The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-12-11
The TREATY SIGNED
Impressive Scene in the
Foreign Office.
DIVISIONS OF TREATY
SENIOR RIOS RISES FROM HIS
BED TO BE PRESENT.
DOCUMENT SIGNED Ar 8:45 O'CLOCK
Sealed With Ribbons Of the French Tr Color
in Compliment to The frerch Hosts
of the Commission he Com


of the Commission. The Com
miSsioners Shake hands.
Paris, Dec. 10.-The treaty of peace
was signed at S:45 this evening.
The signing of the treaty tonight
would have afforded subject for a
great historical painting. The group
gathered about the table in the stately
chamber of the Foreign Office, was inn
the sense of the momentousnes of the
issues which the act decided WIS deep.
ly felt by all the participants, gave an
impressive and solemn tone TO the
scene.
Around the great mahogany table sat
the ten arbiters of the deStinies of an
old and young nation. Ranged stand
ing behind them were numerous attaches
of the American commission.
The jets from the crystal chandeliers
above. the heads of those present masni-
fed the brilliant green and scarlet of
the upholstering into gaudiness.
There was theatrical contrast be-
tween the black-clothed actors and the
scenery. To the Americans it was q
happy ending Of the epilogue Of war:
for the Spaniards it was plainly bitter
tragedy, none the less painful becauAc
long foreseen. They sat silently as
though almost crushed and none could
withhold sympathy from Senoy Mon
tero Rios the President of the Spanish
commission, who coming from his bed,
was bundled in a great oyercoat, al
though logs were burning III the f.e--
place nearby.
The spirits of the two bodies were
symbolized by the clothes wnrn by the
members of the commissions. fcr the
Americans were attired III evening dress
for the dinner given them Immediately
after the meeting by the Due De Loubt,
and the Spaniards wore black frock
coats.
Although the commissions met at half
past three O'clock, expecting to finish
their work in half an hour, the engress-
ing of the treaty on parchment was
found to be SO troublesome that il de-
layed the signing of the document Gnul
500. Clerk Martin. of the Ama-ic;h
commission, worked all day withoG! even
chamber at 7:30 O'Clock with the 6oeu-
ment he found the commissioners wait
ing. The Spanish copy had arrived n
half hour earlier. Mr.. Arthur iE,rgu-
son then proceeded to read first the En-
glish and after that the Spanish version
of the treaty. This finished, two copies
were passed around the table. The eou.-
misisoners signing them in the order of
their rank:
yym. Il. Day, Senator Cushmin X.
Davis, Senator VIM. Z. Frye, White
law Reid and Senator George Gray;
Senior Montero Rios, Senor Abarzuza,
Senior Garnica, Senor Villaurutia and
General Cerero Saons, each commis-
sion signing its opponents treaty. Both
were tied with Spanish and American
co.ors.
When the seals were prepared to be al
fixed. attendants were sent scufrylng
for ribbons of the French tri-color with
which the documents were sealed as u
compliment to the French hosts OF the
commissions
Many officials interestedly watched
every detail of the proceedings.
The last seal being impressed, the COM
missioners rose and without formallty
each member shook the hands OF all his
antagonists and exchanged assurances OF
sincere personal esteem. The Spanards
afterward commented acridiy upon what
they termed the bad taste of the Ameri-
cans in mastering crowd of attaches
10 gloat over the consummation of their
downfall and to scramble for relics.
The signing was finished at $40. AT
thar time the door of the chamber open
ed and Senior Villaurutia appeared and
exclaimed to a group OF correspondents
who were waiting i'll the corridor. ~ est
fni The other members Of the Spanish
commission followed Senor Nlllaurutia
and passed silently through the veshbnie
to their waiting carriages. Inc Ameri-
can commission strolled out. chatting
complacently, and as they. reached the
steps the lights in the chamber we're
darkened.
The treaty as signed consisted OF sew
enteen articles. il having been found ad-
visable to sub-divide two or three or the
articles in the draft agreed upon at the
last meeting.
The commissioners of the two nations
wrote their signatures on two copies OF
the treaty, one copy being for the ar
chiyes.
The document was prepared by Sec
rotary Moore, in behalf Of the United
States commission and by Senor Villau-
rutia for Spain. on account of the con-
timed 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 heen ap-
proved previously nv the commissioners
without a joint meeting. so there was
no controversy on this subject.
There has been great contest among