The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-12-09
THE PEACE OF PARIS
Almost an Accomplished Fact-Such
Rapid Progress Made that It's COnciu-
sion will be Reached this Week

Paris, December 6.-The joint peace
commission held a long session this
afternoon. When the commissioners
emerged from the foreign office, Judge
Day, president Of the American COM
mission, announced that all the big
questions had been settled and that the
treaty would be signed in three or four
days. The work remaining consists
largely in drafting into language the
conclusions reached.
1t has developed that yesterdays
session was of far greater importance
than generally supposed. 1t resulted
in the Americans uncOmpromisingly
rejecting SPANS request that, for a
term of years, the ships of that coun-
try and it's products be admitted to Gu
ban and Porto Rican ports under the
same regulations and customs tariff as
American ships and products.
The Spanish commission for some
days has been playing for time. The
Americans were anxious for a decision
IN the question of a coaling station in
the Caroline islands, religious toler-
ance in the Carolines and the release
of political prisoners. The Spaniards
were unwilling to answer these points
until they heard what the Americans
proposed to do for their inc ~Istries:
which had been built up by the Cuban
and Porto Rican trade.
This is why Spain contended that
the articles of the treaty should be dis
posed of in this order, while the Ameri-
canS wanted to first settle their press
ing needs.
The session of yesterday was prac-
tically a fight on the order of procedure.
Finally the Americans yielded and then
the Spaniards proposed their shipping
n commercial questions, which the
Americans rejected in its entirety. The
session then adjourned with neither
side in ar especially amiable frame Of
mind.
1t is learned that there were differ
ences of opinion among the Americans
on the shipping question and numerous
kilograms were exchanged with Wash
ington. Finally the American COM
mission was instructed to refuse, the
principal reason being that Porto Rico
is about to be declared within the coast
line of the United States, while as re-
CARDS Cuba, the authorities at Wash
ington would make no promises, as the
American occupation there is not fix
ed and the future Cuban government
must make its Owl treaties.
The peace of Paris is practically an
accomplished fact. Today's session
disposed of the essential feature of the
treaty. which will be embodied in the
following eight articles.
l. The customary preface of treat
les. in the nature OF an expression of
amity and of hope for perpetual peace.
2. The REIMBURSEMENT by Spain Of
her sovereignty over Cuba.
3. The withdrawal of the Spanish
troops.
4. The REIMBURSEMENT by Spain of
her sovereignty over Porto Rico.
;. SPANS cession of the Philippines.
8. b withdrawal of the Spanish
troops there.
Z. Payment of the United States of
$40, 600, 900 for the Philippines.
| s. The provision for the open donr'
commercial policy in the Philippines.
The rough draft of the treaty, which
may be considerably changed. covers
the proposals. II makes a long docu-
ment, which Senator Cushman X
Davis. of the United States peace com
mission, says win be found to be one
or h most interesting papers of its
character ever written. So completely
are the details OF the evacuation of thu
philippines stipulated that a commits
sion such as arranged for the Spanish
withdrawal from the West Indies will
be unnecessary.