Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-12-12
II IS SIGNED.
Commissioners Names AZ
fixed to the Peace Treaty.
Momentous At in the History OF
United States and Spain.
Members Of the Commissions Formally Bid
Each Other Adieu.

Paris. Dec. 1.-THE treaty of peace
between the United States and Spain
was signed by the high contracting
parties. at 8.45 Saturday evening. The
commissioners had been in session all
the afternoon. The treaty which was
not completed. was brought in sections
from the hands of the engrossers while
the commission was sitting. After be-
ing photographed the commissioners
listened to the reading of the treaty
until after the arrival Of the last sec
tons.
The signing of the treaty. Saturday
night, would have afforded subject
for great historical painting. The
grouped gathered about the table in
the stately chamber of the foreign Of
flee was impressive in itself. while the
fact that the sense of the mOmentous-
ness of the issues which the act decid-
ed was deeply felt by all the partici-
pants gave an impressive and solemn
tone to the scene.
Around the great mahogany table sat
the 10 arbiters of the destinies of an
old and a young nation. Ranged
standing behind them were numerous
attaches Of the American commission.
The jets from the crystal chandeliers
above the heads of those present mag
nified the brilliant green and scarlet
of the upholsterings into gaudiness.
Although the commissions met. at
$50 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
signing of the document until $50
o clock. Clerk Martin of the American
commission worked all day without
even stopping to eat. When he came
into the chamber, at 7.30 o'clock, with
the document. he found the commits
sioners waiting.
The Spanish copy had arrived half an
hour earlier. Mr. Arthur Ferguson
then proceeded to. read first the Eng
lish, and after that the Spanishsver-
sion of the treaty. This finished. two
copies were passed around the table.
the commissioners signing them id the
orderaof their rank-Judge William r.
Day, Senator Cushman X. Davis. Sem
ator William P. Frye. Mr.. Whitelaw
Reid and Senator George Gray, Senior
INiOss soCinOi I1b1iA oCAOi
Garnica, Senior ValLarutia and Gen.
Cerero Y Saens-each commissioner
signing its opponents treaty. Both
were tied with the Spanish and Ameri-
can colors.
When the seals We're prepared to be
affixed attendants We're sent scurrying
for ribbons of the French tricolor. with
which the documents We're sealed as Il
to the French hosts of the
Many officials interest
edlEi watched every detail of the pro-
cesdings.
The last seal being impressed the
rose and without form-
atty each member shook the hands of
all his antagonists and exchanged as
of sincere personal esteem.
The Spaniards afterwards commented
acridiy upon what they termed the bad
taste of the Americans in mastering q
crowd of attaches to gloat over the
contamination of their downfall and
to scramble for relics.
The signing was finished at $40. At
that time the door of the chamber
opened, and Senior Villarutia appeared
and exclaimed to a group Of corre-
spondents who were waiting in the COR
ridor:
"C'est fini''
The other members of the Spanish
followed Senior Villarutia.
and hurried silently through the vesti-
bule TO their waiting carriages.
The American commission strolled
out chatting complacently, and as they
descended the steps the lights in the
chamber were darkened