The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1898-12-08
PEACE NEGOTIATIONS.
spain's Overtures for a Cessation Of
HOstllities.


SPANS Overtures for a Cessation of
Hostilities.
The humiliation OF Admiral Cervera's
fleet, followed by the capitulaton of San
tiago. having brought to the Spanish gov
eminent a realizing sense Of the hopeless
ness of continuing a struggle now becom-
Ing wholly unequal II made overtures Of
peace through the French ambassador,
who. with the assent of his government
had acted as the friendly representative
OF Spains interests during the war. On
the 18th of July. NJ. Cambon presented a
communication, signed by the Duke of
Almodovar, the Spanish minister of state,
inviting the United States to state the
terms upon which II would be willing to
make peace. July 30. by communication
addressed to the Duke of Almodovar. and
handed by M. Cambon, the terms Of this
government were announced substantially
in the protocol, afterwards signed. On
August TO- the Spanish reply dated August
was handed by M. Cambon to the sec
rotary of state. 1t accepted uncondi-
tionally the terms imposed as to Cuba,
Porto Rico, and an island of the Ladrone
group. but appeared to seek to introduce
inadmissible reservations In regard to our
demand as to the Philippines.
Conceivlng that discussion on this point
could neither be practicable nor profitable,
I directed that, in order to avoid mis-
understanding. the matter should be
forthwith closed by proposing the en-
bodiment in n formal protocol of the
terms In which the negotiations for peace
were undertaken. The vague and mex
plicit suggestions Of the Spanish note
could not be accepted the only reply be-
ing to present a virtual ultimatum a
draft Of the protocol, embodying the pre-
else terms rendered to Spain in our note
Of July 30, which added stipulations of
details as to tho appointment of COM
missioners to arrange for the evacuation
of the Spanish Antilles. On August IL.
NJ. Cambon announced his receipt of full
powers to sign tho protocol as submitted.
Terms of the Protocol.
Accordingly. on the afternoon of August
IL, NJ. Cambon as the plenlpotentiary OF
Spain and the secretary of state. as the
plenipotentiary of the United States,
signed the protocol providing:
Article l. Spain will relinquish all
claim of sovereignty over and title to
Cuba.
ARTICLE g. Spain will cede to the United
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
States
article .. The United States will occu-
py and hold the city. bay and harbor of
of peace, which shall determine the con-
troll disposition and government of the
Philippines"
The fourth article provided for the APP
pointment Of joint commissions on the
part of the United States and Spain to
meet in Havana and San Juan. respective
ly. for the purpose OF arranging ana car
rytng 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 commits
sioners on each side to meet at Paris not
later than October 1. and to proceed to
the negotiation and conclusion of
treaty OF peace, subject to ratification ac-
cording to the respective constitutional
forms Of the two countries.
The sixth and last article provides that
upon the signing OF the protocol. HOSTILE
ties between the two countries shall be
suspended, and that notice to that erect
should be given soon as possible by
each government to the commanders or
its naval forces.
Immediately upon the conclusion OF the
protocol, / issued the proclamation OF Au-
gust L. suspendlng hostlites on the part
OF the United States. The necessary or
ders to that end were at once given by tel
egraph. The blockade Of the ports of Gu
ba and of San Juan de Porto Rico was In
like manner raised. on August IL, the
muster-out of 100000 volunteers. or as near
that number as was found to be practical
BILE, was ordered. On December l, ,655 Of
ficere and men had been mustered out and
discharged from the service: 1902 more Will
be mustered out by the 10th of the month;
also a corresponding number of generals
and general staff officers have been hon.
orably discharged from the service.
The military commissions to superintend
the evacuation Of Cuba, Porto Rico and
the adjacent islands were forthwith APP
pointed:
For ajor-General James F.
Wade. Rear-Admral William T. Sampson,
Major-General Matthew G. Butler.
For Porto Rico-Majo r-General John {.
Brooke, Rear-Admral Winfield Scott
Schley, Brigader-General W. Gordon.
They soon afterwards met the Spanish
commissioners at Havana and San Juan.
respectively. The Porto Rico joint commits
sion speedily accomplished its task, and
by October IS the evacuation of the island
was completed. The United States flag
was raised over the island at noon that
day. The administration of its affairs has
been Professionally intrusted to a military
governor until congress shall otherwise
provide. The Cuban Joint high commits
sion has not yet terminated Its labors. Ow-
ing to the difficulties in the way of remov-
ing the large number of Spanish troops
still in Cuba. the evacuation cannot be
completed before the LIST of January next.
The Peace Commission.
Pursuant to the fifth article of the pro-
tocol, I appointed William r. Day, lately
secretary of state; Cushman X. Davis.
William P. Frye and George Gray. senators
of the United States, and Whitelaw Reid,
to be peace commissioners on the part of
the United States. Proceeding in due
season to Paris, they there met, on the
LIST of October. five commissioners sim
ilarly appointed on the part of Spain. Tho
negotiations have made hopeful progress,
SO that / trust soon to be able to lay a
- L.