The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-12-09
THE TREATY OF
PEACE FINISHED
All Points of Possible Agree
ment Settled.
NO C0ALING STATION
TREATY WILL CONTAIN LITTLE
OUTSIDE SCOPE OF PROTOCOL.
SEVERAL DISPUTED POINTS LEFT OPEN
May be Settled by Diplomatic Negoti 'ions'
Contest Between France and United
States Over French Holders of
Cuban Bonds Probable.

Cuban Bonds Probable.
Paris, Dec S.--The United States and
the Spanish peace commissioners con-
cluded their work today and finally set
They will meet once more in formal ses-
sion, on Saturday or Monday next, when
the Spanish commissioners, sorrowfully
and the Americans, with feelings of re-
lief, write their signatures upon the docu-
ment which embodies the results of the
war and the preparation of which has
consumed eleven weeks, longer time
than the war itself. In the meantime
the treaty will be engrossed under the
supervision of the Mr.. Moore and Senior
Oieda, the Secretaries of the respective
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 admiration
of his opponents, went from the council
chamber today 10 his bed in n state
of complete collapse as the result of the
long strain and his chagrin over the
small fruits of his efforts. Sener Ojeda
has been prostrated since yesterday and
was unable TO attend the joint session
Today.
The Spaniards 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
great mistake in deserving Spain and
leaving her TO spoilation by the brute
force of a conscienceless giant. They
all know that in the Philippines Ameri-
"a has taken more than she can digest.
She will ultimately sell the islands to
England or Germany, and when the
transfer is attempted it will precipitate
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-
scented TO negotiate upon any question
except those directly involved in the
protocol signed at Washington
CUBAN BONDS QUESTION.
Paris. Dec. S.-The treaty is finished.
The Spaniards have declined to grant
most OF the requests of the United
States which were unsettled at the be-
ginning of the session.
They refuse to cede a coaling sta
ton in the Caroline Islands to the Uni
ted States.
Judge Day to-day said:
I'VE have settled all the points on
which we can agree. 1t only remains
to engross and sign the treaty. That
will be done in two or three days."
The members of the commissions say
the treaty contains little outside the
scope of the Washington protocol and
the matters directly based thereon
like the provisions for the evacuation
of the ceded territories, the transfer of
public property therein and guarantee
of the safety of the property and rights
of the Spanish citizens rema ming there
The details of the last class of ques-
tions covered by the statement whfb
the Americans handed to Senor Monter
Rios at the last meeting were considered
to-day, but all the commissioners refuse
TO divulge the details of the confer
ence.
Several points upon which they We're
unable to agree were left open for diplo-
matte negotiations. The Spaniards re-
fuse to admit that they had failed to re-
spect former treaties guaranteeing rel'-
gious freedom in the Caroline Islands
or that there was Il necessity for new
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 he nothing more to do
but to engross and sign the treaty"
Senor Montero Rios, President of the
Spanish commission, acduiesced in this,
and the Americans bowed themselves out
before the Spaniards, according to their
custom
The American commissioners entered
the JOINT conference to-day in a nervous
frame of mind. They evidently had rea-
sons TO believe that n possibility exis-
ted. even at this late hour, that there
might be rupture. This feeling Of ap-
prehension was based on the temper the
Spaniards have displayed lately.
The Madrid papers are disposed to re.
vive the question of the Maine and ex-
cite public opinion aghsnst the United
States on account OF the reference made
TO this subject in President McKinley's