The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1898-12-14
THE LAST AC1 IN IMPOSING Scene.
PEACE TREATY SIGNED.
Commissioners Attach Their Signatures to Pa
oers Which Again Places Spain on Friendly
Terms With the United States.


Every demand made by the United
States from Spain has been accepted to
and with better feelings and submis-
sive spirits the Spanish commissioners
last saturday signed the treaty which
again places this country upon friendly
terms with Spain.
The signing of the treaty would have
afforded a subject for a great historical
painting The group, gathered about
the table in the stately chamber of the
Foreign Office, was impressive In itself,
while the fact that the sense of the
'momentousness of the issues. which
the act decided. was deeply felt by all
the participants, gave an impressive
and solemn tone to the scene.
Around the great mahogany table
sat the 10 arbiters of the destinies of
an old and young nation. Ranged,
standing behind them. We're numerous
attaches of the American Commission.
The spirits of the two bodies were
symbolized by the clothes worn by the
members of the commissions, for the
Americans were attircd in evening
dress for the dinner given them inn
medately after the meeting by the Due
de Loubat. and the Spaniards wore
black frock coats.
parchment was found to he SO truuf le-
some that it delayed the signing of the
document. Clerk Martin of the Amer
lean Commission worked all day with
out even stopping to eat. When he
came into the chamber at $50 with the
document he found the commissioners
waiting. The Spanish copy had ar
rived a half hour earlier. Mr.. Arthur
Ferguson then proceeded to read first
hs -, oil lei "A
version of the treaty.
This finished two copies were passed
around the table, the Commissioners
signing them in the order of their
rank: William II. Day, Senator Cush-
man *. Davis. Senator William i.
Frye. Whitelaw Reid and Senator Geo.
Gray: Senior Montero Rios, Senor Abar-
zdza. Senior Garnica. Senior Villaurutla
ana General Cereo y Saons. each COM
mission signing its opponents treaty.
Both were tied with the Spanish and
American colors.
Wher the seals were prepared TO be
affixed, attendants were sent scurrying
for ribbons of the French tri-color,
with which the documents were sealed
as "A compliment to the French hosts
Of the Commission.
The last seal being impressed. the
commissioners rose. and without form
ality each member shook the hands of
all his antagonists and exchanged as
surances of sincere personal esteem.
There has been great contest
among the families and friends of the
American Commissioners for posses
sion of the pens with which the sigma
lures to the treaty were written.
Some of the Americans were provd-
ed with handsome pens purchased for
the purpose. The Spaniards appeared
To be unaffected by the souvenir craze,
and contented themselves with the Or
dinary quill pens strewn on the table.
Arthur Ferguson, the Interpreter OF
the American Commission requested
pen, saying:
Have you any desire to preserve
the pen with which you will sign?"
Not in the slightest" said the Span
lard with a courtly bow.
The treaty as signed consists of IL
articles, 1t having been found advis-
able to subdivide two or three of the
articles in the draft agreed upon at
the last meeting.
The commissioners of the two ma
tons wrote their signatures on two
copies of the treaty, one copy being for
the archives.
The document was prepared by Sec
retary Moore in behalf of the United
States Commission and by Senior Villa
rutla Tor spain, on account OF tne con-
tnued illness of Secretary Ojeda, of
the Spanish Commission.
Each copy contained the English and
Spanish texts of the treaty in parallel
columns The wording had been ap-
proved previously by the commissions
without n joint meeting, so there was
no controversy on the subject.
Several members OF the United
States commission were inclined at
trst to publish the text of the treaty,
but Senator Frye made strong plea
for the observance of courtesy toward
the United States Senate. and his ar
guments prevailed. Further details,
however. have been learned as to the
wording of the treaty which provides
that Cuba Is to be rellnquished, and
that Porto Rico and the Philippines
are to be ceded. The Americans are To
pay for the repatriation OF the Spanish
troops from all the colonies. The Span
iards are to return all prisoners held
by them. They are to retain possession
OF all military stores and munitions of
war In the Philippines, and of such
ships as have not been captured. The
commercial treaties between the two
nations which the war ruptured are to
be renewed at the convenience of the
two nations
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