Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-12-07
BIG QUESTIONS OVER
Peace Treaty to Be Signed IN
Three OR -Four Days.
50 JUDGE DAY ANNOUNCES,
Work Remaining Only That Of Making
Language Diplomatic.
MONDAYS SESSION IMPORTANT.
Americans UncompromisinsIy Re.
tccted spaim's shipping PROPOSE"
tiOn-PortO Rico to lie Declared IN
Our Coast-Line-Cuba Not Ours
MONDAYS SESSION IMPORTANT

PARIS. December 6.-The Joint Peace
Commission held a long session this at
ternoon When the commissioners emerg-
ed from the Foreign Office, Judge
Day, president of the American commis-
sion. announced that all the big questiohs
had been settled, and that the treaty
would be signed In three or four days
The work remaining consists largely IN
putting into diplomatic language the con-
clusions reached.
It has developed that yesterdays ses-
sion was of far greater Importance than
has generally been supposed. II resulted
in the Americans uncompromisingy re-
iecting SPANS request that for term
of years the ships Of that country ana
its products be admitted to Cuban ana
Porto Rlcan ports under the same resu'
lations and customs tariff as Ametican
ships and products.
sPANIARDS PLAYING FOR TINE.
The Spanish commission for some days
had been playing for time. The Amer-
cans were anxious for decision on the
question Of n coaling station IN the caro-
line Islands. religious tolerance in th4
Carolines, and the release OF politicai
prisoners The Spaniards were unwilin3
TO answer these points until they hau
heard what the Americans proposed 10
| do for their industries which had been
| huu, nm bv the Cuban and Porto Rican
trade. This Is why Spain contended that
| the articles of the treaty should be d's'
posed OF I'm this order, while the Ameri
cans wanted 10 first settle their pressing
needs
FIGHT OVER PROCEDURE.
| The session Of yesterday was pract-
| caIly a fight on the order OF procedure.
| Finally the Americans yielded, ana thcn
| the Spaniards proposed their shipping
| and commers al question, when TIE
| Americans rejected in it's entirety. The
| session then adjourned, with neither sldc
| in an especially amiable frame or mind.
If IS learned that there were differences
| of opinion among the Americans on the
| shipping question, and numerous teic-
| grams were exchanged with Washington.
| Finally the American commission VAS
| instructed 10 refuse, the principal reason
| being that Porto Rico is about TO be de-
| clared within the coast-line of the United
| States. while as regards Cuba, the au-
| thorities at Washington would make no
promises, as the American occupation
| there is not fixed, and the future cuban
| Government must make It's own treaties.
PEACE TREATY FEATURES.
The peace OF Paris is practically an ac-
| complished fact. To-day's session dis
posed Of the essential features OF tho
| treaty, which will be embodied In the ioi-
| lowing eight articles:
l. The customary preface TO treaties,
| I'm the nature of an expression OF amity
and of hope OF perpetual peace.
2 The REIMBURSEMENT by Spain or her
| sovereignty over Cuba.
3. The withdrawal OF the Spanish
| troops.
4. The rellnquishment by Spain Of her
sovereignty over Porto Rico.
CESSION OF PHILIPPINES.
&. Spain's cession OF the Philippines.
6. The withdrawal OF the Spanish
| troops there.
Z Payment by the United States or
| $2OGO0O00 for the Philippines.
s. The provision for the "open door,
| commercial policy in the Philippines.
A LONG DOCUMENT.
The rough draft Of the treaty, which
may be considerably changed. covers tho
| foregoing proposals. 1t makes long
| document. which Senator Cusbman X.
Davis. Of the United States Peace COM
| mission. says, will be found 70 be one
OF the most interesting papers OF IT'S
| character ever written. So completely
| are the details OF the evacuation OF the
| Philippines stipulated. that commission
| such as arranged for the Spanish with
| drawal from the West Indies will be ua-
| necessary.
QUESTIONS STILL UNSETTLED.
! Among the questions not yet settled.
| however are the coaling station and re-
| ligious freedom I'm the Carolines, the Span
jsh commission not having replied to the
| American offer.
The Americans have agreed to trans
| port the Spanish prisoners home, includ-
| ing the garrison and sailors at Manila,
captured by Admiral Dewey and Genera
! Merritt, as well as the soldiers and civil
! fans held by the tilipinos, whose return
/ the Americans have guaranteed. As com"
| pensation. Spain promises to hberate all
! Cuban. Porto Rican, and Philippine politi-
cal prisoners.
Spanish soldiers electing 10 remain In
| the Colonies may do so, but II Is more
| matter Of economy for the Americans 10
! return the others. as they must be fed as
| long as they are kept. and Spain is unable
to bear the expense or e tne ,I,ssi rspasriation.
| There are still under discussion eight
| secondary subjects which the Spanish
| commissioners broached last week. includ-
| ing the status of patents and copyrights.
| The American commissioners to-day hand
/ ed 20 Senior MOntcro Rios a written reply,
| covering these questions.
There will probably be no Joint session
| tomorrow as the Spanlards desire time
| to consider this document.
| CLOSE TO PROTOCOL POINTS.
| WASHINGTON. December s.The adj
| vices from Paris TO the effect that Il
| might be reasonably presumed that the
| peace commissioners would be ready to
! Sign a treaty OF peace within a day or
| two are fully confirmed here. IL is learned
| that the Presidents instructions 20
Judge Day were 10 hasten the conclusion.
| and TO that end the American commits
| sioners have been authorized 10 limit the
| treaty close 10 the protocol points, leay-
| ing other matters. such as the acquisition
| OF cable stations and naval stations. TO De
| dealt with hereafter.
| BEFORE CONGRESS BY CHRISTMAS.
IL Is possible that the treaty OF peace
| may be submitted 10 Congress even before
the Christmas recess. IL Is believed that
| IL viii MAKE for a speedy treatment OF the
l convention In the Senate TO limit tas