective quarters, build
tngs and grounds actually, then occupied by
them, and during that period shall enjoy
the privilege and immunites usually ac-
corded by the rules of international law
governing foreign troops in a friendly
country. The quarters, buildings and
grounds actually occupied by Spain and her