Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1898-12-15
THEIR WORK IS DONE
Peace Commissioners Com.
pleted the Treaty.
EMBODIES RESULT OF THE WAF
Spanish Members Exceedingly Bitter
Over the UNCONVENTIONAL Not Sell
One of the CarOlines.

Paris, Dec. lO.-The United States
and Spanish peace commissioners con-
cluded their work today and finally
settled the terms of the treaty of peace.
They will meet once more in formal
session, when the Spanish commission
ers sorrowfully and the Americans,
with feelings of relief, will write their
signatures upon the document which
emhodies the result OF the war and the
preparation of which has consumed II
weeks, Il longer time than the war
itself. In the meantime the treaty will
he engroseed under the supervision Of
MI. Moore and Senior Ojeda. the secre-
taries of the respective commissions.
The Spaniards are exceedingly bitter
over the result, though observing the
forms of friendliness and courtesy to
the end. Senior Montero Rios, whose
strong and persistent struggle to save
for his country every possible asset from
the wreck of her colonial empire, has
commanded the respect and admiration
OF his opponents, went from the council
chamber today to his bed in a state of
complete collapse, as a result of the
long strain and his chagrin over the
small fruits OF his efforts.
Senior Ojeda has been Frustrated since
Yesterday, and was unable to attend
the joint session today.
The Spaniards charge equal blame
unon the European powers and the
United States for their downfall. One
of the Spanish commissioners said:
1.-The European nations have made a
great mistake in deserving Spain and
leaving her to spoliation by the brute
force of a concenceless giant. They
all know that in the Philippines Amer
lea has taken more than she can digest.
She will ultimately sell the islands to
England or Germany, and when the
transfer is attempted it will precipitate
general European strife.
eve have refused to sell any island
in the Carolnes. We never thought Of
considering an offer. Nor have we con-
scented to negotiate upon any questions
eXcext those directly involved in the
protN nmiGpel at Washington"
The AiIarGcar com ln,5..:nrorS entered
the joint conference today in a nervous
frame of mind. They evidently had
reasons to believe that the possibility
existed that even ut this late hour there
might be rupture. This feeling OF
apprehension was based on the temper
the Spanards have displayed lately.
This week the commissioners of Spain
have not concealed the fact that, hav-
ing failed to gain all important points,
| they were Indifferent az to whether or
not the conference resulted in the set
treaty by which Spain loses all her col
onies. Miscarriage of the negotiations
would leave political prestige at home
no worse. if not in better condition
than if they signed the treaty.
The Americans were anxious not 20
give the Spaniards any pretext to break
off the negotiations. or take offense, so
far as the exercise of patience and
diplomacy could steer clear of protests.
Madrid papers are disposed to revive
the question of the Maine and to excite
public opinion against the United
States on account of TIE reference made
to this in President McKinley's mes
sage. They report that Rios made an
impassioned denunciation of Mckinley
at the last joint meeting of the commits
sions. Rios did refer to the Maine,
but only in calmly wo,ded sentences.
expressing regret that the president
had so spoken.
Diplomatic circles in Paris predict as
one of the results of the treaty a diplo-
matte contest between France and the
United States, which will make an i'm
portant chapter in history. The French
government is reported to have resolved
to take up the case of the French hold
ers of Cuban bonds, and it is believed
France will declare for reputation of
the bonds as the result of the treaty
which the victorious nation imposed on
Spain. They argue that the treaty re-
sponsiblty has been shifted upon
America, and that therefore the French
government will endeavor to exact
some pledge for payment or guarantee
of the bonds
Members of the commission say the
treaty contains little outside of the
scope OF the Washington protocol, ana
matters directly based thereon, like
provisions for evacuation OF coded terri
tory, transfer of public property therein
and guarantees of safety of property
and rights of Spanish citizens remain
ing there. Details of the last class of
questions covered by the statement
which the Americans handed to Rios
at the last meeting were considered to-
day, but all the commissioners refuse
to divulgc the details of the conference.
Several points upon which they We're
unable to agree were LETT open for
diplomatic negotiations.
The Spaniards refused to admit that
they had failed to respect former trea-
ties guaranteeing religious freedom in
the Caroline islands, or that there was
necessity for such guarantees.
Murder in II Church.