The sun., 1898-12-12
TREATY on PEACE SIGNED
Commissioners Attach Their Sig
natures to the Documents
With Due Solemnity.
BITTER TRAGEDY TO OSPANIARDS
Scenes and Incidents Attending the
Event by Which Spain Cedcs
the Philippines to the United
States and Ends
the War.

the War.
PARIS, Dec. 1.-THE treaty of peace
was signed at S.45 last evening.
The treaty as signed consists OF seven.
teen articles it having been found ad-
visable to subdivide two or three of 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
archives.
The document was prepared by secre.
tary Moore in behalf of the United States
commission and by Senior Vallarutia for
Spain, on account OF the illness of Sec
retary Ojeda, of the Spanish commits
sion.
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 joint meeting. SO there was no
controversy on the subject.
There was theatrical contrast between
the black. clothed actors and the scenery.
To the Americans it was happy ending
of the epilogue of war; for the Spaniards
it was plainly bitter tragedy. none the
less painful because long forseen. They
sat silently, as though almost crushed,
and none could withhold sympathy from
Senior Montero Rios, the President OF the
Spanish Commission, who, coming from
his bed, was bundled in great overcoat,
though logs were burning in the fireplace
nearby.
The spirits OF the two bodies were
symbolized by the clothes worn by the
members OF the commissions, for the
Americans were attired in evening dress
for the dinner given to them immedi-
ately after the meeting by the Due de
Loubat, and the Spaniards wore black
Track coats.
Although the commissions met at half
past B o'clock, expecting to finish their
work in half an hour, the engrossing of
the treaty on parchment was found to be
so troublesome that it delayed the sign.
ing of the document until S.45. Clerk
Martin, of the American Commission,
worked all day without even stopping to
eat. When he came into the chamber at
7.30 with the document he found the
commissioners waiting. The Spanish
copy had arrived half hour earlier. Mr..
Arthur Ferguson then proceeded to read
first the English and after that the Span.
ish version of the treaty. This finished
the two copies were passed around the
table, the commissioners signing them
in the order of their rank, William R.
Day, Senator Cushman X. Davis, Sena-
tor William P. Frye, Whitelaw Reid and
Senator George Gray; Senior Montero
Rios, Senior Abarzuza, Senior Garnica,
Senior Villaurutia and General Cerero y
Saons, each commission signing its op-
ponent's treaty. Both were tied with
the Spanish and American colors.
When the seals were prepared to be
affixed, attendants were sent scurryng
for ribbons of the French tri-color with
which the documents were sealed, as a
compliment to the French hosts of the
commissions. Many officials Interested
ly watched every detail of the proceed
ings.
The seal being impressed, the commits
sioners rose and without formality each
member shook the hands of all his an
tagonists and exchanged assurances of
sincere personal esteem. The Spaniards
afterwald commented acridly upon what
they termed the bad taste of the Ameri-
cans in mastering crowd OF attaches to
glOat over the consummation of their
downfall and to scramble for relics.
gATISE AT " lSIJTNcTnN
WASHINGTON, Dec. ll.--Great satisfac-
tion was expressed last night over the
news that the treaty of peace had been
signed in Paris. 1t has been feared that
there would be some hitch at the last
moment; hence, when the report was re-
ceived that the treaty had been signed
there was general cODgratulation.
There is no longer any question ex-
pressed as to the ratification of the
treaty. Even Senator Hoar is quoted as
saying that the treaty would be ratified,
as the country would be made ridiculous
to reject peace treaty.
Senators Morgan, Culom, Lodge,
Clark, of Wyoming, Foraker, of Ohio,
all members of the Foreign Relations
Committee, say that they have not the
slightest doubt as to the ratification of
the treaty, and that without any pro-
longed debate. Every Republican mem
ber of the Committee on Foreign Rela-
tions and three Of the Democratic men,
bers favor the ratification OF the treaty.
So far as known there will not be a
single Republican vote against ratifica.
ton. Mr.. Morrill,, who has been quoted
as opposing ratification, has denied the
charge, and, while he has not expressed
an opinion on the question of the acqui-
sltlon OF the Philippine Islands, it can be
stated on high authority that he will not
vote against ratification.
A BUSY SHIPYARD.