October 1, 1898, the Peace Negotiations Between Spain and the United States Started
Armistice negotiations conducted in Washington, D.C., ended with the signing of a protocol on Aug. 12, 1898, which, besides ending hostilities, provided that a peace conference be held in Paris by October, that Spain relinquish Cuba and cede Puerto Rico and one of the Mariana Islands to the United States, and that the United States hold Manila until the disposition of the Philippines had been determined. On October 1, 1898, the peace negotiations started in Paris, France.
The American Peace Commission consisted of William R. Day, Senator Cushman K. Davis, Senator William P. Frye, Senator George Gray, and the Honorable Whitelaw Reid. The Spanish commission was headed by Don Eugenio Montero Rios, the President of the Senate. Members were, Don Buenaventura de Abarzuza, Don José de Garnica, Don Wenceslao Ramírez de Villa-Urrutia, and Don Rafael Cerero. Jules Cambon, a French diplomat, also negotiated on Spain’s behalf.
By the time that the conference opened, U.S. President William McKinley had finally decided that the United States must take possession of the Philippines. Although the Conference discussed Cuba and debt questions, the major conflict concerned the situation of the Philippines.
The demand was ultimately accepted with great reluctance by Spain, with the stipulation that the United States should pay Spain $20 million nominally for public buildings and public works in the Philippines.
The islands of Puerto Rico and Guam were also placed under American control, and Spain relinquished its claim to Cuba.
The treaty was signed on December 10, 1898.The U.S. Senate ratified the Treaty of Paris by a vote of 52 to 27 on February 6 1899. On March 19, 1899, the Queen regent, of Spain, María Cristina, signed the Treaty.
It took into effect on April 11, 1899 when the ratifications were exchanged.
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