Evening star., 1899-02-07
SPAIN Is NOTIFIED
Official Information Of the Treaty's
Ratification.
THE C0RFES MUST NEXT TAKE ACTION
1t is Not Expected That There
VIII Be Delay
p OW i Il TO PREV VENT IT

1t was stated at the State Department to-
| day that the ratification OF the treaty by
| the Senae yesterday was an important step
toward the completion of that document
| but that The treaty will not become the
| supreme law Of the land until after rati-
ficaticns have been exchanged by spain
and the United States and that fact Is pro-
mulgated by the President by proclama-
ton. The action of the Senate yesterday
has not changed the status II affairs i'm
the Philippines. The Inhabitants of that
! country are officially regarded subjects
of Spain, who have broken the truce mad,,
by their government for a suspension uf
hostilities pending the conc usion Of peace.
The territory w.n not formally come into
the legal possession of the United States
until after the exchange OF Publications Of
the treaty.
These statements are made upon the au-
tEorlty OF "a high official Of The State de-
partmont. who was charged with am invrs-
tigation Of the subject with "a view go IN"
guidance of the administration
Secretary Hay sent "a note this morning
to NJ. Thlrhaut the charge "f the French
embassy here. informing ham officially of
the ratification of the treaty Toy the Senate
yesterday, and requesting him to com
municate that information to the Spanish
government. 1t was not until This morn
ing that the Department Of State received
! official information of The action Of tho
Senate yesterday and consequently the
department was not IN position To- com
munlCate the information to the French
embassy until today. This Indirect method
of communicating with tke Spanish GOV
eminent was necessitat.d Ay The. fact that
diplomatic relations are entirely suspended
with the Spanish government. and there
was no other course 10 pursue.
The business Of the Spanish government
| in this country has ben in the hands 81
the French embassy since III. outbreak Of
The war. 1t Is a fair assumption that NJ
lhieo oaut cahled the information to the
spanish government Immediately after
hearing from the State Department.
There is nothing further for this gov
crnment to do in the matter until after the
spanish government has taken action. The
CUrteS must ratify the treaty rs lid tho
| United States Senate before il viii be effec-
tive, but as the Ccrtes is 20 assemble in a
few weeks il is not believed there viii bo
much delay in that respect. 1T is said to
bc impossible under tn. Spanish marlin
under consideration by th- Cortes Tor any
such ler2th OF time as it did before the
United SJai Senate.
The royal government is usually assur, 7
faf the success Of a treaty before il is sub
t&ttted, and there are ways known TO Span
ism practice to SUTlmariy cut of uuueces-
sary debate and diiatory tactics on The part
Of the opposition.
According to the terms Gf the treaty final
ratitications mast be exchanged on or be-
fore the loth Of June, but the expectation is
That they viii actually exchange before
that date. The exchange must be had in
Washington. ana the Spanish government
VIII probably send here q specially empoW-
cred ambassador for that purpose.
some time before the ratifications are OK
changed the PreSi lent must sign the treaty
thus formally approving the action of the
United States Senate. something. he has not
done up to this time.