The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-12-12
PEicE TREATY SIGNED.
commissioners Subscribe their Names
to instrument.
FINAL SCENE WORTHY SUBJECT
OF GREAT PAINTING
------iz5- = = II

-spaniards sombre and in Bad Humor
Claim Americans Called in Witnesses
10 Their Humiliation.
Paris. December 10.-The treaty of peace
was signed at $40, this evening. The
Americans were the first to arrive at the
foreign Office today and the Spaniards
reached there half an hour later. The
treaty, which was not completed, was
brought in sections from the hands of the
engrossers, while the commission was SIT
ting. After being photographed the com
spissioners listened to the reading OF the
treaty until S. is, at which hour they TOOK
a recess until O'Clock. while awaiting
sha arrival of the last sections Of the
treaty.
The ong session this afternoon and une
subsequent recess were only due TO the
factsthat each article of the treaty had to
he carefully read and compared in Span
ish and English and to the fact that the
engrossing of the last sections imSpanlsn
was incomplete.
The signing of the treaty tonight would
have afforded subject for great his
toricai painting. Tbs group gathered
about the table in the chamber OF the for
S.gn office was impressive in itself. while
tae fact that the sense of the momentousi
ness 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 arbitrators of the destinies OF an
old and a 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 magnified the bril-
liant qreen and scarlet of the upholster-
ings into gaudiness. There was theatr1.
cal contrast between the black clothed
actors and the scenery. To the Americans
1t was happy ending of the epilogue OF
war. For the Spaniards it was plainly
bitter tragedy, none the less painful be-
cause long foreseen. They sat silently,
as though almost crushed, and none could
withhold sympathy from Senior Monteror
Rios, the president of the Spanish COM
mission who, coming from his bed. was
bundled in great overcoas, though logs
wers burning in the fire place nearby.
The spirits of the two bodies were SYM
bolized by the clothes worn by the MEM
bers of the commissions, for the Ameri-
can were attired in evening dress for the
dinner given to them Immediately after
the meeting by the Due de Loubal, and
the Spaniards wore black frock cats.
Although the commissions met at hall
mast three O'Clock, expecting to finish
their work in half hour, the engrossing
of the treaty on parchment was found
to be SO troublesome that it delayed the
signing of the document unit $50 o'clock.
Clerk Martin of the American commits
sion worked all day without even stop
ping to eat. When he came into the
chamber at 7.30 o'clock with the docu-
,nent he found the commissioners wait
ing. The Spanish copy had arrived a
half hour earlier. Mr.. Arthur, Ferguson
Then proceeded to read first the English
and after that the Spanish version of the
treaty. This finished, two copies were
passsd around the table, the commission
,,rs signing them in the order of the
rank: Judge VIM. r Day, Senator Cush-
man 4. Davis, Senator VIM. P. Eye, Mr..
Whitelaw Reid, and Senator Georg Gray,
Seenor- Montero Rios, Senior Alharzuza,
senior Garnicia, Senior Vil1aureutia and
Gen. Cereo Seaens-each commission
signing its opponents treaty. Both were
tied with the Spanish and American col
ors.
When the seals were prepared to be
affixed, attendants were sent scurrying
for ribbons Of the French tri-color which
the documents we're sealed as a compli-
ment to the French hosts of the commits
sions. Many officials interested watched
every detail of the proceedings. The last
seal being impressed. the commissioners
rose and without formality each member
shook the hands of all his antagonists and
exchanged assurances of sincere personal
esteem. The Spaniards afterward COM
3 mented acridly upon what they termed
the bad taste of the Americans in muster
ing crowd of attaches to gloat over the
contamination of their downfall and to
scramble for relics. The signing was
finished at s.45. At that time the door
of the chamber opened and Senior Villa
urutia appeared and exclaimed to a group
of correspondents who vera waiting in
the corridor: "C'est tint"
The other msmbers of the Spanish com
mission followed Villauartuti and hur-
ried silently through the vestibule to
their waiting carriages. the American
commission strolled out chatting com
plainently and as they descended the
steps the lights in the chamber were
darkened.
There has been 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 thu Americans
were provided with handsome pens for