The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-12-07

Paris, December 6. The peace of Paris
is practically an accomplished fact. To-
days session disposed of the essential
features of the treaty, which will be en-
bodied in the following eight articles:
First-The customary preface of treaties
in the nature of an expression of amity
and of hope for perpetual peace.
Second-The REIMBURSEMENT by Spain
of her sovereignty over Cuba.
Third-The withdrawal of the Spanish
troops.
-Relinquishment by Spain of
the sovereignty over Porto Rico.
Fifth-Spain's ce ssion of the Philip
pines.
Sixth-The withdrawal of the Spanish
troops there,
Seventh-Payment by the United States
of SIC. 900, 600 fol the Philippines.
Eighth-The provision for the fopen
door" commercial policy in the Philip
pines.
The rough draft of the treaty, which
may be considerably changed, covers these
proposals. 1t makes a. long document
which Senator Cushman e, Davis of the
United States peace commission says will
be found to be one of the most INTEREST,"
ing papers of its character ever written.
So completely are the details of the
evacuation of the Philippines stipulated
that commission such as arranged for
the Spanish withdrawal from the West
Indies will be unnecessary.
The Americans have agreed to transport
the Spanish prisoners home, including
the garrison and sailors at Manila,
captured by Admiral Dewey and General
Merritt as well as the soldiers and
civilians held by Filipinos, whose return
the Amer leans have guaranteed. As
compensation, Spain PROMISE to liberate
all Cuban, Porto Rican and Philippine
political prisoners
YESTERDAYS MEETING.
.. Paris, December 6.-The joint commits
sion met at Q O'Clock this afternoon. 1t
has just developed that yesterdays ses-
sion was of far greater Importance than
was generally supposed. 1t resultedsin the
Americans unoompromisinglys rejecting
Spain's request that, for term of years.
the ships of that country and its products
be admitted to Cuban aad Porto Rican
ports under the same regulations and
customs tariff as American ships and
products.
Today's session lasted four hours and
when he was leaving Judge Day said
that the big questions all had been ue-
cided and the treaty would be completed
in two or three days.
CONFIRMED AT WASHINGTON.
Washin gton, December 6.-The advices
to the eff ect that it may be reasonably
presumed that the peace commissioners
Will be ready to sign treaty OF peace
within day or two, are fully conbrmed
here. 1t is learned that the PRESIDENTS s
INSTRUCTIONS to Judge Day were to hasten
the conclusion and to that end the Aneri-
can commissioners have been authorized
to limit the treaty closely to the protocol
noints leaving other matters to be dealt
with hereafter. AS such separation OF
the points Is entirely in line with the ex-
pressed desire OF the Spanish commission
ers. there appears to be no reason now
that an agreement has been reached as to
all of the protocol points. why those
should not be Immediately reduced to
the form in which it Is desired they
should appear in a treaty and be at once
signed by the com ulissioners. In this
case. it is possible that the treaty of peace
may be submitted to Congress even be-
fore the Christmas Iecesss. 1t is believed
that it will make toword a speedy treat
ment of the convention in the Senate to
limit the peace treaty to the points OF the
protocoi. The other points which our
commissioners we're instructed to negoti-
a upon, may or may not be disposed OF
at Paris by the present commissioners