The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1899-03-18
THE TREATY OF PEACE
Formal Notification of the Spanish
Queens Signature
GIVEN BY AMBASSADOR oAMBON,

The French Ambassador win Proba-
bly, Act In the Final Negotiations.
The Signing Does Not at Once Affect
Spanish Prisoners In the philippines.
Washington, March 1S.-The first
news Of the signature of the peace treaty
by the queen regent of Spain was con-
veyed to Secretary Hay and the officials
sf the administration through the press
bulletin. The secretary was naturally
gratifed at the action, which he had
expected would follow the dissolution Of
the cortes. The action makes 1t pos
sible to exchange the ratifications, and
thus complete the treaty within the time
set by the treaty itself as the miximum.
The protocol was signed Aug. 13 last at
the White House by the president and
Ambassador Cambon. Dec. 10 the
treaty was signed at Paris by the COM
missioners. Feb. 6 It was ratified by
the United States senate after consider
able struggle. Feb. 10 the president
gave it his signature, and now, seven
months and four days after the signing
Of the protocol, the Spanish queen re-
gent gives her formal assent and sig
nature.
Ofcial news of the action at Madrid
was not conveyed to the state depart
ment before the close OF the department
for the day. M. Cambon called at the
department about ten minutes to A
o'clock, and in the absence of Secretary
Hay called upon Assistant Secretary
Hill. He told the latter that he believed
the treaty had been signed. Today he
gave formal notification to that effect. It
seems now probable that to NJ. Cam
bon will be cOnfided the honor Of
closing the task which he set about seven
months ago of bringing two great ma
tions then at war to a state of peace.
Usually the rule is for a nation situated
as is Spain to send a special envoy
charged with the duty of exchanging
the ratifcations. In this case the wish
Of the United States government will be
consulted, and there Is little doubt, in
view Of the kindly regard entertained for
the ambassador by the president, that he
will elect to have NJ. Cambon act for the
last time as the representative of the
Spanish government and make the ex-
change. A good reason also for ac-
cepting again the ambassadors offices
In the last function would be the saving
of time.
The signing OF the treaty cannot in any
manner affect the status OF the Spanish
prisoners in the hands Of Aguinaldo, for
the United States government Is doing
all that it can to secure their release.
Still it is apprehended that the Spanish
government, being able to address itself
directly to the United States govern
ment as soon as the ratifcations are ex-
changed, will not neglect to press the
matter upon the attention of the state
department, and perhaps will solicit au-
thority to resume direct negotiations
with the insurgents looking to the release
of the prisoners. The hope is entertain
ed, however, that it may be unnecessary
to decline such a request, for by that
date the insurrection may have been
quelled. II the Spanish government
should insist, however, some disagreea-
BILE questions may be raised, involving
the formal recognition of the insurgents
by Spain, in which case perhaps it might
claim the right to deal directly with
Aguinaldo.
Contrary to an expectation that SEEM
ed to have obtained in some quarters, the
signature of the treaty does not involve
the immediate discharge of ali the volun-
teer soldiers. 1t was stated positively at
the state department that legally the
treaty does not go into effect uI1il the
ratifcations have been exchanged, and
1t will further be necessary for the pres.
ident to proclaim it before the people of
the United States, including the soldiers,
can know officially that the war is over,
In all other aspects, however, the state
department will treat the war as at an
end. 1t is believed here that the new
Spanish minister will come prepared to
institute negotiations for a treaty OF
trade, commerce and amity, the old
treaty having been annuled by the out
break OF war.