Evening star., 1898-12-05

ing out the details Of the stipulated evac-
uation OF Cuba Porto Rico and other Span
ish islands in the West Indies.
The fifth article provided for the appoint
men; Of not more than five Commissioners
on each side. to meet at Paris not later
than October list, and 10 proceed TO the
NJ gOtiation and conclusion CT a treaty Of
peace. subject to ratification according to
the respective cons .itutional forms of the
two countries.
TIE sixth and last article provided that
upon he signature of the protocol hostil-
tiles between the two countries should be
suspended and that notice to that effect
should be given as soon as possible by each
Government to the commanders of its mill
tary and naval forces
Immediately upon the conclusion of the
protocol | issued proclamation of August
12th suspeuding hcstilities on the part of
the United States. The necessary orders to
that end were al once given by telegraph.
The blockade of the ports of Cuba and San
Juan de Porto Rico was in like manner
raised. On the 18th of August the muster
out of 1n0.0O volunteers. or near that
number as was found to be practicable, was
ordered
On the 1st of December 1O1 1875 officers
anu men fldd Deen mustered out anu utS-
charged from the service and 9.oe2 more
will b. mustered out by the 10th of this
month. Also a corresponding number of
general and general staff officers have been
honOTaby discharged the service.
The military commissions 10 superintend
the evacuation of Cuba, Porto Rico. and
the adjacent islands were forthwith ap-
pointed: for Cuba Major General James F.
Wads Pear Admiral William SampSon
Major General Matthew c. Butler: fer
Porto Rico. Major General John R. Brooke.
Rear Admiral Winfield s Schley Brigadier
General William W. Gordon. who soon
afterwards met the Spanish Commis sioners
at Havana and San Juan. respectively. The
Porto Rican Joint Commission speedily ac-
Complished its task. and by the 18th of
October the evacuation Of the island was
completed. The United States flag was
raised over the island at noon on that day.
The administration of its affairs has been
Professionally intrusted to a military gov
ernCr until the Congress shall otherwise
provide. The Cuban Joint Commission has
not Yet terminated its Iabofs Owing to
the difficulties in the way of removing the
large numbers OF Spanish troops still in
Cuba, the evacuation cannot he completed
before the 1st of January next.
Pursuant to the fifth article of the pro-
tocol, / appointed William R. Day, lately
Secretary of State; Cushman X. Davis,
William p. Frye and GeOrga Gray. Senators
OF the United States. and Whitelaw Reid
10 be the Peace Commissioners the part
Of the United States. Proceeding in due
season TO Paris, they there met on the
LIST of October five commissioners. similarly
appointed on the part of Spain. Their ne
gotiations have made hopeful progress, so
that / trust soon To be able to lay def
nItive treaty of peace before the Senate
with a review of the steps leading to its
signature.
L do not discuss al this time the govern
ment OF the future of the new possessions
which will cOms to us as the result of the
war with Spain. Such discussion will be
appropriate after the treaty of peace shall
be ratified. In the meantime and until the
Congress has Iegisiated otherwise it will
be my duty to continue the military gov
ernments which have existed since our
occupation and give to the people security
in life and property and encoura cement
under 4 just and beneicent rule
Independence OF Cuba.
As soon as We are in possession of Cuba
and have pacified the island it will be
necessary to give aid and direction to its
people 10 form a government for them
selves This should b. undertaken at the
earliest moment consistent with safety and
assured success 1t is important that our
relations with this people shall he OF the
most friendly character and our CONNER
cial relations close and reciprocal. 1t should
BE- our duty to assist in every proper way
10 build up the waste places of the Island
encourage the Industry of the people. and
assist them To form government which
shall te free and independent. thus realiz-
ing the best aspirations OF the Cuban peo-
pie.
Spanish rule must be replaced by a just
benevolent and humane government, Gre
ated by the people Of Cuba ca pable of per
forming all international obligations and
which shall encOuraGe thrift, industry and
prosperity, and promote peace and good
VIII among all Of the inhabitants. what
ever may have been their relations in the
past. Neither revenge nor passion should
have a plac- in the new government Until
there * complete tranquility in the Island
and stable government inaugurated mill
tary occupation viii be continued
With the one exception of the rupture
with Spain the intercourse Of the United
States with the great family of nations
has been marked with cordialty. and the
close of the eventful year finds most of the
issues that necessarily arise in the complex
relations Of sovereign states adjusted or
presenting no serious obstacle to Just and
honorable solution by amicable agreement.
OTHER FOREIGN RELATIONS,
A long unsettled dispute as to the ex-
tended boundary between the Argentine
Repuhlic and Chile. stretching along the
Andean crests from the southern border of
the Atacama Desert to Magellan Straits.
nearly a third of the length of the South
American continent, assumed an acute
stage IN the early part of the year. and af-
J2Tded TO this Government occasion 10 ex-
press The hope that the resort 10 arbitra-
lion, already contemplated by existing con-
venti0ns between the parties. might prevail
despite the grave difficulties arising In its
application / am happy to say that ar
rangemeuts to this end have been perfected
the questions Of fact upon which the re-
spective commissioners were unable to
agree being in course of reference to Her
britannia Majesty for determination. A
residual difference touching the northern
boundary line across the Atacama Desert.