The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1898-12-09
HAVE FINISHED
THEIR LABORS
Signing Treaty All That Remains
to Be Done.
THE SPAN|ARDS ARE BITTER
Though They Observed Terms OIL COur-
teSy to the End.
RIOS IN COMPLETE COLLAPSE
Left the Conference Chamber to Go to
His Sick Bed.
Left the Conference Chamber to Go to
His Sick Bed.
BLAMEs POWERS OF EUROPE
Sat Idly by and w atched the Conscience
less Giant Rob Spain of Her Fair
est Possessions -McKinley's
Reference to the Maine.

Paris December S.-1he United States
and the Spanish peace commissioners con-
cluded their work today and finally settled
the terms of the treaty of peace. They Will
meet once more in formal session on Sat-
urday or Monday next, when the Spanish
commissioners will write their signatures
upon the document which embodies the re-
suits of the war and the preparation of
which has consumed eleven weeks, a longer
time than the war itself. In the meantime
the treaty will be engrossed under the su-
pervision of the secretaries OF the respect
i've commissions.
The Spaniards are exceedingly bitter over
the result, though observing the forms of
friendliness and courtesy to the end Senior
Rios, whose strong and persistent struggle
to save for his country every possible asset
from the wreck of her colonial empire, has
commanded the respect and admiration of
his opponents, went from the council cham
ber today to his bed in state of complete
collapse as the result of the long strain and
his chagrin over the small fruits of his ef-
forts.
Blame European Powers
The Spaniards charge equal blame upon
the European powers and the United States
for their downfall. One of the Spanish
European nations have made a great mis-
take in deserting Spain and leaving her to
spoliaton by the brute force of a con-
scienceless giant They all knaw that In
the Philippines America has taken more
than she can digest. She will ultimately
sell the islands to England or Germany and
when the transfer is attempted it will pre-
cipitate general European strife.
I'VE have refused To sell anv island In tho
Carolines We never thought of consider
ing an offer. Nor have we consented to me-
gotiate upon any questions except those di-
rectly involved in the protocol signed at
Washington
The members of the commission say th<
treaty will contain little outside the scope
OF the Washington protocol and the mat
ters directly based thereon, like the pro-
visions for the evacuation of the ceded ter
ritories, the transfer of public property
therein and guarantees of the safety OF the
property and rights OF the Spanish citizens
remaining there.
Details Not Divulged
the details of the last class of questions
covered by the statement which the Amer
leans handed 10 Senor Montero Rios at the
last meeting were considered today but
all the commissioners refuse to dvuge the
details of the conference.
Several points upon which they were un-
able to agree were left open for diplomatic
negotiations.
The Spaniards refuse to admit that they
had failed to respect former treaties guar
anteeing religious freedom in the Caroline
Islands or that there was another necessi-
ty for new guarantees.
The conclusion of the work was accord
ing to the commissioners, marked by polite
ness and all outward evidences of good
linz otaA lfaf }1...F &c.
was accomplished.
When all the propositions had been dis
cussed, Judge Day, president of the Amer
lean commission, remarked:
'"rhere seems to be nothing more to do
but to engross and sign the treaty"
Senor Montero Rios, president of the
Spanish commission, acquiesced to the sug-
gestion, and the Americans bowed them-
selves out before the Spaniards according
to their custom.
The Maine Inciden:
Madrid, December s.-The Impartial to-
day says the Spanish government ,ycster-
day decided to telegraph to Senior Montero
Rios. president of the Spanish peace COM
mission at Paris, instructing him to again
protest against President McKinleys refer
ences to the Maine in his recent message
to congress.
Continuing, the Imparcial says there is
great indignation at the American COM
missioners' rejection of Senior Rios request
for neutral investigation into the cause
of the loss OF the Maine.
A semi-oficial note Just issued says
Spain has been treated by tho conquerer
with unexampled cruelty and Is resigned to
her fate. But she cannot tolerate Presi-
dent McKiney's accusation, for she is con-
scisus of her complete Innocence.
"It Is understood that the government
has decided to end the Paris conference OH
the ground that the discussion of the Sec
ondary questions is impossible
The Release of Prisoners
London, December 9.--The Madrid corre-
spondent of the Standard says:
The strongest comments are made upon
the little disposition the United States has
shown to respond to the Spanish demands