The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-12-09
THE WORK IS CONCLUDED
Peace Treaty Is Now Ready for
Signatures.
CONSUMED ELEVEN WEEKS
Spaniards Are Exceedingly Bitter Over
the Result - Two spaniards
Prostrated-They Blame
Europe.

fdrls, Dec. Sine United states ana
Spanish peace commissioners concluded
their work to-day and finally settled the
terms Of the treaty OF peace. They will
meet once more in formal session on
Saturday or Monday next. when they
and the Americans. with feelings of re-
lief. will write their signatures upon the
document which embodies the results
Of the war and the preparation of which
has consumed IL weeks. a longer time
than the war itself. In the meantime,
the treaty will be engrossed under the
, supervision of Mr.. Moore and Senior
ojeda. 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 admir-
alton OF his opponents. went from the
council chamber to-day to his bed. I'm a
state Of complete collapse as the result
of the long strain and his chagrin over
the small fruits of his efforts.
Senor Ojeda has been Frustrated siuce
yesterday and was unable to attend
the joint session to-day. The Span
iards charge equal blame upon the Eu-
ropean powers and the United States
for their downfall. One of the Span
ish commissioners said this evening:
The European nations have made n
great mistake In deserting Spain and
leaving her to spoliation by the brute
force OF a constituencies giant. They
all know that In the Philippines Amer
lea has taken more than she can digest.
she viii ultimately sell the islands to
England or Germany. and when the
transfer Is attempted IL will precipitate
general European strife. We have re-
fused to sell any island In the Caroiines.
We never thought OF considering an Of
fer. Nor have we consented 20 negotiate
upon any questions except those direct
ly involved in the protocol signed at
Washington"
The American commissioners entered
the joint conference to-day I'm n ner-
vous frame of mind. They evidently
had reasons TO believe a possibility ex-
listed that even at this late hour there
might be rupture. This feeling of ap-
prehension was based on the temper the
Spaniards have displayed lately. This
week the commissioners OF Spain do not
conceal the fact that having failed to
gain all important points, they are in
different as to whether or not the con-
ferences result in the settlement of
peace by the signing OF a treaty by
which Spain loses all her colonies. The
miscarriage of negotiations would leave
the political prestige at home no worse.
IL not I'm a better condition than IL they
signed the treaty. The Americans are
anxious not to give the Spaniards any
pretext to break of the negotiations
nor take offense SO far as the exercise
Of patience and diplomacy can steer
clear of protests.
Madrid papers are disposed to revive
the question of the Maine and to excite
public opinion against the United
States on account of the reference made
TO this In McKinleys message.
The treaty Is finished" Day said.
I'VE have settled all the points to
which there is possibility OF agreement.
Only the engrossing remains"
The Spaniards to-day refused TO cede
the United states a station in the Caro-
line islands.
They report Rios made an impassion-
ed denunc.ation Of Mckinley at the last
joint meeting Of the commissions. Rios
did refer to the Maine, but only in
calmly worded sentences. expressing
regret the president had spoken. The
Spaniards had already proposed at this
conference to have the responsibility
OF the Maine reported upon by a joint
commission OF European powers. The
American commissioners refused 10 hs-
ten to this and permitted Rios refer
ence to the presidents message to pass
unchallenged. as a discussion would be
provoked in debate and bad blood re-
suit.
Diplomatic circles In Paris predict as
one OF the results OF the treaty a DIP
plomatic contest between France and
the United States. which will have an
important chapter in history. The
French government Is reported to have
resolved TO take up the case OF French
holders Of Cuban bonds and II is be-
lieved France will declare against the
repud' alton OF bonds as the result Of
the treaty which the victorious nation
imposed upon Spain. They argue the
treaty responsibility has been shifted
upon America. therefore the French
government will endeavor TO exact some
pledge for the payment or guarantee OF
the bonds
A SJlIMRI RiOCk