Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1898-12-17
THE TREATY SIGNED.
Signatures Affixed to the Document
Closing the War with Spain.
President Mckinley VIII Send All the ra-
pers TO tho senate Soon After Christ-
mas and the Outlook 10 That
il WIN 90 Througn.

Paris, Dec. IL Last week was an
eventful one in Paris and, from an
American point Of view, the most Inn
portant OF all the incidents was the
signature, late Saturday evening, at
the French ministry Of foreign affairs
Of the treaty Of peace, which brings to
q close the war between Spain and the
United States and adds TO the territory
Of the latter the Philippines, Guam In
the Ladrones, the Sulu islands and
Porto Rico, while 1t marks the final
termination OF the oppressive thraldom
which Spain has yielded over Cuba for
close upon four centuries. The Amer.
leans are to pay for the repatriation OF
the Spanish troops from all the col.
onies. The Spaniards are to return all
prisoners held by them. They are To
retain possession Of all military stores
and munitions Of war in the Philip
pines and OF such ships as have not
been captured. The commercial trea'
ties between the two nations which
the war ruptured are to be renewed ut
the convenience OF the two nations.
The treaty rs signed consists OF II
articles, 1t having been found advisa-
BILE 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 sigma
lures OIL two copies of the treaty, one
copy being for the archives.
Now that the treaty is signed, the
next step will be to have 1t ratified by
the cortes, which Is to meet for the
purpose early in January, after which
an appeal will probably be made tc
the country in the shape of general
election. The ratification will be q
pure formality, Us the commissioners
have already received from the present
cortes full power to sign and to seal
the treaty.
Prospects, for Ratification.
Washington, Dec. IA cable dis
patch from Judge Day reached the
white house Saturday, informing the
president that the peace treaty had
been signed. This piece OF good news
has been SO thoroughly discounted
that it caused very little excitement
The president received 1t with an ex
preston OF satisfaction. The official
document will come to the presiden'
in the form OF q Christmas present
According to conditional arrange
ments the American commissioners
will sail next Saturday. They will have
to make q speedy passage and to bs
expeditions upon their arrival in order
to put the results of their labors in the
hands of the president by the s5th,
but they may do II.
The assurances which the presiden'
has received from senators-repu bile
ans, democrats and populists-leavs
little room TO doubt that ratification
of the treaty. without change, viii
take place this session. The DISPOSE
ton, even on the part OF those sena
tors who are opposing annexation, ID
to let the treaty 20 through. Presi
dent Mckinley will send the treaty tG
the senate soon after the holidays
In the course of couple Of weeks the
committee, on foreign relations viii
report it back to the senate in secret
session, with a recommendation fol
ratification. The report OF the com
mittee will be almost unanimous