Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1898-08-18

Washington. Aug. 12.-With simplicity in
keeping With republican institutions, the
war which has ragged between Spain and
the United States for a period of three
months and % days was quietly termi-
mated at % minutes past I O'Clock this
afternoon, when Secretary Day for the
tinted States and NJ. Cambon for Spain
in the pi presence of President Mckinley,
signed a protocol which will form the
basis of Il definite treaty of peace. II is
but simple justice to our sister republic
of France to record the fact that to her
good offices this speedy termination of a
war that might have run on indefinitely
was brought about and the President him
self deemed that action on the part Of
the French government as worthy OF his
special praise.
The closing chapter of events that led
up to the signature Of the protocol and
the cessation of hostilitics was fun of in
terest. 1t was not until half past twelve
that the final instructions to the French
Ambassador began to come from Madrid.
The state department was soon advised Of
the fact that the message was under
transmission hut as it was evident that it
would bS long and that it's reception
would occupy much time, the secretary of
state left the state department for his
lunch. At 2:4j o'clock Secretary Thiebaut
of the French embassy appeared at the
state department to inform Secretary Day
that the ambassador was in full possess
sion of the note, Was fully empowered to
sign the protocol for Spain and only
awaited the pleasure of the state depart
ment. lie minated that the ambassador
would he pleased to have the final ccre-
mony conducted in the presence of Presi-
dent Mckinley. whore the negotiations
were begun. Leaving the secretary of the
embassy in his own office Secretary Day
made a short visit to the White House to
learn the Presidents wishes in the mat
ter. The latter Immediately consented to
accept the suggestion and NJ. Thiebaut
FASTENED to inform his principal that the
president would receive him at the White
House at 4 o'clock.
At the appointed hour a driving rain
storm prevailed, obliglng all the parties
TO resort to carriages for transportation
TO the White House. Secretary Day came
frst with a large portfolio under his arm
enclosing copies Of the protocol, of the
proclamation to be issued by the President
stopping hostilities and some other neces-
/, sary papers. He was accompanied by
Assistant Secretary Moore. Second Assist
ant Secretary Adce and Third Assistant
Secretary Cridler. They were shown i'm
medtately into The cabinet room, where
the President sat in waiting. He had in
Nlted to be present Assistant Secretaries
Fruden and Cortelyou and Lieut.. Col.
Montgomery.
When Ambassador Cambon reached tho
White House IL was Just 1855 O'Clock. five
minutes in advance of the appointed hour.
With Secretary Thicbaut he was ushered
inside. At 4:0j they were announced 10 the
waiting party in the cabinet room and
were ushered into their presence. After
IN exchange OF diplomatic courtesies no
unnecessary loss OF time occurred and
Assistant Secretary of State Cridler on
The part of the United States and FIRST
Secretary Thiebaut on the part of Spain.
| InfNrnn n "a uinhnl tFl..a la.
critical formal examination of the proto-
col. This inspection had all the outward
formalities due a document of this impor-
lance. 1t was prepared in duplicate at
the state department, one copy to be re-
tanned by the United States govern
ment and the other to become
the property of Spain. The text is
handsomely engrossed in "A running old
English script. Each copy OF the protocol
: Is arranged in double column, French and
e English, standing alongside for easy COM
= parison as to the exactness of translation.
me Two copies are alike, except that the
= one held by this government has the Eng
= fish text In the first column and the sig
= nature or Secretary Day ahead OF that of
s Mr.. Cambon, while the copy TRANSMITTED
to SPAN has French in the first column
$ and the signature of NJ. Cambon ahead OF
Y that Of Secretary Day.
b.. The protocol sen to Spain was accom-.
panied by the credentials issued by Pres!.
e dent Mckinley, specially empowering the
r secretary of state to afiix his signature &c
this document. The authorization wal
4 brlef and in typewriting save for the Pres.
r idcnt's signature. Later the American
= copy of the protocol will be accompanied
= by the written credentials of the Span,
ish government. sent to NJ. Cambon
r ana bearing the signature of Queen Chris,
I tina. The cable despatch received by him
1 to-day conferred full authority to sigr
2 the protocol, and stated that the writer
authorization would follow signed by tho
Queen Regent in the name OF the King
I Prior to the ceremony of to-day, M. THE,
= bault showed the cable despatch TO Sec,
= rotary Day, and IL was accepted as suf
= ficient to enable the ambassador to sigr
In behalf Of Spain. When the written au,
thOrization arrives 1t will be presented &c
= the state department to The
protocol.
@ The examination of the protocol was
I satisfactory and the document was hand,
ed to NJ. Cambon first and then to Sec,
rotary Day, who affixed signatures in tina
order to each side of the two copies. Ther
7, the last detail in making the protoco
4 binding was administered by Assistant
Secretary Cridler In charge of the chan,
Gerry work, who attached the seal of the
United States. Throughout the ceremony
= all but the two signers remained standing
= NJ. Cambon in signing for Spain, occupied
the seat which Secretary of the Navy
n Long, now away on n vacation, usually
occupied, The President stood at the LEFT
!, hand corner at the head of the great cab,
met table; Secretary Day. M. Thiebaul'
e and NJ Cambon. in the order named, or
=. the left side Of the table, The rest of the
+ party were standing in other parts of tn,
room.
No credentials were produced during the
meeting at the White House, the Presi
dent accepting Secretary Days assurance
that this had been settled to his s~atisfac,
ton at the state department. 1t was AIS
o'clock when the final signatures were at