Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1898-12-17
TREATY is SIGNED.
The Peace Commissioners at Paris
Finish Their Work.
The Final Scene Memorable One
Main Features of the Historical
Document-Spnnish Government
Approves the Protest.

.
was signed at S:45 Saturday evening
The treaty as signed consists of Ia ar
ticles, it having been found advisable
to subdivide two or three of the articles
In the draft agreed upon at the last
meeting. The commissioners of the
two nations wrote their signatures on
two copies of the treaty, one copy be-
ing for the archives. The document
was prepared by Secretary Moore, i'll
behalf of the United States commits
sioners, and by Senior Villa Rutia for
Spain. on account of the continued Ill
ness of Secretary Ojeda. of the Spanish
commission. Each copy contains the
English and Spanish texts of the treaty
in parallel columns. The wording had
been approved previously by the COM
missions without joint meeting, so
there was no controversy on this sub
ject.
Principal Features.
The essential features of the peace
treaty are as follows:
First-The customary preface Of treaties
in the nature of an expression OF amity and
| of hope for perpetual peace
Second-The REIMBURSEMENT by Spain of
| her sovereignty over Cuba.
Third-The withdrawal of all Spanish
| troops.
| Observation-Disclosures by Spain of
| sovereignty over Porto Rico.
Fifth-Spain's cession of the Philippines
Sixth-The withdrawal of the Spanish
| troops there.
Seventh-Payment by the United States
| OF $50, 900 for the Philippines.
Eighth-The provision for the "open
door" commercial policy in the Philippines.
Ninth-Cable station rights in other Span
| ISL colonies.
| 1enth-Release of Cuban and philippine
| political prisoners
Eleventh-Mutual abandoning of all
| claims for indemnity.
| Memorable Scene.
The signing of the treaty would have
afforded subject for great historical
painting. The group gathered about
the table in the stately chamber of the
foreign Office was impressive in itself,
while the sense of the momentous is
sues which the act decided was deeply
felt by all the participants, giving an
impressive and solemn tone to the
scene. Around the great mahogany
table sat the ten arbiters of the des-
TIMES of an old and young nation.
Standing behind them were numerous
attaches of the American commission.
To the Americans it was happy end
ing of the epilogue of war; for the
Spaniards it was plainly bitter trag-
edy, none the less painful because long
foreseen. They sat silently, as though
almost crushed, and none could with
hold sympathy from Senior Montero
, Rios, the president of the Spanish com
mission, who, coming from his bed
| | was bundled in a great overcoat
/ though logs were burning in the fire
/ place near by.
Close of the Labors.
r Although the commissioners met a'
l half-past three o'clock, expecting tc
: finish their work in half an hour, thu
r engrossing of the treaty on parchment
D was found to be so troublesome that i
n delayed the signing of the documerr
I until s:45. Clerk Martin, of the Amer
: lean commission, worked all day with
0 out even stopping to eat. When HI
h came into the chamber at 1880 with TIL
l. document he found the commissioner
e waiting. The Spanish copy had arrives
e half hour earlier. Arthur Ferguso,
e then proceeded to read first the Englis
IS and after that the Spanish version @
o the treaty. This finished, two copic
Il were passed around the table, the con
# missioners signing them in the orde
it of their rank. as follows: William
n. Day, Senator Cushman X. Davis, Ser
" ator William P. Frye, Whitelaw Rel
II and Senator George Gray; Senior MOI
er tero Rios, Senior Abarzuza. Senor Ga
MICA. Senior Villaurutia and Gen. Cerer
Y Saenz, each commission signing il
J. opponents treaty. Both were tic
with the Spanish and American color
h. When the seals were prepared to
affixed attendants were sent scurr,
ing for ribbons of the French tt
color. with which the documents we
to sealed as a compliment to the Frenc
s: hosts of the commissions. Many q
a ficals interestedly watched every deta
er of the proceedings.
lis Spaniards Criticise Americans.
nd The last seal being impressed. Il
u. commissioners rose and without fo
vn mality each member shook the ham
he of all his antagonists and eXchang
gs assurances of sincere personal esteel
elk The Spaniards afterwards comment
at acridly upon what they termed t
ell bad taste of the Americans in music
~ ing a crowd of attaches to gloat ov
in the consummation of their downfi
he and to scramble forrelics.
ng The signing was finished at s:45.
that time the door of the chamb
gs opened and Senor Villaurutia appear
'at and exclaimed to a group of corr
Mt spondents who were waiting in the CT
led ridor: "C'est fni!" The other me
bers of the Spanish commission 4
lowed Senior Yillaurutia and passed
-, le,ntly through the vestibule to tn
r.u waiting carriages. The American co
10 mission strolled out, chatting co
az placently. and as they descended
Ne steps the lights in the chamber WI
darkened.
ia, There has been a great cont