The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-12-05
ovERTUREs OF PEACE
And Other Events Following Destruc-
ton of Cervera's Fleet.

The humiliation Of Admiral Cervera's
fleet, followed by the equalization of
Santiago, having brought to the Span
1Sh government, a realizing sense of
the hOpeIessness of continuing a strug-
gle now becoming wholly unequal, it
made OVertureS of peace through the
French ambassador, who with the as
sent OF his government had acted as
the friendly representative of SPAIN
interest during the war On the 26th
of July, NJ. Cambon presented a COM
municatiOn signed by the Duke of AL
modovar, the Spanish minister of state
inviting the United States to state the
terms upon which it would be willing
to make peace. On July 80, by a com
municat1On addressed to the Duke of
Almodovar and handed by NJ. Cambon
the terms of this government were an
nOunced, substantially as in the prOto-
col, afterwards signed. On August 10
the Spanish reply, dated August Z was
handed by M. CambOn to the secretary
of state. 1t accepted Internationally
the terms imposed as to Cuba, Porto
Rico and an island of the LadrOne
group, but appeared to seek to intro
duce inadmissible reservations in re-
gard to our demands as to the Philip
pines. Conceiving that decision on this
point could neither be practicable nor
profitable. I directed that in order to
avoid misunderstanding the matter
should be forthwith closed by prOpos-
ing the embodiment in a, formal pro-
tOcOl of the terms in which the negotia-
tons for peace were to be undertaken.
The vague and inexplicit suggestions
of the Spanish note could not be ac-
cepted, the only reply being to pre-
ent a virtual ultimatum a draft of
the protocol, embodying the precise
terms rendered to Spain in our note OF
July So with added stipulatiOns of de-
tails as to the appointment of commits
siOners to arrange for the evacuation
of the Spanish Antilles. On August II,
NJ. Cambon announced his receipt of
full powers to sign the protocol so sub
mitted.
Accordingly on the afternoon of Aug
ust u, NJ. Cambon as the plenipOten-
tiary of Spain and the secretary of
state, as the plenipOtentiary of the
United States, signed a protocol pro-
viding:
article Spain will relinquish all
claim of sovereignty over and title to
Article 2-spain will cede to the
United States the island of Porto Rico
and other islands now under Spanish
so an island in the Ladrones to be Sc
lected by the United States.
ARTICLE S-The United States will oc-
cupy and hold the city, bay and har-
Dor of Manila, pending the conclusion
of treaty of peace which shall de-
termine the control. disposition and gov
eminent of the Philippines"
The fourth article provided for the
appointment of joint commissions on
the part of the United States and Spain
to meet in Havana and San Juan, re-
SpectVeiy. Tor the purpose OF arranging
and carrying out the details of the stip-
ulated evacuation of Cuba. Porto Rico
and other Spanish islands in the West
Indies
The fifth article provided for the ap-
pointment of not more than five COM
missiOners on each side, to meet at
Paris not later than October /, and to
proceed to the negotiations and con-
illusions of a treaty of peace, subject
to ratification according to the respec-
tive constitutional forms of the two
countries.
The sixth and last article provided
col, hostilities between the two coun-