The San Francisco call., 1898-12-06

the war. On the 26th of. July M. Cambon presented a communication signed hv the Duke of Almodovar, the Spanish Minister of State, inviting the United States to state the terms upon which it would be willing to make peace. On July 30, by a communication addressed to the Duke of Almodovar and handed by M Gambon. the terms of this Government were an- afterward signed. On August 10 the Spanish reply, dated August ', was hand State. It accepted unconditionally the terms imposed as to Cuba, Porto Rico and an island of the Ladrone group. but appeared to seek to introduce mad i missible reservations in regard to our de- | mand as to the Philippines. Conceiving that discussion on this point could neither | be practicable nor profitable directed that l in order to avoid misunderstanding the matter should be for .-4with closed by pro- | tocol of the terms in which the negotia- l tions for peace were to be undertaken. The vague and inexplicit suggestions of the Spanish note could not be accepted the only reply being to present as a vir- | tual ultimatum draft of the protocol, embodying the precise terms rendered to 1 stipulations of detail as to the appoint i ment of commissioners to arrange for the evacuation of the Spanish Antilles. On August 12 M. Cambon announced his re- ceipt of full powers to sign the protocol as submitted. Accordingly, on the after 1 noon of August 12 M Cambon. as the plenipotentary of Spain and the Secre- | tary of State, as the plenipotentiary of the United States, signed the protocol,
 Article 1-spain will relinquish all claim of sovereignty over and title to 1 Cuba.
 | 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 united
 Article a-The United States will oc- cupy and hold the city. bay and harbor of Manila pending the conclusion of treaty of peace which shall determine the control, disposition and government of the Philippines"
 pointment of joint commissions on the part of the United States and Spain to lively, for the purpose, of arranging, and carrying 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 com missioners on each side, to meet at Paris not later than October l. and to proceed to the negotiations and conclusions of treaty of peace. subject to ratification according to the respective constitutional forms of the two countries.
 The sixth and last article provided that upon the signature of the protocol hos tilites between the two countries should be suspended and that notice to that ef- feet should be given as soon as possible by each Government to the commanders of it's military and naval forces. Immediately upon the conclusion of the protocol I issued proclamation of Au- gust 12 suspending hos
 Suspension tilities on the part of
 the United States. The
 of All necessary orders to that
 L.1.A. end were at once given
 dosIA1Al1es' by telegraph. The
 blockade of the ports of Cuba and San Juan de Porto Rico was in like manner raised. On August IS the muster out of 100000 volunteers or as near that number as was found to be prac- ticable, was ordered
 On December l 101, ,655 officers and men had been mustered out and discharged from the service Nine thousand and two more will be mustered out by the 10th of the month. Also a corresponding number of generals and general staff officers have been honorably discharged from the service.
 The military committees to superintend the evacuation of Cuba, Porto Rico and the adjacent islands were forthwith ap- pointed:
 For Cuba-Maior General James F. Wade, Rear Admiral William T. Sampson, Major General Matthew c. Butler For Porto Rico-Major General John CS Brooke, Rear Admiral Winfield s. Schlea Brigadier General ". Gordon, who sod afterward met the Spanish commissioned at Havana and San Juan, respectively.
 The Porto Rican joint commission speedily accomplished its task, and by De- completed. The United States flag was raised over the island at noon that day.
 The dOnlln1SCTdIlOn OI us mas been provisionally intrusted to a Military Governor until Congress shall other wise provide. The Cuban Joint High Com mission has not yet terminated it's labors. Owing to the difficulties in the way of re- moving the large numbers of Spanish troops still in Cuba the evacuation cannot be completed before the 1st of January next.
 Pursuant to the fifth article of the pro- tocol, I appointed William R. Day, lately Secretary of State; Cushman K. Davis William Frye and George Gray, Senators of the United States, and Whitelaw Reid to be the 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 appointed on the part of Spain. The negotiations have made hopeful prog ress, so that 1 trust soon to be able to lay a definite treaty of peace before the Senate, with review of the steps leading to it's signature.
 I do not discuss at this time the gov ernment or the future of the new pos
 sessions which will
 Government come to us as the result
 of the with Spain.
 or New Such discussion will
 pos.ass;o,. be appropriate after the
 !oS9oSe4OnS' treaty of peace shall be
 ratified. In the mean time, and until Congress has legislated it will be my duty to continue