, 1898-12-07
mis- rcceip, or Iui, powers TO sign the pre-
tocol so submitted.

tocol so submitted.
Signing the Protocol.
Accordingly, on the afternoon of Aug.
IL, M. Cambon, rs the plenipotentiary of
| Spain, and the secretary of state, as the
plenipotentiary of the United States,
signed IA protocol providing:
Article L. Spai, will r%elinquish all claim
of sovereignty over and title To Cuba.
Article 2. Spain will cede to the United
States the island of Porto Rico and other
islands now under Spanish sovereignty in
the West indies, and also an island in the
L~idrones, to be selected by the United
States.
Article 3. The United States will oc-
cup and hold the city, bay and harbor Of
Manila, pending the conclusion of treaty
of peace, which shall determine the dis
position and control Of the Philippines.
The fourth article provided for the ap-
pointment OF joint commissions on the
part of the United States and Spain, to
meet in Havana and San Juan, respect
lively, for the purpose of arranging and
carrying out the details of the stipulated
evacuation of Cuba, Porto Rico and other
Spanish islands in the West Indies.
Tho fifth article provided for the APP
pointment of NOT more thar five commits
sioners on each side to meet at Paris not
later than Oct. !, and to proceed to the ne
peace, subject to ratification, according to
the respective constitutional forms of the
two countries.
The sixth and last article provided that
upon the signature of the protocol hostil-
tiles between the two countries should
be suspended and that notice to that eff
feet should be given as soon as possible by
each government to ommander of its
military and naval forces.
Immediately upon the conclusion of the
protocol l issued the proclamation of Aug.
12, suspending hostilities on the part Of
the United States. The necessary orders
to that end We're at once given by tele-
graph. The blockade of the ports of Cuba
and San Juan de Porto Rico was in like
manner raised.
Mastering Out Volunteers.
On Au- - the muster out of 100, 600
voluntees~ Jr as near hat number as
was found TO be practicable, was ordered.
On Dec. l, 10l 1856 officers and men had
been mustered out and discharged from
the service; 5000 more will be mustered
out by the 10th of the month. Also a
corresponding number of generals and
general staff officers have been honorably
discharged from the service.
The military commission to superin-
tend the evacuation of Cuba, Porto Rico
and the adjacent islands We're forthwith
appointed: For Cuba, Major General
James f. Wade, Rear Admiral Williar.
L. Sampson, Major General Matthew g.
Butler. For Porto Rico, Major General
John r. Brooke, Rear Admiral Winfield
S. Schley, Brigadier General Gordon, who
soon afterward met the Spanish commits
sioners at Havana and San Juan respect
lively. The Porto Rican joint commission
speedily accomplished its task and by
Oct. Is the evacuation of the island was
completed. The United States flag was
raised over the island at noon that day.
The administration of it's affairs has been
professionally entrusted to u military gov
ernor until the congress shall otherwise
provide. The Cuban joint high COM
mission has not yet terminated its labors.
Owing to the difficulties in the way of re-
moving the large number of Spanish
troops still in Cuba the evacuation can
not be completed before the LIST of Janu-
AIRY next.
Pursuant to the fifth article of the pro-
tocol l appointed William r. Day, lately,
secretary of state; Cushman X. Davis,
William P. Frye and George Gray, sena-
tors of the United States, and Whitelaw
Reid to be the peace commissioners on the
part of the United States. Proceeding in
due season to Paris they there met on Oct.
on the part of Spain. The negotiations
have made hopeful progress, so that l
trust soon to be able to lay IA definite
treaty of peace before the senate, with a
review of the steps leading to its sigma
ture.
Island of Cuba TO BE Free.
l do not discuss at this time the govern
AASAAto vi tiS " VI Wv INV ltSS1S'Ioilo
which will come to us as the result of the
war witt: Spain. Such u discussion will
be appropriate after the treaty of peace
shall be ratified. In the meantime, and
until congress has legislated otherwise, it
| will be my duty to continue the military
governments which have existed since
our occupation and give its people secur-
ity in life n property and encourage
ment under u just n bonefccnt rule.
As soon as we nave possession of Cuba
..nl L..yr va,tl-1 el,. t,1,.,l IL --;ll H.
necessary to give aid and direction to this
people to form u government for them
selves. This should he undertaken at the
earliest moment consistent with safety
and assured success. 1t is important hat
our relations with these people shall be of
the most friendly character and our conf
mercial relations close and reciprocal. 1t
should be our duty to assist in every
proper way to build up the waste places of
the island, encourage the industry of the
people and assist them to form a govern
ment which shall be free and independent,
thus realizing the best aspirations of the
Cuban people. Spanish rule must be re-
placed by a just, benevolent and humane
government, created by the people of
Cuba, capable of performing all interna-
tional obligations, and which shall en-
courage thrift, industry and prosperity,
and promote peace and good will among
all of the inhabitants, whatever may have
been their relations in the past. Neither
revenge nor passion should have a placein
the new government. Until there is
complete tranquility in the island and a
stable government inaugurated military
occupation will be continued.
Action on Nicaragua Canal.
The Nicaragua canal commission under
the craftsmanship of Rear Adiniral John
g. Walker, appointed July "a, 1897, under
the authority Of n provision OF the sundry
civil act of June 4 of that year., has nearly
completed its labors and the results of It's
exhaustive inquiry into the proper route,
the feasibility and the cost of construction
of an interoceanic canal by n Nicaraguan
route will be laid before you. In the per-
formance of its task the commission re-
ceived all possible courtesy and assistance
from t'.e governments OF Nicaragua and
Costa RIGA, which thus testified their APP
%preciation o the Importance of giving u
speedy and practical outcome to the great
project that has for so many years en-
crossed the attention of the respective
countries. AS the scope of recent
with the aim of making plans and
surveys for u canal by the most con.
yenicnt route, it necessarily included
a review OF the results of previous surveys
and plans, and in particular those adopted
by the Maritime Canal company under its
existing concessions from Nicaragua and
Costa Rica, 20 to this extent these grants
necessarily held an essential part in the
deliberations and conclusions OF the canal
commission. and they have so held and
needs must hold in the discussion of the
matter by congress. Under these circum-
stnnces, and In view of the overtures
made to the governments Of Nicaragua and
Costa Rica by other parties for a new
canal concession prrdicated on the as
sumed approaching lapse OF the contract
of the Maritime Canal company with
those states, l have not hesitated to ex-
pr,aa ~ conviction that CONSIDERATIONS