The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1898-12-09
TITS FINISHED.
Judge Day Announces the Com
pletion Of the Treaty With
Spain.
The Signatures Now Only Wait
Upon the Engrossing Of the
Document.
Paris Dispatch Says Americans
Were Apprehensive, Even at
the Last Session.
Diplomatic Incident Of Historic
Importance Promised by
France.

PARIS, Dec. y.-The treaty is finished.
The Spaniards have declined to grant
most Of the requests Of the United
States which were unsettled at the be-
ginning of the session. They refused to
cede coaling station in the Caroline
islands to the United States. Judge
Day said:
1--WE have settled all the points on
which we can agree. 1t only remains
to engross and sign the treaty. That
will be done in two or three days
The mempers Of the commission say
the treaty.will contain little outside Of
the scope Of the Washington protocol.
and the matters directly based thereon.
like the provisions for the evacuation
of the ceded territories. the transfer Of
public property therein. and guarantees
Of the safety of the property and rights
of the Spanish citizens remaining there.
PARIS. Dec. 9.-When the American
peace commissioners entered the joint
conference they We're in nervous frame
of mind They evidently had reasons
to believe that possibility existed.
even at this late hour: that there might
be rupture. This feeling of apprehen-
sion was based on the temper the Span
iards have displayed lately. This week
the commissioners of Spain have not con-
| 1a.1 81 CO. 81, go, 1al n.
all the important points. they We're in
different as TO whether or not the con-
ference resulted in settlement of peace
by signing of treaty 10y which Spain
loses all her colonies.
| \ miscarriage of the negotiations
would leave their political prestige at
home no worse. if not in better posi-
ton than if they signed the treaty. The
Americans have been anxious not to give
the Spaniards any pretext to break Off
negotiations, or take offense, SO far as
the exercise of patience and diplomacy
could steer clear of protests.
The Madrid papers are disposed to re-
vive the question of the Maine and ex
cite public opinion against the United
States on account of the reference mad,
to this subject in President Mckinley
message to congress. They report tina
Senor Montero Rios. president of tn,
Spanish commission. made an impas
stoned denunciation of President Nc
Kirley at the last joint meeting OF tn
commissions. But these reports ar
practically without foundation.
Senior Rios did refer to the Maine. bu
in only one calmly worded sentence. ex
pressing regret that the president ha'
spoken, as Spaniards thought. unJustl,
of them. The Spaniards had alread.
proposed at this conference to have tn
responsibility of the Maine reported
upon by a joint commission OF the Euro
pean powers. The American commits
! sioners refused to listen to this and pei
mitted Senor Rios reference to the pres
isent's message to pass unchallenged.
4 discussion would have provoked dc
bate and bad blood.
Predict a Diplomatic Incident.
: Diplomatic circles in Paris predict. a
one of the results of the treaty. diplt
matte contest between France and tn
{. United States which will have al i'll
! portant chapter in history.
! The French government is reported
Q have resolved to take up the case OF tn
French holders of Cuban bonds. and
is believed France will declare that tf
repudiation of the bonds is result {
the treaty which the victorious natio
imposed upon Spain. They argue TIN
through the treaty responsibility hi
. been shifted upon America. and ther
fore the French government will el
deayor to exact some pledge for II
!. payment or guaranty of the bonds.