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CHAPTER XXIV.

THE TREATY OF PEACE.

BY

HON. JOHN BASSETT MOORE, Counsel and Secretary of the Peace Commission.

TH

HE rapid progress of the American arms, as narrated in the preceding pages of this volume, induced the government of Spain on the twenty-second of July, 1898, to make formal overtures for peace. This was done by a note, couched in the form of a message from the government of Her Majesty the Queen Regent of Spain to the President of the United States, and signed by the Duke of Almodovar del Rio, as Minister of State. It intimated that Spain was prepared to relinquish her sovereignty over Cuba, and expressed a wish to learn from the President the basis on which a "political status" might be established there and an end be put to a conflict "which would continue without reason should both governments agree upon the means of pacifying the island.”

The note of the Duke of Almodovar was presented to the government of the United States by M. Cambon, the French Ambassador at Washington, who, in the interruption of diplomatic relations between the United States and Spain, in consequence of the state of war, acted, with permission of his government and the approval of that of the United States, in a friendly capacity, as the representative of Spanish interests. The reply of the President was made on the thirtieth of July, in a note which was addressed by Judge Day, then Secretary of State, to the Duke of Almodovar, and which was handed to M. Cambon for communication to the Spanish government.

The suggestion of Spain that the war might be brought to a close on the basis of an agreement as to the future status of Cuba was not accepted. On the contrary it was declared

that the “local question" as to the peace and good government of Cuba, out of which the war had grown, had by the course of events been "transformed and enlarged into a general conflict of arms between two great peoples." In the prosecution of this conflict the President had been compelled to avail himself unsparingly of the lives and fortunes of his countrymen, and untold burdens and sacrifices, far transcending any material estimation, had been imposed upon them. Nevertheless, the President was, said the note, inclined to offer abrave adversary generous terms of peace. The President's terms were then defined as follows:

"The United States will require :

"First. The relinquishment by Spain of all claim of sovereignty over a title to Cuba and her immediate evacuation of the island.

Second. The President, desirous of exhibiting signal generosity, will not now put forward any demand for pecuniary indemnity. Nevertheless, he cannot be insensible to the losses. and expenses of the United States incident to the war or to the claims of our citizens for injuries to their persons and property during the late insurrection in Cuba. He must, therefore, require the cession to the United States and the immediate evacuation by Spain of the island of Porto Rico and other islands now under the sovereignty of Spain in the West Indies, and also the cession of an island in the Ladrones. to be selected by the United States.

"Third. On similar grounds the United States is entitled to occupy and will hold the city, bay and harbor of Manila, pending the conclusion of a treaty of peace which shall determine the control, disposition and government of the Philippines.

"If the terms hereby offered are accepted in their entirety, commissioners will be named by the United States to meet similarly authorized commissioners on the part of Spain for the purpose of settling the details of the treaty of peace and signing and delivering it under the terms above indicated."

The reply of the Spanish government bears as date the sev