Peace

The signing of the protocol took place in the Cabinet room of the White House, August, 12, Monsieur Cambon the French Ambassador acting for Spain and Secretary of State Wm. R. Day for the United States. The ceremony took place in the presence of President McKinley and a few others. The document was prepared in duplicate, written in parallel columns in English and French and each nation will preserve a copy in its archives. The ceremony was over at 4.23.

Provisions of the protocol

1. That Spain will relinquish all claim of sovereignty over and title to Cuba.

2. That Porto Rico and other Spanish islands of 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 Phillipines.

4. That Cuba, Porto 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 are 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."

Official Correspondence at Manila

To the General-in-Chief Commanding the Spanish Forces at Hanila.
SIR: We have the honor to notify your Excellency that the operations of the land and naval forces of the United States against the defences of Manila may begin at any time after the expiration of forty-eight hours from the receipt by you of this communication, or sooner if made necessary by attack on your part. This notice is given to afford you an opportunity to remove all non-combatants from the city.

Yours respectfully,
WESLEY MERRITT,
Major-General, U. S. A., Commanding.

GEORGE DEWEY,
Rear Admiral, U. S. N., Commanding.

The Spanish Commander replied as follows:

MANILA, Aug. 7.

GENTLEMEN: I have the honor to inform your Excellencies that at halfpast 12 today I received the notice with which you favored me, that after forty eight hours have elapsed you may begin operations against this fortified city, or at an earlier hour if the forces under your command are attacked by mine. As your notice was sent for the purpose of providing safety for non-combatants, I give thanks to your Excellencies for the humane sentiments you show and state that, finding myself surrounded by insurrectiony forces, I am without a place of refuge for the increased number of wounded, sick, women and children now lodged within these walls.

Respectfully, and kissing the hands of your Excellencies,

FEROIN JAUDENES

The Cost of the War Estimated

United States
503 men killed.
1,415 men wounded.
$122,000,000.
One ship, $250,000 (Merrimac).

Spain
2,312 men killed.
3,260 men wounded.
$17,500,000.
Thirty-five ships, value $36 million

Spain lost Cuba, Porto Rico, Guam Island in the Ladrones, in all about 50,000 square miles, with population 2,325,000. The final disposition of the Philippines with an area of 116,000 square miles, population about eight millions, rests with the commission appointed to prepared the final details of peace.

Next: Chapter 15: Appendix: War Chronology of Events (Jan 25-Aug 12 1898)