VICTORIOUS CLOSE OF THE WAR
Spain Sues for Peace--President McKinley's Ultimatum--French
Ambassador Cambon Acts on Behalf of Spain--The President's
Proclamation--The Protocol--Spanish Losses in Men, Ships and
Territory--Appointment of the Evacuation Committees and the Peace
Commission.
On Tuesday, July 26, the Spanish government took the first well
defined step to bring about a cessation of hostilities. The French
ambassador, accompanied by his secretary of embassy, called on
President McKinley, and under instructions from his government and
at the request of the Spanish minister of foreign affairs, opened
peace negotiations by declaring that Spain was ready to consider
terms. The proposition submitted by the ambassador acting for the
Spanish government was in general terms, and was confined to the
one essential point of an earnest plea that negotiations be opened
for the purpose of terminating the war.
Owing to the importance of the communication the ambassador
adopted the usual diplomatic procedure of reading the
communication from the original, in French, the translation being
submitted by M. Thiebaut. In the conversation which followed the
reading of the proposition neither the president nor the
ambassador entered upon the question of the terms of peace. The
instructions of the ambassador had confined him to the opening of
peace negotiations, and it was evident that the President desired
to consider the proposition before giving any definite reply. It
was finally determined that the President would consult the
members of his cabinet, and after a decision had been arrived at
M. Cambon would then be invited to the white house for a further
conference and for a final answer from the United States
government. Before the call closed a brief official memorandum was
agreed upon in order to set at rest misleading conjecture and to
give to the public information on a subject which had advanced
beyond the point where diplomatic reserve was essential.
After cabinet discussions on Friday and Saturday regarding the
concessions which should be demanded from Spain a definite
agreement was reached, and the French ambassador was notified that
the President was prepared to deliver his ultimatum. The demands
made by the President were briefly as follows:
1. That Spain will relinquish all claims of sovereignty over and
title to Cuba.
2. That Puerto Rico and other Spanish islands in the West Indies,
and an island in the Ladrones, to be selected by the United
States, shall be ceded to the latter.
3. That the United States will occupy and 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.
4. That Cuba, Puerto Rico and other Spanish islands in the West
Indies shall be immediately evacuated, and that commissioners, to
be appointed within ten days, shall within thirty days from the
signing of the protocol meet at Havana and San Juan, respectively,
to arrange and execute the details of the evacuation.
5. That the United States and Spain will each appoint not more
than five commissioners to negotiate and conclude a treaty of
peace. The commissioners to meet at Paris not later than October
1.
6. On the signing of the protocol hostilities will be suspended,
and notice to that effect will be given as soon as possible by
each government to the commanders of its military and naval
forces.
Spanish diplomacy was as usual in evidence, and attempts were made
by the Madrid administration to modify the terms, so as to relieve
the Spanish government of at least a portion of the Cuban debt,
but the authorities in Washington were firm and insisted that no
such suggestion could be considered, and that there could be no
further discussion until the Spanish flag had been withdrawn from
the West Indies.
On August 12 Ambassador Cambon received official notice from the
administration at Madrid that his action in agreeing to the terms
of the protocol was approved, and he was authorized to sign it, as
the representative of the Spanish government. Accordingly, at four
o'clock on the afternoon of that day, he presented himself at the
President's mansion, in company with his first secretary, M.
Thiebaut, where he was met by President McKinley, Secretary of
State Day, and Assistant Secretaries of State Moore, Adee and
Cridler.
Two copies of the protocol had been prepared, one in English for
preservation by this government, and the other in French for the
Spanish government. The signatures and seals were formally
attached, Secretary Day signing one copy in advance of M. Cambon,
the order being reversed on the other.
The President then congratulated the French ambassador upon the
part he had taken in securing a suspension of hostilities and
thanked him for the earnest efforts he had made to facilitate a
speedy conclusion. M. Cambon then bowed himself out of the room
and left the white house with the copy of the protocol, which he
will forward to Spain. The seal used by the French ambassador was
that of Spain, which had been left with him when the Spanish
minister withdrew from Washington.
FULL TEXT OF THE PROTOCOL.
His Excellency, M. Cambon, Ambassador Extraordinary and Minister
Plenipotentiary of the French Republic at Washington, and Mr.
William Day, Secretary of State of the United States, having
received respectively to that effect plenary powers from the
Spanish Government and the Government of the United States, have
established and signed the following articles which define the
terms on which the two governments have agreed with regard to the
questions enumerated below and of which the object is the
establishment of peace between the two countries--namely:
Article 1. Spain will renounce all claim to all sovereignty over
and all her rights over the Island of Cuba.
Article 2. Spain will cede to the United States the Island of
Puerto Rico and the other islands which are at present under the
sovereignty of Spain in the Antilles, as well as an island in
Ladrona Archipelago, to be chosen by the United States.
Article 3. The United States will occupy and retain the City and
Bay of San Juan de Puerto Rico and the Port of Manila and Bay of
Manila pending the conclusion of a treaty of peace which shall
determine the control and form of government of the Philippines.
Article 4. Spain will immediately evacuate Cuba, Puerto Rico, and
the other islands now under Spanish sovereignty in the Antilles.
To this effect each of the two governments will appoint
commissioners within ten days after the signing of this protocol,
and these commissioners shall meet at Havana within thirty days
after the signing of this protocol with the object of coming to an
agreement regarding the carrying out of the details of the
aforesaid evacuation of Cuba and other adjacent Spanish islands;
and each of the two governments shall likewise appoint within ten
days after the signature of this protocol other commissioners, who
shall meet at San Juan de Puerto Rico within thirty days after the
signature of this protocol, to agree upon the details of the
evacuation of Puerto Rico and other islands now under Spanish
sovereignty in the Antilles.
Article 5. Spain and the United States shall appoint to treat for
peace five commissioners at the most for either country. The
commissioners shall meet in Paris on Oct. 1 at the latest to
proceed to negotiations and to the conclusion of a treaty of
peace. This treaty shall be ratified in conformity with the
constitutional laws of each of the two countries.
Article 6. Once this protocol is concluded and signed hostilities
shall be suspended, and to that effect in the two countries orders
shall be given by either government to the commanders of its land
and sea forces as speedily as possible.
Done in duplicate at Washington, read in French and in English by
the undersigned, who affix at the foot of the document their
signatures and seals, Aug. 12, 1898
JULES CAMBON.
WILLIAM R. DAY.
The President immediately issued the following proclamation:
By the President of the United States of America--A Proclamation.
Whereas, By a protocol concluded and signed Aug. 12, 1898, by
William R. Day, Secretary of State of the United States, and His
Excellency Jules Cambon, Ambassador Extraordinary and
Plenipotentiary of the Republic of France at Washington,
respectively representing for this purpose the Government of the
United States and the Government of Spain, the United States and
Spain have formally agreed upon the terms on which negotiations
for the establishment of peace between the two countries shall be
undertaken; and,
Whereas, It is in said protocol agreed that upon its conclusion
and signature hostilities between the two countries shall be
suspended, and that notice to that effect shall be given as soon
as possible by each government to the commanders of its military
and naval forces:
Now, therefore, I, William McKinley, President of the United
States, do, in accordance with the stipulations of the protocol,
declare and proclaim on the part of the United States a suspension
of hostilities, and do hereby command that orders be immediately
given through the proper channels to the commanders of the
military and naval forces of the United States to abstain from all
acts inconsistent with this proclamation.
In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal
of the United States to be affixed.
Done at the city of Washington, this 12th day of August, in the
year of our Lord One Thousand Eight Hundred and Ninety-Eight, and
of the independence of the United States the one hundred and
twenty-third.
WILLIAM McKINLEY.
By the President: WILLIAM R. DAY, Secretary of State.
In accordance with the proclamation issued by the President orders
were issued to the naval commanders at the several stations in the
United States, Cuba and the Philippines carrying into effect the
directions of the proclamation. The navy department not only
transmitted the President's proclamation in full to the several
commanders in chief, but also directions as to the disposition of
their vessels.
Navy Department, Washington, D. C., Aug. 12.--Sampson, Santiago:
Suspend all hostilities. Blockade of Cuba and Puerto Rico is
raised. Howell ordered to assemble vessels at Key West. Proceed
with New York, Brooklyn, Indiana, Oregon, Iowa and Massachusetts
to Tompkinsville. Place monitors in safe harbor in Puerto Rico.
Watson transfers his flag to Newark and will remain at Guantanamo.
Assemble all cruisers in safe harbors. Order marines north in
Resolute.
ALLEN, Acting Secretary.
Navy Department, Washington, D. C., Aug. 12.--Remey, Key West: In
accordance with the President's proclamation telegraphed you,
suspend immediately all hostilities. Commence withdrawal of
vessels from blockade. Order blockading vessels in Cuban waters to
assemble at Key West.
ALLEN, Acting Secretary.
Similar notification was sent to Admiral Dewey, with instructions
to cease hostilities and raise the blockade at Manila.
The orders to General Merritt to suspend were as follows:
Adjutant-General's Office, Washington, D. C., Aug. 12, 1898.--
Merritt, Manila: The President directs all military operations
against the enemy be suspended. Peace negotiations are nearing
completion, a protocol having just been signed by representatives
of the two countries. You will inform the commanders of the
Spanish forces in the Philippines of these instructions. Further
orders will follow. Acknowledge receipt. By order of the Secretary
of War.
H. C. CORBIN, Adjutant-General.
The orders sent to General Miles and General Shafter were
identical with the above save as to names.
Senor Palma, the head of the Cuban Junta, sent the following cable
by way of Santiago:
Bartolome Maso, President Cuban Republic, Santiago, Cuba; I have
this 13th day of August, 1898, accepted, in the name of the Cuban
provisional government, the armistice proclaimed by the United
States. You should give immediate orders to the army throughout
Cuba suspending all hostilities. Preliminary terms of peace,
signed by representatives of Spain and the United States, provide
that Spain will relinquish all claim over and title to Cuba.
T. ESTRADA PALMA.
On August 16 the President appointed as military commissioners
Major-General James F. Wade, Rear-Admiral William T. Sampson, and
Major-General Matthew C. Butler for Cuba, and Major-General John
E. Brooke, Rear-Admiral Winfield S. Schley, and Brigadier-General
William W. Gordon for Puerto Rico.
As soon as General Shafter received the President's proclamation
for the cessation of hostilities he took steps for the immediate
notification of the Spanish commanders in the vicinity, and also
the insurgent leaders.
The proclamation was received in Santiago with the greatest
enthusiasm, the officers and men of the army being alike supremely
satisfied with the definite declaration of peace. After the fall
of Santiago a period of uncertainty and inactivity had had its
effect upon the soldiers stationed there. The weary waiting for
new developments, weakened by the enervating climate, watching the
insidious ravages of disease, sapped the spirits of all, and the
news that brought to them a near prospect of home was like a
bracing breeze that swept through the camp, giving new courage to
all.
THE END OF THE WAR.
Thus came to a close our war with Spain for Cuba's freedom.
Commenced in a spirit of vengeance for the destruction of a
battleship, the war was conducted with singular freedom, all the
circumstances considered, from vindictiveness. We struck hard, but
quickly. We compelled victories, destroyed fleets, but were
merciful and considerate towards the captured. There was
singularly little revilement of the Spanish enemy and the bravery
of the Spanish soldier and sailor was freely admitted. But mere
personal valor could not supply the place of skill and discipline.
In all history there is not an instance of such unchecked
successes as attended our military operations. For us the
encounters were not bloody, the victories were not dearly
purchased. At sea we destroyed squadrons without the loss of a man
or a ship; on land we compelled the surrender of garrisons
strongly intrenched. In Puerto Rico our march was a triumphal
procession.
Spain, for the sake of false pride, bigotry, politics and a child king,
buried in the depths of the sea thirty-five vessels of her navy, valued
at $36,500,000. By their rusting hulks lie the bodies of more than a
thousand gallant tars. She surrendered in territory to the United States
directly Cuba, with a population of 1,500,000 and an area of 45,000
square miles, and Puerto Rico, with a population of 810,000 and an area
of 3,670 square miles. Her total direct loss of territory in square
miles was 48,670, and loss in population 2,310,000. She also
jeopardized, probably beyond all future control by her, the Philippine
islands, with a population of 8,000,000 and an area of 114,326 square
miles. So that in the end it appears the Spanish kingdom for the sake of
the wrong gave up 163,000 square miles of territory and over 10,000,000
of tax-paying population.
This loss was the gain of the United States, which, to bring it about,
placed in service a first-class navy, with 10,000 men and fifty
effective vessels, and a volunteer and regular army of 278,500 men, of
which New York gave the largest number, Pennsylvania next and Illinois
the third.
When the present century began Spain was mistress over nearly all
of the southern continent of America and over a good share of the
northern continent. With the exception of Brazil, to which the
Portuguese held title, practically all of South America was
Spanish. So was Central America, the present Mexico, and nearly a
million square miles of the southwestern part of the United
States. The revolutions of the early decades of the century
stripped off much of that domain, and now the last shreds of it
are also gone. The same policy of persistent greed and of deadly
disregard to the interests of the governed that caused the early
revolutions has also caused the later ones, for the sake of which
the United States began its interference in the Antilles.
Now nothing is left to the former queen of all the empires and
kingdoms which once were subject to her and brought her glory and
power among the nations. Her own sons have read to her the lesson
that exploitation cannot continue forever, and that unless the
conqueror has regard for the interests of the conquered the seeds
of disruption will surely be sown.