SPAIN AND AMERICA.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1404, 26 January 1899, Page 25

SPAIN AND AMERICA.

SIGNING THE PEACE TREATY. ENORMOUS FEES TO THE - COMMISSIONERS. [per ALAMIiDA, >ROM SAN BRANCISCO J Auckland, January 18. When Ihe treaty of peace between the United States ami Spain was signed at Paris the scene was not without ihcatrioal featurea. '1 he Spanish sat patient, and appeared ti> be plunged in the deepest grief. The Amerioans were dressed for a dinner to be given directly after signing. Ten arbiters of the destiny of an old and a ▼oung nation sat grouped about the great mahogany table, and numerous attaobes were in attendance. No one could withhold sympathy from Senor Montero Rios, who came from his sickbed bundled in a great overooat. The English and then the Spanish version Of th% treaty were read, and the two copies were passed round , the table, the Commissioners signing in the order of their rank. \ Considerable remark has been made on the announcement that ex-Secretary of State Pay and Mr Wbitelaw Keid, members of the Peace Commission, will receive at leapt 100 <Oodol each for their services at the conference. Mr Jairns Bassett, Moore, secretary to tha Commission, will receive £0 Oi’O dollars. ThrW other members are United States Penat-M* lut wi,l receive no compensation other than their expenses for assisting the 1- hose large sums are payable, without reference to Congress, out of the National Defence Fu r d Tbb justification for Buoh enormous tees is v found in diplomatic usage. The fees and expenses of the attaches will be a mere bagatelle when compared to the mum mows sum paid to I)»y3eid and Moore for tbeir services for - 96 days.