The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1898-12-09

menced embarkatiOn for home, and our
entire force was returned to the United
States as early as August "a. They were
absent from the United States only two
months.
PEACE NEGOTIATIONS.
Spain's lOvertures for a Cessation of
Hostilities.
The annihilation of Admiral Cervera's
fleet, followed by the capitulat ton of San
ttago, having brought to the Spanish gov
ernment a realizing sense of the hopeless
ness of continuing struggle now becom-
ing wholly unequal, 1t made overtures of
peace through the French ambassador
who, with the assent of his government
had acted as the friendly Representative
of Spain's interests during the war. On
the 26th of July, M. Cambon presented a
communication, signed by the Duke of
Almodovar, the Spanish minister of state
inviting the United States to state the
terms upon which 1t would be willing to
make peace. July 80, by a communication
addressed to the Duke of Almodovar, and
handed by M. Cambon, the terms of this
government were announced substantially
in the protocol, afterwards signed. On
August 10, the Spanish reply dated August
was handed by M. Cambon to the sec
retary of state. 1t accepted uncondi-
tionally the terms imposed as to Cuba,
Porto Rico, and an island of the Ladrone
group, but appeared to seek to introduce
inadmissible reservations In regard to our
demand as to the Philippines
= Conceiving that discussion on this point
could neither be practicable nor profitable,
I directed that, in order to avoid mis-
understanding, the matter should be
forthwith closed by proposing the em-.
bodfnert in a FORMAL protocol of the
terms in which the negotiations for peace
were undertaken. The vague and mex
plicit suggesticnS,aaae~ the Spanish note
could NOT be acce the only tcply tex
ing to present as a virtual ultiInatum
draft of the protocol embodying the pre-
else terms rendered to Spain in our note
of July 30, which added stipulations of
details as to the appointment of COM
missioners to arrange for the evacuation
of the Spanish Antilles. On August H.
M. Cambon announced his receipt of full
powers to sign the protocol as submitted
Terms of the Protocol.
Accordingly. on the afternoon of August
II, M. Cambon as the plenipotentiary OF
Spain and the secretary of state, as the
plenipotentiary of the United States,
signed the protocol providing:
"Article /. Spain will relinquish all
claim of sovereignty over and title to
Cuba.
ARTICLE q Spain will cede to the United
States the island of Porto Rico and other
islands now under Spanish sovereignty In
the West Indies, and also an island In
the Ladrones to- be selected by the UnSteo
States.
"Article 3. The United States will occu-
py and hold the city, bay and harbor OF
Manila, pending the conclusion of treaty
of peace, which shall determine the con-
troll, disposition and government OF the
Philippines"
The fourth article provided for the ap-
pointment of joint commissions on the
part of the United States and Spain to
meet in Havana and San Juan, respective
ly, for the purpose of arranging ana car
rying out the details of the stipulated
evacuation of Cuba, Porto Rico and other
Spanish islands in the West Indies.
The fifth article provided for the ap-
pointment of not more than five commits
sioners on each side to meet at Parls not
later than October 1. and to proceed 10
the negotiation and conclusion or
treaty of peace, subject to ratification ac-
cording to the respective constitutional
forms of the two countries.
The sixth and last article provides that
upon the signing of the protocol, hostll1-
ties between the two countries snaie ue
suspended, and that notice to that enect
should be given as soon as possible by
each government to the commanders OF
its naval forces.
Immediately upon the conclusion OF the
nrotocol I issued the proclamation OF Au-
gust 12, suspending hostilities on the part
Of the United States. The necessary or
ders to that end were at once given py TEL
egraph. The blockade of the ports OF Gu
ba and of San Juan de Porto Rico was In
like manner raised. On August 49, the
muster-out of 100000 volunteers, or as near
that number as was found to be pract'ca-
ble was ordered. On December 1, 1Ol, ,655 Of
ficers and men had been mustered out and
discharged from the service; 90O2 more Will
be mustered out by the 10th of the month;
also a corresponding number of generals
and general staff officers have been hon.
orably discharged from the service.
The military commissions to superintend
the evacuation of Cuba, Porto Rico and
the adjacent islands were forthwith ap-
pointed:
For Cuba-Major-Genera1 James F.
Wade, Rear-Admira1 William T. Sampson.
Major-General Matthew c. Butler.
For Porto Rico-Major-Genera1 John c.
Brooke, Rear-Admral Winfield Scott
Schley, Brigadier-General W. Gordon.
They soon afterwards met the Spanish
commissioners at Havana and San Juan,
respectively. The Porto Rico joint commits
sion speedily accomplished its task, and
by October IS the evacuation of the island
was completed. The United States flag
was raised over the island at noon that
day. The administration of it's affairs has
been Professionally intrusted to a military
governor until congress shall otherwise
provide. The Cuban joint high commits
sion has not yet terminated its labors. Ow
ing to the difficulties in the way of remov-
ing the large number of Spanish troops
still In Cuba, the evacuation cannot be
completed before the 1st of January next.
The Peace Commission.
Pursuant to the fifth article of the pro-
tocol appointed William r. Day, lately
secretary of state; Cushman K. Davis,
William P. Frye and George Gray, senators
of the United States, and Whitelaw Reid,
to be peace commissioners on the part of
the United States. Proceeding in due
season to Paris, they there met, on the
1st of October, five commissioners SIM
ilarly appointed on the part of Spain. The
negotiations have made hopeful progress,
so that I trust soon to be able to lay a
definite treaty of peace before the senate,
with a review of the steps leading to its
signature.
I do not discuss at this time the govern
ment or the future of the new possessions
which viii come to US as the result Of the
war with Spain. Such discussion will
be appropriate after the treaty of peace
shall be ratified. In the meantime, and
until congress has legislated otherwise, 1t
will be my duty to continue the military
government which has existed since our
occupation and give their people security
in life and property and encouragement