Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1898-12-12

| in Gloom-Spaniards Feel Their Humil-
iation KeenIy. but Have Made Friends
| with Uncle Sans iplomats-Signihcant
| Fact Noted to French Sentiment
| Death of Gen. CaIixto Garcia.
Paris. Dec. 1.-THE signing Of the
| Observation-Disclosures treaty Saturday
| evening was a subject for z historical
painting. 1t brought to an end many
weeks of negotiation and controversy,
and the group of diplomats gathered
about the table in the stately chamber
of the foreign office was impressive in
| itself. while the fact that the sense of
| the momertousness OF the issues which
the act decided was deeply felt by all
| the participants gave an impressive and
solemn tone to the scene. Around the
| great mahogany table sat the ten arbi-
tiers of the destinies of an old and 4
young nation. Standing behind them
were numerous attaches of the Amer
lean commission. The jets from the
crystal chandeliers above the heads of
those present magn.hed the brilliant
green and scarlet of the upholsterings
in their gaudi2ess.
Quite Il Difference in Feeling.
To the Americans it was d happy end
ing of the epiloSue of var; for the
Spaniards twas plainly = bitter tragedy,
none the less painful because Tor 3 fore
seen. They sat silently as though al
most crushed. ard none could withhold
sympathy from Senior Montero Rios, the
president of the Spanish commission.
who coming from his bed wass bundled
in great overcoat, though logs were
burning in the fireplace near by. The
spirits of the two bodies were sym boi-
lied by the clothes worn by the mem
bers OF the commissions. for the Ameri-
cans We're attired in evening d ress for
the dinner given them immediat sly aft
er the meeting by the Due de Loubat.
and the Spaniards wore black frock
coats. The two copies of the treaty
written in parallel columnssin English
and Spanish, were passed around the
table after being read. and each COM
mission signed as the treaty came to
him.
VilIaurutia said ssC'est Fini."
Both treaties were tied with the Span
ish and United States coIors. Tn. seals
were affixed with ribbons of the French
tri-colOr, as a compliment to the French
hosts of the commissions. The la st seal
being impressed the commissioners rose
and without formality each member
shock the hands Of all his antas .onfsts
and exchanged assurances of sincere
personal esteem. The signing was fin
ished at S:45. Al that time the door of
the chamber opened and Seno- Vilau-
rut:a appeared and exclaimed to Il group
OF correspondents who were waiting in
the corridor. ''C'est fini.'' Tie other
members of the Spanish commi ssion fol-
lowed Senior Villaurutia and passed
silently through the vestibule to their
waiting carriages. The American COM
missioners stroled out chattir com
placently, and as they descended the
steps the lights in the chamber were
darkened.
Dons Did Not Want the Pens.
There was great contest among the
families and friends of the American
commissioners for possession of the pens
with which the signatures to the treaty
Were written. Some of the Americans
were provided with handsome pens pur-
chased for the purpose. The Spaniards |
appeared to be unaffected by the !
souvenir craze, and contented them |
selves with the ordinary quill pens
strewn on the table. Arthur Ferguson
the Interpreter of the American COM |
mission, requested Senior Montero Rios |
to give him his pen, saying: Have you |
any desire to preserve the pen with |
which you will sign?"
Not in the slightest" said the Span
lard with Il courtly bow.
The treaty as signed consists of sew
enteen articles. it having been found |
advisable to sub-divide two or three of |
the articles in the draft agreed upon at /
the last meeting.