The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1898-08-17
PEACE WITH SPAIN.

Military Operations Suspended in Both |
Hemispheres - Spain Quits the New |
World Forever-Cuba Free and Inde- |
pendent-Porto Rico Coded to the United |
States-Manila and its Bay Held Pend |
ing-Final Disposition of the Philip
pines and Conclusion of Peace-Military
Events-Warships Released from Duty.
The war between the United States and
Spain, which was formally declared to exist
by Congress at three o'clock on the morning
of April 81, last, was practically ended at
4: % o'clock on Friday afternoon, when Sec
rotary Day and M. Cambon, French Ambas-
sador representing Spain, affixed their sig
natures to a protocol establishing basis
upon which the two countries, acting
through their respective commissioners,
could negotiate terms Of peace. Immedi-
ately following the execution of the protocol
President Mckinley signed a proclamation
declaring the existence Of an armistice, and,
pursuant to provision of the protocol, or
ders were transmitted at once to General
Miles in Porto Rico, to General Shafter in
Cuba, to General Merritt in the Philippines,
to Admiral Dewey at Manila and Admirals
Sampson and Watson at Guantanamo, to
cease hostilities; and to Admiral Howell at
Key West, in command OF the blockading
feet, to raise the blockade OF Cuban and
Porto Rican ports. The orders also include
the liberating Of the port OF Manila from the
blockade that has been maintained there by
Admiral Dewey since May 1. Copies OF the
proclamation were sent to our ambassadors
and ministers in South America, and notifi-
cation of the signing of the protocol was
| Al Is.~1o a.
of the United States.
The full text of the protocol was not made
public. 1t is a document of about 1900
words, and some of the provisions withheld,
it is believed, relate to matters concerning
which it is deemed expedient for the pres
emit to maintain in reserve.
THE PROTOCOL.
The protocol provides:
a. That Spain will relinquish all claim
OF sovereignty over and title to Cuba
SO. That Porto Rico and other Spanish
islands in the West Indies and an island in
the Ladrones, to be selected by the United
States. shall be coded to the latter.
SO. That the United States will occupy
and hold the city, bay and harbor of Ma
Mia, pending the conclusion of a treaty of
peace which shall determine the control,
disposition and government of the Philip
pines.
"a. That Cuba, Porto Rico and other
Spanish islands in the West Indies shall be
Immediately evacuated, and that commits
soners, to be appointed within ten days
shall, within thirty days from the signing
of the protocol, meet at Havana and San
Juan, respectively, to arrange and execute
the details of the evacuation.
50. That the United States and Spain will
each appoint no more than five commission
ers to negotiate and conclude treaty o.
peace. The commissioners are to meet al
Paris not later than October /.
IS. On the signing of the protocol, hos
tilities will be suspended and notice to thai
effect will be given as soon as possible by
each Government to the commanders of It'll
military and naval forces"
The diplomatic events that preceded the
the signing of the protocol, briefly sum
married., are these:
! Span's answer to the terms demanded b,
, the United States as preliminary to tn
l negotiation Of a treaty Of peace was re
ceived at the French embassy in Washing
! ton August 8. The Spanish note was
| very long one and it is believed that it con
; tanned representations covering the entir
j field OF future negotiations, the Cuban deb
t among other subjects A long time wa
} required for the attaches of the embassy t.
put the note, transmitted in cipher, int
readable form, and to translate it into tn
language of Spain and the United States.
1t was understood that Spain's accept
ance Of peace terms was qualified by certain
arguments and concessions as to the with
drawal of Spanish troops from Cuba, dispo
stion of the Cuban debt and other simila
! matters that will continue to be subjects o
, discussion, controversy and negotiation
I The Presidents attitude with regard to tn
, more important of these matters was de
termined long ago and in his interview
with the French ambassador he was able t
tell him, in general way, what would z
into the protocol and what would go out
! 1t is generally understood that, in his CON
munications to the Spanish government
M. Cambon suggested to Sagasta that ri
fusal to accept, or delay in a full compl
ance with the American terms, would lea
| W VlROTOuS dbIhCkb Ou tuo Ohu6rlob anu I'LL
, Spanish coast by powerful fleets, and, i
, the end, in the imposition Of harder term
: Of peace.
, One of the things decided on long ago,
. is believed, was that no provision for tn
, settlement of the Cuban debt will be includ
: in the protocol. 1t is understood that tn
) President is willing that the Spanish so
( diers should retain their arms and that the
should remain in Cuba for the present, dc
? ing police and garrison duty to obviate tn
i necessity for sending American soldier
: there before the end of the hot season.
Early in morning Of Wednesday, Angus
10, M. Cambon sent to Madrid report G
his interview with President Mckinley. to
gether with an outline of the terms Of tn
protocol, which he had Professionally az
cepted, and awaited SPANS authorization
to sign the agreement.
On Thursday, August IL, the government
at Madrid agreed to the protocol, but author