The Monmouth inquirer., 1898-12-29
PEACEMAKERS RETURN.
They Present the Treaty OF
Paris to Mckinley.
DAY AND FRYE INTERVIEWED.
They Decline TO DfvuIge the Details
OF the Convention, but Talk Enter
tainingIy of Their Experiences.
senate should Speedily Rattfy-


Paris re-establishing peace between
the United States and Spain, is now in
the hands of President Mckinley, hav-
ing been delivered to him last Satur-
day by the American commissioners.
Judge Day, chairman of the COM
mission, was besought for an inter-
view as to the contents of the treaty
While he talked freely on many mat
ters connected with his work in Paris
Judge Day did not feel at liberty TO
give an interview in detail on the work
of the commission. He said the talk OF
$780, 900 compensation for the commits
sioners or of any sum approaching that
amount was simply ridiculous.
The president fixes the compensation
of the commissioners, and none OF them,
it is safe to say, accepted the duties as
a speculation. None of them has an
idea of a large fee such as would have
been paid had they performed the du-
ties in the capacity of regularly retain
ed attorneys. There is no actual prece-
dent on which to base an estimate, but
the prediction is ventured that the COM
pensation of the commissioners will not
exceed $4,000 each and reasonable ex-
penses incurred on the trip and In
Paris. These expenses, however, will
not include those incurred for the wives
and families of the attaches of the com
mission, because all such went on the
Journey entirely independent of the
commission and were in no way a
charge upon the official party 1t IS
probable that the stories of large COM
pensation were suggested by payments
in treaty negotiations of the past, nota-
bly the Bering sea matter and Mr.. Fos-
ter's success in connection with the
China and Japan treaty. In the case
of Mr. Foster there is no parallel to the
Paris commission. He was retained for
a very large fee to perform certain du-
ties. In the case of the Bering sea the
commissioners were paid very riaoder-
ate sums for their work, but associated
with them were number of attorneys
of note in the capacity Of counsel look
ing after large interests, and as sucn
were paid liberal fees
There were but two critical periods in
the negotiations" remarked Judge Day,
..the first regarding the Cuban debt,
which was an open question for more
than a month, during which time the
Americans never swerved from their
position presented to the Spaniards. The
other was upon the Philippine cession,
and after the Americans had reached
conclusion in their own councils as to
the concessions that should be granted
there was no deviation, and the Span
iards finally accepted. The personal re-
lations between the representatives or
the two governments were at all time
friendly and cordial. The Americans
had great respect for the ability of the
Spanish members and believed that
nothing was left unsaid or undone that
could benefit the Spanish case. The
president of the Spanish commission
was remarked as a man OF great abili-
ty by the Americans and won their re-
spect by the able manner in which he
conducted the Spanish case"
senator Frye raIks Freely.
Senator Frye consented to an inter
view on the conditions attending and
resulting from the peace negotiations.
With respect to the frequently repeat
ed statement in press dispatches that
the sentiment of the powers, with. the
exception of England, was opposed to
the United States and looked with dis
favor upon the attitude of this govern
ment in dealing with Spain, Senator
Frye said:
II saw no evidence of such sentiment
existing outside of France, and in
France that sentiment appeared to be
confined to the press, which does not re-
fleet the sentiment of the nation, nor OF
the people generally"
do you think there will be an early
restoration of cordial relations between
Spain and the United States?"
'I think that very soon after the rati-
f1cation of the peace treaty and the res
toration of diplomatic relations there
will be no difficulty about negotiating
commercial treaties and treaty for the
release of prisoners and such other mat
ters directed toward the perfect resto
ration of friendly relations between the
two governments. / do not believe that
the Spanish government will be at all
disposed to keep up unfriendly feelings
between the two governments. The max
ing of new treaties adapted to the pres
ent conditions will be better than would
the restoration OF the old treaties, some
features of which were obsolete"
What has been published with re-
spect to the treaty Of peace seems to in
dicate, does it not, that this government
is not committed by these negotiations
with respect to the future disposition of
the territory the Spanish sovereignty
over which has been re1inquished?"
'.It indicates very strongly that this
government is not committed in any
way whatever with respect to the dis
position and government of these is
lands. If we were insane enough to do
so, we might give them all back to Spain
after the ratification of the treaty. II
we were fools, we might divide them up
among the other foreign powers The,
whole matter is left in the hands of con-
gress Congress can make any DISPOSE
ton of the islands it sees fit. The ratifi-
cation of the treaty will not in any way
curtail our privileges in this direction"
do you think the treaty will be rati-
fed at an early date?"
.I haven't talked with my colleagues
and do not know what the disposition
of the senate is. / think the treaty will
be sent to congress soon after the ho1i-
days, and l do not see how any sane
man, when the matter is properly be-
fore the senate. can oppose its ratifica
ton. Surely there can be no intelligent
man in the United States, unless he is
Q-x1 - 1