The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1899-04-12
FORMAL ACTION.
Exchange ofthc Ratiilcations of the
Peace Trcaty-Bellamy Storcr Ap-
pointed Minister to Spain : Details

exchange ofthC Qualifications Of the
Peace Trcaty-Bellamy Storcr APP
pointed Minister to Spain : Details
ofthc Ceremony.
WASHINGTON, April 1.-THE con-
dition of war which has existed between
the United States and Spain since April
q. 1888, terminated to-day when the
last formalitle5 in the restoration of
peace were performed by the exchange
OF ratiflcations OF the peace treaty. Co.
Incident with this President Mckinley
Issued his proclamation declaring that
the wal. was at an end, and the ap-
polntment of Bellamy Storer was deter
mined 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
ratiflcations took place at o'clock. In
anticipation OF the historic character
Of the event many members of the
cabinet and officials prominent in the
administration gathered ut the White
House. These included Secretaries HAY,
Wilson and Hitchcock; Senator Davis,
one OF the peace commissioners who ne
gotiated the treaty; Assistant Secretar-
les Hill, Adee and Cridlcr, OF the state
department; Acting Secretary OF War
Meiklejohn, Adjutant General Corbin,
Solicitor General Richards, Hon. Wayne
Mac Veagh and Mr.. Sidney Smith, chief
OF the bureau of diplomatic correspond
ence. stpte department. who prepared
the American copy OF the treaty.
Shortly before o'clock the French
ambassador, NJ. Cnmbon, 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 greeted
the ambassador and after n brief ex-
change OF well wishes the formal ccre-
mony began. The President stood back
OF the large desk presented to the gov
ernment by Queen Victoria, while Sec
rotary Hay and Ambassador Cambon
occupied places ut the desk. Around
this central group were ranged the cab
met officers and others already mem
TONED and officials of the household.
The powers OF NJ. Cambon and Secre-
tary Hay were examined, n protocol
concerning the days ceremony signed
and other formalitics concluded. These
Drelimlnaries took some time, SO that
1t was nearly $3.50 before the actual
exchange began. The signing of the
protocol OF exchange occurred Mt 3:2S
y. M, Ambassador Cambon signing II
for Spain and Secretary Hay for the
United States. The protocol was In
French, and briefly rcclted the circum-
stances leading up to the exchange.
This cleared the way for the exchange
Itself, constituting the final act. The
President took from the desk the Amer
lean copy OF the treaty. handsomely en-
crossed, bound In dark blue morocco
and encased In n black morocco port-
folio, and handed 1t to NJ. Cambon. At
the same time NJ. Cambon handed to
the President the Spanish COPY OF the
treaty. also engrossed. bound in NOR
occo and cncased In n maroon -coorcd
morocco box. There were deferentlal
bows us each received from the other
this final pledge OF peace. This ex-
change OF rntlilcations occurred Mt 1896
y. m. The President was the first to
speak. Ee.f
"Mr. Ambassador" sail he, IT will Is
sue my proclamation Mt once" FE,
NJ. Cambon thanked the President for
the promptness with which the proc.
lamntion followed. l
This ended the formal ceremony, and
nftcr brief Fluctuations the Ambassador
and other officials withdrew. Secretary
Hay took with him the Spanish copy
OF the treaty, received to-day, and de-