The evening times., 1898-12-05

protocol ] issued a proclamation of Au-
gust II suspendng hostilities on the
part of the United States. The necessary
orders TO that end were at 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 l09.O09 Volun-
teers, or as near that number as was found
TO be practicable, was ordered.
On the LIST Of December 101, l65 officers
and men had been mustered out and dis
charged from the service and 9,O02 more
will be mustered out by the 10th of this
month. Also a corresponding number of
general and general staff officers have
been honorably discharged the service.
THE MILITARY COMMISSIONS.
The military commissions to superin-
tend the evacuation of Cuba, Porto Rico.
and the adjacent islands were forthwith
appointed: For Cuba, Major General
James F. Wade, Rear Admiral William
T Sampson Major General Matthew C
Butler; for Porto Rico, Major General
John r. Brooke Rear Admiral Winfield
s. Schley, Brigadier General William w.
Gordon, who soon afterwards met the
Spanish Commissioners at Havana and
San Juan, respectively. The Porto Rican
Joint Commission speedily accomplished
evacuation of the island was completed.
The United States flag was raised over
the island at noon on that day. The ad-
ADMINISTRATION of its affairs has been pro-
Nisonally intTusted TO a military gov
ernor until the Congress shall otherwise
provide. The Cuban Joint Commission
has not yet terminated its labors. Owing
10 the difficulties in the way of removing
the large numbers of Spanish troops still
in Cuba, the evacuation cannot be COM
pleted before the LIST of January next.
THE FEACE COMMISSION.
Pursuant to the fifth article of the pro-
tocol, 1 appointed William r, Day, lately
Secretary Of State, Cushman X Davis.
" william Z Frye and George Gray. Sena-
tors of the United States, and Whitclaw
Reid to be the Peace Commissioners on
the part of the United States. Proceed
ing in due season to Paris, they there met
on the LIST Of October five commissioners.
similarly appointed on the part of Spain.
Their negotiations have made hopeful
progress, so that / trust soon to be able
20 lay definite treaty of peace before
the Senate with review Of the steps
leading TO its signature.
FUTURE OF NEW POSSESSIONS.
/ do not discuss at this time the gov
ernment or the future of the new pos
result Of the war with Spain. Such dis
cussion will be appropriate after the trea-
ty of peace shall be ratified In the mean
time and until the Congress has lesislated
otherwise il Will be my duty 70 continue
the military governments which have ex-
listed since our occupation and give TO the
people security in life and property and
encoura cement under a just and benefl-
cent rule.
AS soon as we are in possession OF Gu
ba and have paciiied the Island l. Will
be necessary to give aid and direction TO
it's people TO form a government for them
selves. This should be undertaken at the
earliest moment consistent with safety
and assured success. 1t is important that
our relations with this people shall be of
the most friendly character and our COM
mercal relations close and reciprocal. IL
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 gov
ernment which shall be free and indie
pendent, thus realizing the best aspira
lions OF the Cuban people.
Spanish rule must be replaced by just,
benevolent and hGmane government, ere
Ated by the people of Cuba, capable of
performing all international obligations
and which shall encourage thrift, indus
try, and prosperity, and promote peace
and good VIII mong all Of the inhabi-
tants whatere may have been their re-
lations in the past. Neither revenge nor
passion shcC'& have 4 place In the new
government Until there is complete tran
qullIty in the Island and a stable govern
ment inaugurated military occupation viii
be continued.
RELATIONS WITH OTHER POWERS
With the one exception Of the rupture
with Spain the Iut recourse of the Unite
States with the great family Of natio'ts
has been marked with cordiality, and the
close of the eventful year finds most OF
the issues that necess. lily arise in the
complex relations of sovereign states ad-
1usted or presenting no serious obstacls
10 a lust and honorable solution by ami
ca bile agreement.
A long unsettled dispute as to the eN-
tended boundary between the Argentine
Republic 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 afforded TO this Government oc-
casion TO express the hope that the re-
sort to arbitration, already contemplated
by existing conventions between the par
ties might prevail despite the grave diff
happy to say that arrangements to this
end have been perfected. the questions OF
fact upon which the respective commits
sioners were unable TO agree being in
course of reference TO Her Britannia Mai
seSty for determination A residual differ
ence touching the northern boundary line
across the Atacama Desert. for which
existing treaties provided no adequate ad-
1ustment. bids fair TO be settled in like
manner by a jOint commission. upon
which the United States minister at Bue-
nos Aires has been invited to serve as
umpire in the last resort.
RATES on TELEGRAMs.
] have found occasion TO approach the
Argentine government with a view 10 re-
moving differences of rate charges i'm
posed upon the cables of an American
corporation in the transmission between
Buenos Aires and the cities of Uruguay
and Brazil of through messages passing
from and to the United States. Although
the matter is complicated by exclusive
concessions by Uruguay and Brazil to
foreign companies there is strong hope
that good understanding Will be reach
ed. and that the important channels of
communication between the United States
and the Atlantic cities Of South America
may be freed from an almost prohibitory
discrimination.
In this relation 1 may be permitted to