Nelson Evening Mail. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 1899,

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XXXIII, Issue 35, 10 February 1899, Page 2

Nelson Evening Mail. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 1899,

» — r • -r=x. Thk treaty of peace between Spain and America lias been referred to lre<inenily ■ in the cable message.*, and the outlines of the general terms imposed by America anfairly well understood. The full text of the treaty, however, is only now to hund by the mail, and it shows how completely the colonial empire of Spain has been taken from her. It is the revenge of the ages. Spain relinquishes all claim to sovereignty over and title to Cubn. On tho evacuation by Spain the country is to be si ill occupied by America, and during suoh occupation tho Americans will dischargo the obligations in respect to proi tsction of life and property which I may result from the occupation under international law. Spain cedes tf.- the United States tho island of Puerto Rico and other islands i now under Spanish sovereigty jn the West Indies. The Philippines, and also the i ßland of Gaam, in the Ladrones, are also ceded. For a period of ten years after the exchange and ratification of the treaty Spanish skips and morcbandiee will

fao Emitted to the Philippines on the same terms as tho ships and merchandise of the United Slates ; that is to say, only local dues, under any syetem of autonomy tho islands may exercise, will bo charged to the Spanish for tho time stated. In other words, Spain will bo entitled to most favoured nation treatment. On tho signature of the treaty America will send back to Spain the prisoners of war taken at Manila, paying their passages and returning their arms. Spain will also release and return all prisoners of war. America &ho undertakes to release all Spanish prisoners of war in Cuba, and to procure the release of Spanish prisoners held by (Jie Spanish and Filipinos. 'I he latter is a contract rather difficult to fulfil in vitw of the state of war declared by the Filipinos. It may be assumed that before all is over around Manila | there will not be raauy Spanish prisoner in tho hands of the insurgents left alive. The contracting countries mutually agree to relinquish all claims to indemnity, national and individual, that may baye arisen since the beginning of the insurrection in Cuba and prior to the ratification of the treaty, including all claims to indemnity for the cost of the war. The United States will adjudicate on all claims of its own citizens against Spain relinquished under thi-i stipulation. Spanish subjects, natives of the counfrios ceded by Spain to America, may remain in such territory, retaining all their rights of property. If they i<tay or leave, they will havo the privilege of dieposit.g of their property as they choose, or oi carrying on industry or commerce, subject to the laws applicable to other foreigners. If they desire to remain subjects of Spain they must make a declaration to that effect before a court of record within a year of the ratification of the peace treaty. If they bave not done so by then, they will bo held to have renounced Spanish naiicnality and to have adopted the nationality of the territory in which ihey now reside. Civil rights and the political status of tho native inhabitants of the territory ceded by Spain will be determined by the Congress of the United states, and all people will bo secured in the free oxercise of their religion. Spaninrda residing in the ceded ter ritoric niua> bu subject to the civil and criminal courts of jurisdiction of the country iv which they reside, pursuant to tho ordinary laws govornitiii such cases, and they will have tin* right to nppear before the courts and to pursuo tho same course as citizens of the c< untries coneernel The rights of copyright and patents acquired by Spaniards in Cuba, Pnetto Hico, and the Philip pines, and in the other coded possessions at the time of the exchange of the ratification of the treaty, shall continue and be respected. Spanish scientific and literary works and pictures and statuary, not subversive of p :blic order in tho territories concerned, or against the laws of morality, shall be admitted duty free for a period of ton years. Spain is to have the right of pstablishingconsuhir ofh'cers in the ports and other places of the relinquished countries. The Government of each country will, for a term of 10 years from the exchange of ratifications, accord to the merchant vessels of the other country the earns treatment in respect of »ll port chargee, including entrance and clearance duties, light dues and tonnage duiies, as it accords to its own merchant vessels not unpaged in coastwise trado. This provi3ion may at any time he terminated on six months' notice given by either Government to the other. It is understood that any obligation assumed in this treaty by the United States, with respect to Cuba, is limited to the time of the occupation by the United States of that island ; but the United States Governmint will, upon the termination of such occupation, advise any government established in the island to a3snni? the same obligations.