The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-12-13

Paris, December 8.-The United
States and the Spanish peace commis-
sioners concluded their work today and
finally settled the terms of the treaty of
peace. They will meet once more in
formal session, on Saturday Or Monday
next, when the Spanish commission
ers, sorrowfully, and the Americans,
with feelings of relief, will write their
signatures upon the document which
embodies the results Of the war the
preparation Of which has consumed
eleven weeks, a longer time than the
war itself. In the meantime the treaty
will be e~ngrossed under the supervis-
ion of Mr.. Moore and Senior Ojeda the
secretaries of the respective commits
sions.
The Spaniards are exceedingly bitter
over the result, though observing the
forms of friendliness and courtesy to
the end. Senior Montero Rios, whose
strong and persistent struggle to save
for his country every possible asset
from the wreck of her cOlOnia empire
has commanded h respect and adml-
ration of his opponents, went from the
council chamber to his bed in a state
of complete collapse as the result of the
long strain and his chagrin over the
small fruits of his efforts. Senior Ojeda
has been Frustrated since yesterday
and was unable to attend the joint ses-
sion today.
The Spaniards charge equal blame
upon the European powers and the
United States for their downfall. One
of the Spanish commissioners said this
evening:
THE European nations have made a
great mistake in deserving Spain and
leaving her to spoilation by the brute
force of a constituencies giant. They
all know that in the Philippines Amer
lea has taken more than she car digest.
She will ultimately sell the islands to
England or Germany and when the
transfer is attempted it will precipi-
tate a general European strife. We
have refused to sell any island in the
Carolines. We never thought Of con-
sidering an offer, nor have we consent
ed to negotiate upon any questions
cACcpL LuO0C uIlCSIly
protocol signed at Washington"
Paris, December 8.-The treaty is
finished. The Spaniards have declined
to grant most Of the requests of the
United States which were unsettled at
the beginning of the season. They
refuse to cede a coaling station in the
Carolines.
Judge Day today said: 1--WE have
ao++Iol oil +ho nOintc on which we can
agree. 1t only remains to engross and
sign the treaty. That will be done III
two or three days"
The members of the commission say
the treaty will contain little outside
the scope of the Washington protocol
an. the matters directly base thereon.
like the provisions for the
of the coded territories, the transfer
of public property therein and guar
antee of the safety of the property and
rights of the Spanish citizens remain
ing there.
The details of the last class of ques-
tons covered by the statement which
the Americans handed to Senior Mon
tero Rios at the last meeting were con-
sidered today, but all the commission
ers refuse to divulge the details OF Die
conference. Several points upon which
they were unable to agree were lett
open for diplomatic negotiations. The
Spaniards refused to admit that they
had failed to respect former treaties
guaranteeing religious freedom in the
Caroline islands o. that there was a
necessity for new guarantees.
The conclusion of the work was, &C
cording to the commissioners, marked
by politeness and all outward evidences
of good feeling and relief at the fact
that the task was accomplished.
When all the propositions had been
discussed, Judge Day, president OF the
American commission, remarked:
There seems to be nothing more to do
but to engross and sign the treaty
Senior Montero Rios, president of the
Spanish commission, acquiesced 10 this
and the Americans bowed themselves
out before the Spaniards, according to
their custom.
The American commissioners enter
ed the Joint conference today in a ner-
yous frame Of mind. They evidently
had reasons to believe that a POSSIBLE
ity existed, even at this late hour, that
there might be a rupture. This feeling
of apprehension was based on h tenn
per that the Spaniards have displayed
lately.
REFERENCE TO THE MAINE DIS
ASTER.
The Madrid papers are disposed to
revive the question OF the Maine and
excite public opinion against the United
States on account of the reference made
to this subject in President McKinley's
message to congress. They report that
Senior Montero Rios, president of the
Spanish commission, made an impas-
stoned denunciation of President
Mckinley at the last joint meeting Of
the commissions; but these reports are
practically without foundation.
Senior Rios did refer to the Maine
but in only one calmly worded SEN
tence, expressing regret that the pres
ident had spoken, as Span ards thought
unjust Of them. The Spaniards hae
~J~1olv nror1cal 81 3hic NON foronn ~