The herald., 1898-12-01
Associated Press speclal Wire

PARIS, Nov. 3O-The United States
Peace Commission held session today for
the purpose of discussing the draft of the
treaty articles made yesterday by Secre-
taries Moore and Ojeda. The final prepa-
ration of these articles was concluded and
the revised draft was then turned over to
the typewriters, while the commissioners
hastily lunched prior to the hour fixed by
the Joint session. The typewriting, how
ever, was not finished at clock, the time
set.
The Spaniards arrived first at the confer
ence chamber. They were quickly followed
by the American commissioners, with the
exception of Judge Day and Secretary
Moore, who waited for the prepared copy
of the articles, and who arrived at the con-
ference half an hour later The two COM
missions then began the discussion of the
formulated protocol agreements and the
subjects for negotiation, all of which were
presented to the joint commission in form
acceptable to the Americans.
There were thirteen articles laid before
the two commissions, covering the following
subjects
/. The REIMBURSEMENT Of sovereignty over
and claim of title to Cuba.
2. The cession Of Porto Rico and other
, Spanish possessions in the West Indies, to-
gether with Guam, in the Ladrones.
8. The cession of the Philippines.
4. The terms of the evacuation of the Phil
ippines.
5. The pledge of the United States to pre-.
serve order in the Philippines pending the
ratification of the treaty.
9. The release of military prisoners mutu-
ally.
7. The cession by Spain Of the island of
Kuhae, or Strong island, in the Carolines.
8. The mutual REIMBURSEMENT of indem-
nifty claims.
o. The religious freedom of the Carolines,
assuring the rights of American missionaries
, there.
10. Cable landing rights at points within
1 the Spanish jurisdiction.
IL. The release by Spain of political pris-
oners for offenses in Cuba and the Philip
pines.
IL. The pledge of the United States to in
augurate in the Philippines an "open door"
policy and to guarantee the same to Spain
for at least twelve years.
l3. A renewal of the treaties broken by the
war.
AM lIOlJTlc AGhEED ON
The~rst three articles were mutually
agreed upon today, as was also the article
embodyings the terms of the evacuation of
the Philippines, which will be practically
the same as in the evacuation of Cuba and
Porto Rico.
The mutual release of military prisoners
was agreed upon, Spain liberating the rebel
prisoners and the United States hberating
the Manila garrison and the Spaniards held
by Agunaldo. The political prisoners to be
released by Spain are such as are now in
exile at Ceuta, in Morocco, or at other
Spanish penal settlements
The foregoing list of subjects under con.
sideraton does not show the precise order
in which the articles were laid before the
Spanish commissioners today, and in fact
only eight of the thirteen articles were dis
cussed. -Four points arose about which the
Spaniards desired to consult Madrid and
two upon which the Americans will consult
with Washington. After the session and
the departure of the Spanish commissioners
the Americans remained in the conference
chamber for an hour in executive session.
The adjournment was taken until o'clock
tomorrow.
Daily sessions will be held here and it is
now DelleVed tnat tne work VIII be posi-
lively concluded this week, although so
early termination is not certain.
The joint peace commission devoted two
hours and half--from to 43O pm
to drafting the three first articles of the
peace treaty protocol, dealing with the ces.
sion of Cuba, Porto Rico and the Philip
pines, upon which the commissioners agreed
in principle.
a general discussion on the other articles
followed, but no decision was reached and
the joint commission adjourned until tomor-
row.