New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-12-25
PEACE ENJOYS AT HOME.
RETURN ON TIE ST. LOUIS AND TAKE
THE TREATY TO WASHINGTON
SENATOR FRYE TALKS BRIEFLY OF THE WORK
OF THE COMM1ssIoN-THE TASK WAS
ARDUOus BECAUSE EVERY POINT
HAD TO BE FOUGHT FOR

HAD TO BE FOUGHT FOR.
TIE Commissioners appointed by President
Mckinley to represent the United States in the
negotiations at Paris which resulted in the
signing Of the treaty Of peace arrived ut this
port early yesterday morning on the American
Line steamship st. Louis and proceeded az
once 10 Washington. The party included Judge
William X. Day. chairman Of the American
Commission. and formerly Secretary OF State;
Senator Cushman K. Davis. Of Minnesota; Sena-
Tor w +. Frye. Of Maine: Senator George Gray.
Of Delaware. and Whitelaw REID. OF New-York
members OF the Commission: John Bassett
Moore. secretary Of the Commission. and for
mer.y First Assistant Secretary Of State: Ar
thur W. Ferguson. Spanish Interpreters Frank
Branagan. disbursing officer; John Macarthur.
assistant secretary to the Commission; Ruther-
ford Corbin. attache to the Commission; Mrs
Day Mrs. Davis Mrs. Frye Mrs. Reid and
Miss Reid. Mrs Gray and the Misses Gray.
Mrs. Moore and child. and a number of clerks
and stenographers. The treaty brought by the
Commission In the care of John Bassett
Moore
The Commissioners left Paris on December
16 and travelled by way of the Calais route
10 Southampton. where they embarked on the
following day on the st. Louis The Ameri-
can liner had all sorts Of weather on her vOy-
ase-sunshine, rain, fog, gale and snow on
Tuesday morning a big comber boarded her
and flooded the smoking room, but did no other
damage. The fog the ship met on Thursday
prevented the St Louis from getting into port
Friday. and 1t was 1112 Friday night
when she sighted off Fire Island. At
little after 2:30 o'clock yesterday morning she
anchored off Quarantine for the night. and did
not lift her anchor until the Health officer had
boarded her, at o'clock
A revenue cutter met the big steamer be-
tween Staten Island and Liberty Island. and
put a number of customs officers and reporters
aboard her. When a Tribune reporter
Judge Day. chairman Of the Commission. he
said that he was unable to say anything re-
eardng the work of the Commission. He added
that the Commissioners were going at once to
Washington to deliver their report To the Pres-
dent. and that their report might be made pub
lie there last night.
SENATOR FRYE on THE NEGOTIATIONS.
Senator Frye at first showed an inclination
toward the same reticence exhibited by Judge
Day, but in response TO questions he said at
length that the Commissioners were bringing
home treaty that was virtually in force except
for the formal ratification that must be made.
II pointed out the fact that the consent of the
Cortes was not necessary for that purpose the
ratification Of the Queen Regent being sufficient
on the Spanish side, and on this side the ap-
provai Of the President, confirmed by the Sen
ate Senator Frye went 10 say that at the
! first meeting Of the Joint Commission Sehor
Montero Rios the chairman Of the Spanish Com
mission intimated that he and his colleagues
were prepared to discuss the details of a treaty
Of peace providing that first the Americans
would withdraw their forces from the occupa-
cnr6f t,-ac
promptly refused by the representatives Of the
United States, and, while protesting against the
continuance of the American forces in the
Philippines the Spanish Commissioners made
their next stand over the question Of the Cuban
debt which they insisted that the United States
. Government should assume. This proposition
was fatty rejected, Of course and the stubborn
ness with which the Spaniards contested the
point seemed not unlikely al one time TO break
off negotiations Senator Frye intimated that
the determined stand taken by the Spaniards in
the matter Of the assumption Of the Cuban debt
was due in a great measure to the promptings
Of the president Of the Spanish line whose steam
ships ply between this port and Cuba, himself
large holder Of Cuban bonds.
Senator Frye went on to say that the Spanish
? Commissioners had comparatively slight objec-
tions to giving up Cuba and Porto Rico, but
when il came TO the question Of relinquishing
the Philippines there was another stubborn con
test So averse were the Spaniards 10 giving up
the islands in the Pacific that less than
three occasions 1t seemed likely that all discus
sion between the two bodies Of Commissioners
must come to abrupt end. But said Sen
ator FRYE I'VE knew what we wanted and
when the Spanish Commissioners saw that they
could net induce US to withdraw from po
Epai i1v tbe of
delivering an utimatum to them, they agreed to
our terms"
GOOD OPINION OF MONTERO RIOS.
Senator Frye was of the opinion that Senior
Montero Rios was an exceedingly able man. He
had little chance 10 judge Of the qualities OF the
other Spanish Commissioners because little
talking was done on; their side except by Senior
Mortero RIOS. For the American Commission
ers Judge Day as chairman. acted spokes
man The American Commissioners met by
themselves each morning AT 10 o'clock and after
roedfu deliberaton instructed the chairman
what 10 say at the meeting Of the Joint Com
mission which took place each day al oclock.
Senator Frye referring to the personal attitude
Of the Sranish Commissioners said that while
they were not particularly cordial, as might
hive been reasonably expected under the cir
cumstances yet they were at all times polite
and courteous They accepted the Invitation OF
General Horace Porter. the American Ambassa-
dor 10 France 10 attend a farewell dinner given
in honor Of the Joint Commission, but the Span
ish Ambassador did not return the courtesy
sem the senator said II should be remembered
that when the Spanish Commissioners were ap-
pointed Spain owned a colonial empire, and
when those Commissioners had discharged their
duties the better part OF it had passed from her
hands.
According 10 Senator Frye, the attitude OF the
French papers continues hostile TO this country.
Almost without exception they likened the ac-
ton Of the United States 70 the bullying OF