The Republican., 1899-04-13

w WASHlNGTON, ApTH L. l. ne OOh-
dition Of war which has existed be-
tween the United States and Spain
since April 81, 1898, terminated to-day,
when the last formalities in the resto-
ration of peace were performed by
the exchange of ratifications of the
peace treaty. Coincident with this
President Mckinley issued his procla-
nation declaring that the war was at
an end, and the appointment of
Bellamy Storer was determined upon
as United States minister to Spain.
The principal ceremony of the day
occurred in the reception room at the
White House, when the exchange of
ratifcations took place. In anticipa-
tion of the historic character of the
event, many members of the cabinet
and officials prominent in the admin
istration gathered at the White
House. These included Secretaries
Hay, Wilson and Hitchcock, Senator
Davis, one of the peace commissioners
wiz bllC AAESISlttIb
Secretaries Hill, Adee and Cridler, of
the State Department.; Acting Secre
tary of War Meikleiohn, Adjutant-
General Corbin, Solicitor General
Richards, Hon. Wayne MacVeagh
and Mr.. Sidney Smith, chief of the
bureau of diplomatic correspondence,
State Department, who had prepared
the American copy of the treaty.
Shortly before 3 o'clock the French
Ambassador, NJ Cambon, arrived in
company with NJ. Thiebaut, the first
secretary of the embassy, the latter
bearing the Spanish copy of the peace
treaty. Mr.. Mckinley cordially greet
ed the ambassador and, after a brief
exchange of good wishes, the formal
ceremony began. The President
stood back of the large desk presented
to the government by Queen Victoria,
while Secretary Hay and Ambassador
Cambon occupied places at the desk.
Around this central group were
ranged the cabinet officers and others
already mentioned and officials of the
household.
The powers of NJ. Cambon and Sec
retary Hay were examined, a protocol
concerning the days ceremony was
signed and other formalities con-
cluded. These preliminaries took
some time, so that it was nearly $50
o'clock before the actual exchange
began. The signing of the protocol
of exchange occurred at 1928 p. IN,
Ambassador Cambon signing for
Spain and Secretary Hay for the
United States. The procotol was in
French, and briefly recited the cir
cumstances leading up to the eX
change. This cleared the way for the
exchange itself, constituting the
final act.
The President took from the desk
the American copy of the treaty,
handsomely engrossed, bound in dark
blue morocco and encased in a black
morocco portfolio, and handed it to
M. ,Cambon. At the same time M.
Cambon handed to the President the
Spanish copy of the treaty, also en-
crossed, bound in morocco and en-
cased in maroon-colored morocco
box. There were differential bows as
each received from the other this final
pledge of peace. This exchange of
ratifcations Occurred at 1856 D. III.
The President was the first to speak.
'Mr. Ambassador he said, 81 will
issue my proclamation at oncen
M. Cambon thanked the President
for the promptness with which the
proclamation followed. This ended
the formal ceremony and, after brief
Fluctuations, the ambassador and
other officials withdrew. Secretary
Hay took with him the Spanish copy
of the treaty received to-day and
deposited it in the archives of the
State Department. NJ. Cambon
cabled the Spanish government of
the final restoration of peace, and
announced that the American copy
of the treaty would be forwarded
through the French foreign office.
The effect of the action taken to-
day is to completely renew the peace
full relations, trade, official, diplomatic
and consular, between this country
and Spain. Following the appoint
ment of United States minister to
Madrid and Spanish minister to
Washington, it is expected that con
suls will be sent to Barcelona and
other large places in Spain where our
consular representations were suspen-
ded by the war. At the same time